CUCU ABANG GODAM

AMG, our favourite peddler of gratuitously powerful cars, has outdone itself once again. This is the new Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4MATIC+ saloon (wagon version to follow shortly), revealed ahead of its physical debut at the LA Motor Show in mid-November, and it touches new heights of insanity for the AMG brand. Nestled under that heavily-domed bonnet is AMG’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 running through a nine-speed dual-clutch and turned up to 604bhp and 627lb ft of torque in the maximum-attack ‘S’ model, or a more sedate 563bhp and 553lb ft in standard trim. And before you get your calculators out, yep, that 604bhp figure is 27bhp more than the very angry, very green AMG GT-R. It’ll also crush 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds (3.5 in the non ‘S’), 0.2 seconds faster than the AMG GT-R. How on earth can a supercar have its backside handed to it by a chunky four-door saloon? Well, it’s all down to a completely new and fiendishly clever AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system...

Following the teaser image of a rally-prepared Proton Iriz, here’s the first full-car image of the Iriz R5 as shown in Furancho Racing’s Instagram post. Details on the new rally car are scarce, but given its R5 moniker, the rally-going Iriz can be expected to comply to R5 class regulations, which dictate the use of 1.6 litre, turbocharged engines mated to all-wheel-drive, along with a minimum weight of 1,230 kg. The headlamps and grille from the roadgoing Iriz appear to have made it to the R5 car, with the integrated front bumper and front fenders headed by a large central air intake with an “IRIZ” script on the mesh. Adding on to the rally car look are the roof-mounteed air scoop and carbon-fibre side mirrors, as well as the eye-catching wheelarch extensions for the wider wheel/tyre combination and increased clearance. As can be seen here, the Iriz R5 currently wears plain silver paintwork in place of a full racing livery, though it does have Proton decals along the sides...

Along with its unique direct drive transmission which allows it to accelerate to its top speed without gearchanges, the Koenigsegg Regera also employs carbon-fibre construction for its wheels. In this video, /DRIVE shines its spotlight on Koenigsegg, with particular focus on the Regera’s wheels. Now although it isn’t the first car to use factory-fit carbon-fibre wheels – that accolade goes to another Koenigsegg,  the One:1  – the new wheel design for use on the Regera adds an aesthetic element, with styling that would be unfeasible on a wheel of traditional aluminium construction – it would be either too heavy or not strong enough, according to founder Christian von Koenigsegg. To recap, the Koenigsegg Regera is powered by a 5.0 litre, twin-turbo V8 and three electric motors producing a total system output of over 1,500 hp and more than 2,000 Nm of torque; sufficient to propel the Regera to a string of impressive acceleration figures: 0-100 km/h in 2.8 ...

With the launch of the  2017 Honda CBR1000RR  at Intermot in September 2016, Honda has very clearly signalled its intention to contest the World Superbike Championship crown, and wrest it away from current title holders Kawasaki. The attempt takes the form of the Honda CBR1000RR SP2, a track oriented version of the road-going CBR1000RR SP road-going superbike. Carrying a 999 cc inline-four that puts out a claimed 189 hp at 13,000 rpm and 116 Nm of torque at 11,000 rpm in SP form, the CBR1000RR is the seventh generation in a line of fire-breathing Fireblades going back to 1992, to the original CBR900RR. The new Honda superbike has also undergone a serious weight reduction programme, now weighing in at 195 kg wet – 16 kg less than the previous model. The new CBR1000RR also comes with a full suite of electronic riding aids, including nine-level Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC), Selectable Engine Brake (SEB) and Riding Mode Select System (RMSS). A quickshifter is...

Aussie gets a top ten at home after race-long fight Assen GP winner Jack Miller (Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS) was back on fighting form after getting back to near full strength for his home GP at Phillip Island, the the Australian qualified in a career best fifth in a difficult Q2, before going on to battle inside the top ten – and take P10 by the end of the seven rider scrap. Miller had also gambled on tyres after the only dry track time of the weekend proved to be the extended Warm Up session, and raced his hard compound front tyre into the unknown, having had no time to try the option before lights out. One tangle with Repsol Honda Team’s Nicky Hayden saw the American slide out at Turn 4, but Miller is happy with decent points and a good finish. Jack Miller (P10): “I think that’s what you call a heavy battle! It was an intense race and I enjoyed it. It got a bit scary at times because you have no idea who is going to lunge up the inside from one corner to the next. Going in...

