What I Learned at Performance Driving School

What I Learned at Performance Driving School
Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift Nissan 350Z Available for $234K
2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 Aiming for 600 HP
Volkswagen Tiguan Coupe R in the Works with 300 HP
Audi Q6 e-tron to use LG Chem, Samsung SDI Batteries for 310-Mile Range
Watch the McLaren 570S Drifting in Extreme Conditions

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"Just ease on the brakes," my driving instructor says while slowly clenching his fist, demonstrating the desired technique.

Unfortunately, that level of finesse is easier said than put into practice; the Dodge Charger Hellcat I'm piloting is equipped with massive Brembo binders that have more bite than a great white shark. Still, the importance of smooth deceleration was just one of the many things I learned at the MAMA Performance Driving School a few weeks ago.

Love Your MAMA

As a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association (that's MAMA for short in case the obvious escapes you), a professional group for journalists in the car business, I was given a rare opportunity to get one-on-one driving lessons from a racing instructor. Now, I've turned my share of laps on tracks and autocross circuits across the country and I'm a reasonably competent driver, but proper lessons never hurt, except perhaps a fragile ego.

None of this would have been possible without the generous assistance of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which sponsored the event. When I heard FCA was providing vehicles, I expected them to field some Dodge Darts or perhaps a handful of Cinquecentos, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

Like trying to teach multivariable calculus to preschoolers, they brought out the big guns. SRT versions of the Challenger coupe and Jeep Grand Cherokee were on hand, as well as a horde of Hellcat Chargers, each with a red key fob and all 707 horsepower on tap. These cars aren't even magnum caliber; they're more like field artillery. The guys in Auburn Hills are even crazier than they seem, though fortunately, all of their machines survived the event unscathed.

A Touch of the Ginge

Our playground for this half-day event was Gingerman Raceway in far-flung Western Michigan. On paper, this track looks fairly straightforward with a few turns, a couple straight-aways and all of the topographical variation of a blowing lane. However, appearances are deceiving, because it's actually an extremely technical track that takes countless laps to really figure out.

This contrasts starkly with Road America, a circuit I've lapped more than any other. Its lengthy four-miles are much more point-and-shoot; power is king at this Wisconsin venue. In comparison, Gingerman seems to pack more quirks and idiosyncrasies into half the space. It's a track that requires patience and finesse, not just the ability to press the accelerator through the floorpan.

The Take Away

Anyone can slither their way around a racing circuit, but to do it at speed without spinning, exiting the course or smashing into a tire wall is another story entirely. The biggest thing I learned from this experience is the importance of being smooth.

As my instructor emphasized, you ease on the brakes while still traveling in a straight line, gradually applying more stopping power the closer you get to the corner. Once enough velocity has been eradicated, you start to turn the wheel while transitioning back to the accelerator, applying just enough giddy-up to maintain speed through the turn. After nailing the apex, you can start applying more and more throttle as the wheel unwinds, going wide open again when the car is pretty much pointed straight again. Got all that? If so, just lather, rinse and repeat.

The importance of smoothness cannot be understated. Not only does it lead to quick lap times, but it also keeps you out of trouble. If you jam on the brakes, jerk the steering wheel or mash the accelerator abruptly, you stand a good chance of upsetting the vehicle's chassis, which is a big no-no. Remember, just four tiny contact patches are all that keep your rump on the road, do anything drastic at the wrong time, and suddenly you're headed into the weeds, or worse, a guardrail, and they're a lot less forgiving than a few tufts of grass.

Another critical lesson I learned during my hot laps at Gingerman is the need to look ahead. Most drivers only pay attention to what's going on a few feet ahead of their bumper. This may be fine while commuting to work, but it doesn't cut it on a track. Looking far ahead and around corners so you know where the car needs to be in advance makes driving at speed more manageable. This means you even have to peer through the side glass at times, which takes a little getting used to.

My final big take-away from this experience is the need to apex late in corners. In racing, an apex is the innermost point of a turn. Hitting this spot as late as possible is generally the fastest way through a corner because it gives you the straightest possible line. Keep in mind, this isn't necessarily the shortest distance through a turn, but it's the fastest and that's what counts in racing.

Pretty much any time spent on a track is going to be grand, but with proper training, it only gets better, and if you've been paying attention, faster. If you've got speed in your veins, take a performance driving class; you won't regret it.

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Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift Nissan 350Z Available for $234K

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Another car from the famous Fast and Furious movie franchise is up for grabs.

The Veilside Nissan 350Z that starred in the third Fast and Furious movie, Tokyo Drift, can be yours for a cool $234,000 or so based on today's exchange rates. The custom sports car is being offered by Cheshire Classic Cars in the U.K. with an asking price of £149,995. According to the company, the 350Z has 9,800 miles on the odometer and sports 430 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

Helping power the 350Z is an APS twin turbo kit while the Veilside Version 3 wide body kit outfits the exterior. Getting power to the rear wheels is a Nismo twin-plate clutch and two-way rear differential.

