This video, which was shot at the Purangi Golf & Country Club in New Zealand, will show you just how a rally car can be of great help to a golfer’s game. Not only can it take the place - and be a whole lot cooler - than a golf cart, but anytime you need any help in sinking a hole-in-one, the Veloster can do the job for you.
Needless to say, you’d be hard-pressed to find a golf course in the world that will allow a Veloster anywhere near the playing grounds, but if it did happen, you can at least know what to do with it, right?
Check out the video and be treated to some bonus outtakes after the fact.
January’s 2011 Detroit Auto Show brought with it the production version of the long rumored Veloster, but Hyundai is using the Chicago Auto Show to display a rally version of the car.
The Veloster Rally Car is powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an Xtrac six-speed sequential transmission. Making giant leaps across the rally road will be made easy with the engine’s 500hp and all of that power comes with an estimated 40mpg.
This particular version of the Veloster will make its rally debut at the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship Series. In fact, three Velosters will be racing during the Rallycross; one will be driven by Rhys Millen, the second will be piloted by rally champion Marcus Dodd and world record freestyle motorbike rider Robbie Maddison, and the third will be driven by to-be-announced celebrity drivers.
Update 02/07/2011: Hyundai has revealed the Rally version of the Veloster coupe today at the Chicago Auto Show.
UPDATE 01/25/2012: Hyundai has unveiled a new commercial for the Veloster Rally Car that shows Join Rhys Millen and crew as they play around with the Veloster Rally Car on the golf course. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the Hyundai Veloster Rally Car.
Hiding behind the shadow of the bigger and better 2012 Lotus Exige S at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show is Lotus’ brand new Exige R-GT. This new racer marks the brand’s return to the rally world, 30 years after their World Rally Championship victory in the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus. The Exige R-GT will participate in the newly formed FIA GT category of the FIA Rally Championship on asphalt in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse, and San Remo.
The new Exige R-GT shares the new Exige S model’s mid-mounted, transverse 3.5 liter DOHC V6 VVI-i engine, but power has been brought down to 300 HP because of the 34mm air restrictor required for racing. The Exige R-GT will also have to pack on ballast weight to meet FIA requirements of 1200 kg (2645 lbs).
"With the new R-GT rules in rally, it’s a very interesting time for us to return to the sport. Naturally our approach this time around will be different to when we won the championship with Talbot three decades ago but I think our philosophy is definitely the same, we want to compete and ultimately we want to win. Our new rally car, the Exige R-GT is a dream come true for those who are passionate about GT racing – this will be their car," said Group Lotus’ Director of Motorsport Claudio Berro.
UPDATE 12/28/2011: After its official debut in Frankfurt, the Exige R-GT headed to the Dallara’s headquarters in Varano Melegari, Palma on December 22, 2011 for its first track test under the watchful eye of Group Lotus Director of Motorsport, Claudio Berro, and technicians from the team. According to Lotus, the results were delightful and the team will continue to test the car until the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship season where the Exige will contend in the FIA GT category on asphalt at events in Monte Carlo, Tour de Corse, and San Remo. We have also added new images from the testing days. Enjoy!
We understand that last weekend has been quite busy for everyone. From Thanksgiving dinners to Black Friday shopping madness, we know that you need a break or, maybe in this case, 22 minutes of sitting down in your chair and watching this awesome compilation video of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS getting down and dirty in the world of rallying.
It’s not often that we see a German sports car getting its panels muddied up and enjoy it. There care plenty of sands flying, mud splattering, and fish tailing going on in this video.
We’ll save you all the explanations and will let you just sit back and enjoy the run. It’s 22 minutes worth of Porsche 911 GT3 RS so in the words of Terrell Owens, "y’all might want to get your popcorns ready."
And might we add, you’ll probably need to get some soda too.
We’ve waited for this show since the summertime so you need to excuse us for getting all geeked up about its premier episode tonight on Speed. Featuring some of the best rally drivers and drifters this side of the galaxy, the Battle Cross Gymkhana Series will see these racers burn rubber on some of the most extreme locations you can find. As you can imagine, the first episode will be held in a steel mill, which is always a good location if you want dust to fly and mayhem to ensue.
The two drivers that will be featured in tonight’s episode will be 2011 Rally America Champion David Higgins and teammate Dave Mirra in their respective Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally cars. As far as mechanics go, the whole competition is centered around two challenges with the first one going to whoever posts the fastest lap while the second one will be awarded to who could do it with more style.
The show will be hosted by rally driver Andrew Comrie-Picard and former WWE Diva Stacy Keibler and the judges will be rally driver Stephan Verdier and drift maestro Samuel Hubinette.
The show kicks off tonight, November 17, 2011, at 10pm EST, so be sure to be in front of your TVs when the flags are waved and the sand-flying chaos ensues. Or if you’re anything like us, set your DVR and get the opportunity to fly by commercials.