Phillip Island winner talks escaping past mistakes and win number 2 Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) took a stunning second career victory in the Australian GP, after having lost a podium at the track in 2014 under similar circumstances – back then following race leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) into the gravel. In 2016 however, it was only Marquez who repeated the error, braking too deep into Turn 4 and folding the front – leaving Crutchlow to keep his stunning race pace up and take career victory number two; a chasing Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) unable to catch the Brit. Cal Crutchlow (P1): “I’m really pleased to come here and race in the conditions we raced in. It was about keeping your head throughout the weekend, and we know some of the conditions were dangerous. My pace here was better than in other years, and I was pleased to be able to take advantage when I needed to take advantage. I need to thank my team for all their work this weekend and also Honda...

2016 Champion crashes out of the lead at Turn 4 for his first DNF of the season arc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) had a perfect scorecard in 2016 until the Michelin® Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. Taking the lead back from fast starter Pol Espargaro (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), the polesitter disappeared into the distance – until a mistake braking too deep into Turn 4 saw him crashing out of contention. Also suffering a crash in Le Mans but able to remount and take points, the Australian GP is Marquez’ first zero of the year – but with the title already wrapped up in Motegi after both Movistar Yamahas saw the same fate there, the mistake was a less expensive one than it could have been. Marc Marquez (DNF): "First of all I want to say sorry to my team because I made a mistake today. We were doing everything perfectly, and we were just missing capping it with a result on Sunday. If I had been fighting for the title it would’ve been an entirely different race, as I wouldn...

A stunning storm up from fifteenth for the ‘Doctor’ after a tough Saturday Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) didn’t make up much ground off the line in Phillip Island, but soon set about putting that right as the Italian used his Warm Up pace to push on towards the front. Picking off the riders in front of him to arrive into the podium positions before race leader Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) crashed out, the 9-time World Champion was then in second and setting his sights on new leader Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) – but was unable to catch the Brit, taking P2 at the flag after the incredible comeback. Valentino Rossi (P2): “This morning when I woke up I was already happier when I opened the curtains. And the Warm Up gave me a lot of good power and I knew I had good pace and that I could get on the podium. I think the first ten laps were really good. When I arrived to Cal, he was my target because I was a bit stronger than him this morning. But he was too strong, as he al...

Model sports Ducati ditawarkan kepada pengguna dengan nama Panigale dan model pertengahannya, Panigale 959 tiba di Malaysia dengan harga RM99,999 (termasuk insurans, tanpa GST). Gaya yang digunakan menyerupai model lebih tinggi iaitu Panigale 1299, bersama lampu tajam di hadapan dan lampu belakang yang unik. Model ini adalah penyambung kepada model Panigale 899 yang ditawarkan sebelum ini dan ia menggunakan enjin Superquadro dua silinder sama, cuma diubah suai pada bahagian strok untuk menjadikan kapasitinya 955 cc. Dengan perubahan ini, tork yang lebih meluas pada tahap rpm berbeza dapat dihasilkan, dan bersama jumlah kuasa 157 hp yang meningkat, ia masih tidak perlu tempoh servis yang pendek. Pelarasan injap hanya perlu dilakukan pada setiap 24,000 km. Dibangunkan sebagai sebuah model serba boleh, Panigale 959 dilengkapi dengan tiga pilihan mod tunggangan, sistem brek ABS Bosch tiga tahap,  Ducati Traction Control (DTC), Engine Braking Control (EBC)  dan  Ducati ...