Cheshire Classic Cars also says that the car is "currently set up for drifting" but can be returned "to more standard specification if preferred." The car will come with complete documentation proving its provenance and has been registered for road use.

Recently, the Toyota Supra Paul Walker drove in the original Fast and Furious sold for $185,000. In a way, that car was much more iconic than the Tokyo Drift 350Z so it'll be interesting to see what this car eventually sells for.

[Source: Cheshire Classic Cars]

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2017 Mercedes-AMG E63 Aiming for 600 HP

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The luxury high-performance sedan war could be entering 600-hp territory if all goes according to plan with the 2017 Mercedes-AMG E63.

It is being reported that the German automaker is evolving the 4.0-liter V8 engine found in the new C63 AMG to the tune of around 600 hp, as it'll also be used in the new Mercedes-AMG GT3. An E63 with 600 hp would mark the first time the high-performance luxury sedan market has crossed that line, easily trumping the Audi RS6 and BMW M5 models.

Currently, the E63 S sports a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with 577 hp, so it's not a stretch to believe Mercedes wants to break 600 mark for its next-generation model. The 4.0-liter V8 used in the C63 S gets 503 hp.

But there will be a whole lot more to the new E-Class than just performance. Expect the sedan to go on a diet like many new-generation vehicles while the AMG model will also benefit from a nine-speed automatic transmission. The standard E-Class lineup is expected to be unveiled at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show early next year, which means the E63 AMG model will likely debut afterwards. It is however expected to go on sale in 2016.

[Source: Autocar]

Discuss this story at our Mercedes-Benz Forum

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Volkswagen Tiguan Coupe R in the Works with 300 HP

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Volkswagen is said to be working on a new high-performance Tiguan R model based on the upcoming coupe version of the crossover.

The new hot crossover will retain its five doors, but it will feature a raked roof to give it coupe styling. Under the hood, a version of the Golf R's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will be used, producing around 300 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, hooked up to a six-speed dual clutch transmission and all-wheel drive.

SEE ALSO: Volkswagen's Crossover Plans

The 0 to 60 mph times should be nearly the same as the Golf R Wagon, which makes the run in 5.1 seconds. Along with the powerful motor, the new VW crossover is said to get torque vectoring, adaptive dampers and specially tuned suspension all around. It will ride on the new MQB modular architecture and should take many of its styling cues from the VW Crossblue Coupe Concept (pictured above).

Standard versions of the upcoming Tiguan Coupe will offer 1.4- and 2.0-liter gasoline engines, while a plug-in hybrid variant will join the lineup sometime after launch.

The Mercedes-AMG GLA45 and the Audi RS Q3 will be the hot Tiguan's main competition. The Tiguan Coupe should debut sometime in 2017 while the hotter R variant will probably appear sometime in 2018.

[Source: Autocar]

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Audi Q6 e-tron to use LG Chem, Samsung SDI Batteries for 310-Mile Range

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The Audi Q6 e-tron all-electric SUV will use newly developed batteries which allow the sporty SUV to travel over 310 miles.

The new batteries use cell modules from South Korean suppliers LG Chem and Samsung SDI. Each of these companies will be investing in the new cell technology and will supply Audi with batteries from their European plants.

The all-electric SUV is supposed to launch by 2018 and will compete with the upcoming Tesla Model X. Audi says that the new cells will also allow the sport SUV to offer high performance. It will be based off the next-generation Q5 and will wear unique styling, cues from which will be present on all of the brand's upcoming EVs.

"With our first battery-electric Audi-SUV, we are combining an emission-free drive system with driving pleasure," said Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Development. "We will optimally integrate the innovative cell modules developed with LG Chem and Samsung SDI into our vehicle architecture, thus achieving an attractive overall package of sportiness and range."

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Watch the McLaren 570S Drifting in Extreme Conditions

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McLaren is nearly ready to launch the new 570S and 540C and the brand has released a video showing the cars during extreme testing.

These new sports cars, part of McLaren's Sports Series, will be the most attainable cars the British supercar maker has produced. The 570S puts down 562 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque from its 3.8-liter turbocharged V8, while the 540C, which won't be coming to the U.S., makes due with 533 hp from the same engine. Running from 0 to 60 mph will take the 570S just 3.2 seconds while the 540C will make the run in 3.5 seconds.

A carbon fiber monocoque supports both cars and has been tweaked to make ingress and egress easier compared to McLaren's larger cars. This is in anticipation of this car being sold in larger quantities thanks to its lower price point, starting around $185,000, putting it right in line with the Porsche 911 Turbo.

McLaren has been hard at work testing this car, running it over 310,000 miles in some of the most extreme conditions from around the world including the Arizona desert and the arctic reaches of Northern Sweden.

Deliveries of the 570S will begin before the end of this year, while the full Sports Series family will be launched by the end of 2017. The 540C will come to North America, but for now will only be sold in Canada.

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Car Reviews

Thursday, 13 August 2015