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Magic happens once again between Porsche and Audi

16 May, 2016

Now, if you’re into German automobiles like I am, you’ll know that it’s nothing new for two automakers to collaborate to create greatness. If you think back to the early ’90s you’ll remember when Audi and Porsche combined their intensely well-engineered forces and produced Audi’s first-ever high-performance estate vehicle, the Audi RS2 Avant. The Audi RS2 was a game changer for Audi, and truly put them on the high-end luxury performance wagon map, which, to this day, is a vehicle range that continues to gain momentum with the likes of the drool-worthy $250,000-new Audi RS6 Avant. 

Porsche released a twin-turbo V8 engine at the 37th International Vienna Motor Symposium, held April 28–29, 2016 in Austria. It is said that it will make its way into the Volkswagen motor group, and power the likes of Audi. The twin-turbo V8 is to be no slouch either, producing a yet again groundbreaking 409kW (549hp) and 744Nm (567lb·ft) of torque. Porsche has said that they will be the one to first make use of the engine in the Porsche Panamera, but after that it will not just make its way into Audi vehicles, but also Lamborghinis and some Bentley models. To make use of the broad powerband that the engine is likely to have, it’ll be backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission or a dual-clutch eight-speed. 

As more information comes to light about which specific Audi models will be blessed with this mighty engine, we’ll let you know. 

Coaching from the bench: Casting plastic knobs and rubber parts

16 July, 2026

Casting rubber items is simple if you have a good original to work with. The item doesn’t have to be perfect. You can use plasticine to smooth out cracks, and you can even make whole prototypes out of low-fire modelling clay available from craft stores if you need to. Prototypes can also be made of wood or metal.
You will need mould dams to contain the liquid urethane moulding solution until it cures. You can build boxes out of strips of wood, but I have found that small plastic boxes and bowls such as those you would use for leftovers in your fridge work well if you spray them with a mould release agent.
Temperature is important to the chemical processes involved, so work in an area that can be maintained at around 20 degrees. You will also need adequate ventilation because the fumes can be dangerous to breathe. And you will want to wear latex gloves to protect your hands.

Fraser Cars – low flying into the fourth decade

10 July, 2026

With almost three and a half decades under its belt, Fraser Cars is one of New Zealand’s longest-surviving car manufacturers. The company first opened its doors for business in 1988, during the boom time for kit manufacturers. During the ’80s, around 40 different companies were building kits and turnkey cars for this niche market. Of those, only Fraser and Almac Cars (established 1981) are still in business today.
Most of the new kit car companies were killed off in the cradle by the threat of new legislation that never eventuated and definitively by the sudden availability of high-performance Japanese cars when the floodgates to second-hand imports were opened. The now long-retired founder of the company, Neil Fraser, first came across Lotus Seven replicas while racing Lotus Cortinas in the early ’80s. He regularly found himself racing against a little Caterham, a Lotus Seven–styled car built in England. He was very impressed by its simplicity and handling. In 1986 Fraser built his own Lotus Seven–type car, using the knowledge he had gained from several close looks at the Caterham.