Model  naked  yang banyak membantu kenaikan jenama Ducati iaitu Monster tiba di Malaysia dalam versi baru yang paling berkuasa – Monster 1200 R. Harga yang ditetapkan adalah RM139,999 dengan GST tetapi tidak termasuk insurans. Monster 1200 R menggunakan enjin Testastretta 11° DS R 1,200 cc dan jika dibandingkan dengan model 1200 S, ia mempunyai 10% lebih kuasa dan 5.5% lebih tork, dengan jumlah keseluruhannya 160 hp dan 131.5 Nm. Sebagai sebuah model yang lebih agresif, selain peningkatan kuasa, Monster 1200 R turut dijadikan lebih tinggi dan boleh lebih condong untuk mengambil selekoh berbanding Monster 1200 S. Tayar yang didatangkan terus dari kilang adalah Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP. Selain itu, ia juga lebih ringan iaitu 180 kg. Membantu lagi prestasinya, Monster 1200 R dilengkapi dengan suspensi baru dan  damper  Ohlins manakala kelengkapan keselamatan pula terdiri daripada Ducati Safety Pack – brek ABS, Ducati Traction Control dan tiga mod tunggangan. ...

Valentino Rossi believes Yamaha's inability to significantly improve the M1 during the season played a critical role in the 2016 MotoGP title fight - and expects significant improvements with the machine's engine and chassis ahead of next year.  Both Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo were unable to reel in Honda's Marc Marquez in the season's second half, despite starting the year from a position of considerable strength.  The Movistar Yamaha riders won five of the first seven grands prix, but the Japanese factory's winless streak has now stretched to eight races, the M1 last emerging from a race triumphant at Montmeló in June.  While Rossi sampled a new chassis and swingarm at Brno in August, he soon discarded both components, feeling they provided no significant upgrade on what he was using before.  Compare this to Honda's 2016 RC213V. Although it was some way off the pace in preseason testing, Marquez has seen his machine steadily improve from Barce...

A website dubbed “Project 1408” has recently gone live, showing renderings of a carbon-fibre frame, swingarm and BST wheels – all purportedly for a new  superleggera  – superlight – version of the Ducati 1299. The website is accessible by invitation only to VIP Ducati customers. Details are scarce, with many sections of the website still inaccessible. It is assumed that full details will be revealed at the EICMA show in November. What can be seen is the swingarm is a carbon-fibre resin-impregnated affair covering aluminium inserts that is 900 grammes lighter than the aluminium on the current 1299 Panigale. Additionally, it is claimed that the most powerful iteration of the Ducati V-twin will be installed in the Superleggera, some 220 hp worth. The exhaust, apparently, will follow Ducati’s WSBK race machine configuration, with tailpipes below the seat instead of under the belly, like current 1299 Panigale practice. - paultan

Valentino Rossi will aim to pick himself up again this weekend at Phillip Island in Australia after his misfortune at Motegi was another low point in the Italian's 'worst season on paper'.  Rossi saw his slim hopes of clinching the MotoGP World Championship ended when he slid out of contention while holding second place.  The Movistar Yamaha rider had started the race from pole and was chasing after Marc Marquez when disaster struck, with Repsol Honda Marquez confirmed as the champion with three rounds to go when Jorge Lorenzo also suffered a shock fall in Japan.  Rossi remains locked in battle for second place in the final standings with Lorenzo heading into Phillip Island, with the pair separated by 14 points.  “The bad thing is that we took zero points in Motegi, but the good thing is that we showed that we are strong. Phillip Island is a fantastic track and a place that I like a lot. We have to try to be fast and strong there too,” Rossi...

Former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden will replace the injured Dani Pedrosa in the Repsol Honda team at Phillip Island.  Pedrosa is recovering after sustaining a broken collarbone in a huge high-side during practice for the Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi.  Honda World Superbike rider Hayden, who filled in for Jack Miller at Aragon in the Marc VDS team, says he is delighted to have the chance to return to 'my old dream team'.  Hayden began his MotoGP career at Repsol Honda in 2003, going on to claim three wins, 25 podiums and the 2006 world title during six seasons at the squad. He is also something of a specialist at Phillip Island with three podiums, two poles and a fastest lap.  “First of all my best wishes to Dani, I'm sure he will come back stronger than ever like he always does,” Hayden said. “For me it's crazy hard work but it's a chance, ten-years after winning my World title, to get back to my old dream team!  “Doing a weeken...

