SUBSCRIBE TO THE
MAGAZINE NOW
Facebook-f Instagram

Those Swedes know how to keep a secret

6 June, 2017

It feels like every second story in motoring news is a manufacturer telling us they’ve broken a record at the Nurburgring.

Fastest lap while carrying a ballon as a passenger? That’ll be a press release. Quickest rear wheel drive car with sixteen seats and less than 200 horsepower? That’s a press release, too.

So when we heard a little manufacturer named Volvo had gone ahead and broken the record (at the time) for a road worthy four door car, we were a bit surprised we hadn’t seen the live stream. We were even more surprised to learn the record was broken a year ago, and they didn’t tell anybody. Nothing like breaking the mould. Nice one Volvo (and Polestar!).

 

 

Merry Christmas from NZ Classic Car magazine

23 December, 2024

The Classic Car magazine team is taking a few weeks’ holiday from the work computer and heading to the beach for some kickback time.
Merry Christmas, and have a wonderful summer holiday to all our readers, followers, and fans. Enjoy this special extra time with the family. We will be posting archive articles again in mid to late January.
Have fun, be good and be careful out there.

Two engines instead of one?

13 December, 2024

Popping two motors into a car is not only complicated, it doesn’t always end well. Donn Anderson recalls early attempts, including John Cooper’s ill-fated original Twini Mini built 58 years ago

For a boost in performance, better traction, and perhaps improved handling to some, two motors seems an obvious solution. It would also eliminate the need to develop a larger engine replacement from scratch, but would that outweigh the not inconsiderable technical difficulties?
The idea of using a pair of engines dates back at least 86 years to the Alfa Romeo Bimotor single seater racing car that was officially timed at 335km/h, or 208mph. Taking a lengthened Alfa P3 chassis, the Italians fitted two supercharged straight eight 2.9-litre and 3.2-litre engines, one in front of the cockpit, and the other behind the cockpit.