The PistonHeads Motoring Week
A great week for the manual gearbox on PistonHeads!
So a very exciting week on PH as the countdown to Geneva continues. On top of all those we have our usual roster of regular features too. Catch up on everything here!
Geneva is looking good...
Long live the manual gearbox! It's not often that can be proclaimed with the advance of automatics and the focus on emissions. But this week the new Focus RS has been confirmed with a six-speed manual, plus the Porsche Cayman GT4 too. A regressive step for many but one that we certainly applaud. The F-Type manual is very good moreover. It's not dead yet...
Obviously the Ferrari 488 GTB and McLaren 675 LT are not manuals but that's hardly anything to moan about. Both have more than 650hp, rev to over 8,000rpm and boast exceptionally clever electronics to make the most of their phenomenal drivetrains. That should be a comparison to savour.
Not a bad auto, could be better
Turns out February really wasn't the best time for testing convertibles. Both tests for the Lotus Exige S Roadster and Audi TT Roadster were hindered by the weather, though at least it held for a while in Norfolk. Majorca? No chance.
There's an interesting comparison between those two cars, the Lotus auto surely destined for minority status in the UK with the S Tronic Audi set to be the best seller. Now if they could just get a dual-clutch into the Lotus...
There's plenty more besides to contribute your thoughts on. The BMW X6 M is a car that everyone has an opinion on, and now there's a revised car to appreciate/abhor (delete as appropriate). Nissan has also shown its incredible GT-R LM NISMO to the world, there's a new PH Buying Guide on the BMW E39 M5 and even more on the Focus RS if you didn't have your fill already!
Man enough?
Good news on the Lego Caterham front - builder Carl has new designs and the votes continue to flow in so there's a real possibility of the project meeting target ahead of time. Keep voting!
Off the back of the X6 M, PH spoke to new M boss Franciscus van Meel about the future of M Division. The reception has been frosty so far; an M3 packed POTW should ameliorate the purists a little. If not, there's a V8 M3 in this £100K Garage and an M5 estate in this one.
A great week for cars found in the classifieds too. It appeared that this Lister-Jaguar XJS was the rarest car we would come across until a Lexus LFA Nurburgring was discovered. Anyone got a spare £500K?
Finally, just in case there isn't enough Focus RS content, guess what's featured in Carpool...
Coming soon:
- Lexus RC F versus BMW M4
- Vauxhall Astra GTE PH Heroes
- Mercedes-AMG C63 first drive
- More pre-Geneva build-up
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