Marc Marquez says the intense pressure he felt to reclaim the MotoGP World  Championship this year weighed heavily on his shoulders in the first half of the season.  Marquez was struggling to get the most from his Repsol Honda after the switch to Michelin tyres and a new control ECU.  The 23-year-old admits that the fun went out of MotoGP for a while but with the support of his team, Marquez worked through the issues and soon rediscovered the winning feeling to resurrect a championship challenge.  “Every year is really hard and every year you do your maximum, but especially this year the pressure that I felt, especially in the beginning of the season was really high. Last year we did a few mistakes and I don't like to finish the championship like last year,” he said.  “This championship was hard and I feel more pressure, but also more motivation. This combination kept me really focused and concentrated and from Thursday to the race I was j...

Valentino Rossi's race and world championship hopes ended with a fall from second place in Sunday's Japanese MotoGP.  The Italian, who had qualified on pole, overtook Movistar Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo a lap earlier and was pushing hard to try and catch leader Marc Marquez.  But Rossi's front wheel folded at the slow hairpin on lap 7 of 24, sending the Doctor sliding into the gravel and leaving him to ponder a fourth non-score of the season.  "First of all, I would like to say that I'm OK, fortunately no problems," said Rossi, who was momentarily trapped under his bike, "On the other hand it's a shame, because I was quite strong and I had a good pace.  "Unfortunately my start was not fantastic and I lost positions to Marquez and Lorenzo. After that, Marquez was a bit faster than me to overtake Lorenzo, I lost a bit more time behind Lorenzo, but the pace was good.  "I was able to push a lot to try and cat...

Andrea Iannone is to miss the MotoGP round at Motegi. The Italian has been advised by his doctors to skip the first of the three Pacific flyaway rounds to allow the vertebra he fractured at Misano to heal.  Iannone picked up the injury on the first day of his home race at Misano. Though the injury is on the forward side of the T3 vertebra, making it less vulnerable to a repeat injury, the fracture has caused him to miss both Misano and Aragon. Motegi will be the third race which Iannone will be forced to miss. The factory Ducati team will not field a replacement for Iannone. The decision came as late as possible for the factory, to give Iannone as much time as possible to be fit in time for the Japanese race. That has not been possible, but doctors are confident that Iannone will be fit to race in Phillip Island, the second of the three flyaways. Given that Iannone had such a strong race there in 2015, ending on the podium after a four-way dice with Marc Marquez, Jorge Loren...

The legal oddity that riders' contracts are out of sync with the MotoGP season creates an uncomfortable truce among the factories. When riders sign with a factory, their contracts run from 1st January to 31st December. But for the factories and teams, the new season starts on the Tuesday after the last race of the year, at Valencia. This is a particular problem for the 2017 season, with so many riders changing factories. Traditionally, there has been a gentlemen's agreement among the factories to allow the riders to test with their new team, despite still being under contract to the old one. So in previous years, the likes of Valentino Rossi (twice) and Casey Stoner have lapped Valencia aboard their new steeds dressed in plain leathers. The plain leathers are just one side of the compromise. As a rule, the riders switching factories are not allowed to speak to the media, or only allowed to speak in the most general of terms, avoiding direct comparison between their new b...

Valentino Rossi is fired-up to end Yamaha's MotoGP victory drought during the three flyaway events, that start in Japan this weekend.  Yamaha won five of the opening seven races courtesy of Rossi and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, but hasn't taken a victory in the seven races since.  "I love the three overseas races, these circuits are fantastic," declared Rossi, referring to the Motegi-Phillip Island-Sepang events. "On paper we are strong with the Yamaha, so I hope to fight for the victory.  "I'm especially happy to go to Japan because it is the home of Yamaha and I will do my best to make it a good Grand Prix. I like the track and the atmosphere. I'm in good shape and I'm ready for the three races in a row!"  While no rider gives up on a championship until the mathematics become impossible, whatever they may say in public, the huge 52-point gap to Marc Marquez combined with a 14-point difference between Rossi and Lorenzo me...