Tommi Mäkinen is mackin’ it hard in this video, released to today by Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. The vid is part of an advanced R&D project carried out at the world-famous the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, using a [...]]]> Tommi Mäkinen is mackin’ it hard in this video, released to today by Subaru’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. The vid is part of an advanced R&D project carried out at the world-famous the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, using a 2011 model year Subaru WRX STI four-door sedan test mule.

His time (7’55″00) is Subaru’s fastest lap time ever for a WRX STI and is four seconds faster than its previous best lap in 2004.

Of course, whether or not the four-time WRC champ’s legendary skills were the deciding factors in this exercise remains to be seen, watch him plow into Aremberg and nearly blow up the gearbox in second, up-shift twice and grab fourth to set up perfectly for the apex, and then slam over the curb with the throttle wide open and accelerate past 100 mph before grabbing fifth and speeding away into Adenauer-Forest, which he destroys! Then, watch him save his ass at 4’19″ (video time) and then again go sideways at the finish line – amazing car control can be seen throughout this vid.

“The car was controllable with precise and faithful handling even on tricky corners,” he says. “I could easily predict the car’s behaviour. That is exactly what Subaru is offering, confidence.”

Now, 7’55″ is not anywhere close to the fastest lap for a production car – official or unofficial – but it is in supercar territory and faster than many cars that cost a lot more money. Click here for a list of unofficial lap times.

Okay, so now you’re ready to see the second fastest lap time ever recorded in a production car? Watch Michael Vergers just blow it away in the Radical SR8 from September 2005. I won’t spoil it for you, but it is faster. A lot faster. And, there’s no interior either. Check it out!

I’m looking forward to having a go with the new STI sedan at Calabogie Motorsports Park later this year; but for now, watching Turbo Tommi Mäkinen go seven minutes and fifty-five seconds flat in a Scooby on the Nordschleife will have to do.

Now, the B200 Turbo is no SLS AMG; and, for the price of a SLR McLaren, you could have at least a dozen fully-loaded versions in which to scoot around your [...]]]> “When I picture a Mercedes-Benz in my head, the original SLR gullwing, iconic G-wagon and classic SEL saloons usually dominate the space between.

Now, the B200 Turbo is no SLS AMG; and, for the price of a SLR McLaren, you could have at least a dozen fully-loaded versions in which to scoot around your compound.

To be completely honest though, I’ve never given the B-class much credence, let alone a second glance in its five year run in Canada. That said, the littlest Benz surprises and impresses at every turn during my week-long test.”

Read my review — B-Class has high aspirations — and check out photos at AutoNet.ca.

They’re not all this crazy and “TestFest” is not all fun and games!

Seventy of Canada’s top [...]]]> The first round of voting is over and there are winners and losers. Here’s a video of me thrashing around the Ste. Catharines Niagara District Airport runway test track in the one of the winners:

They’re not all this crazy and “TestFest” is not all fun and games!

Seventy of Canada’s top automotive journalists spent a week in the picturesque tourist town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. We weren’t there for the scenery or the wine tasting, though naturally many do partake (long after driving shoes and gloves are put away of course).

My fellow journalist members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) and I were all driven by purpose, to find out who makes the “Best New” cars, trucks and SUV/CUVs in this great country.

As part of AJAC’s annual Canadian Car of the Year Awards program, we put a whole whack of these to the test through three full days of intensive, back-to-back testing and evaluation off and on the track.

We call this week TestFest and here this year’s crop of “Best News”…
BEST NEW SMALL CAR (under $21k) – Mazda3
BEST NEW SMALL CAR (over $21k) – Mazda3 Sport
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (under $30k) – Volkswagen Golf Wagon TDI
BEST NEW FAMILY CAR (over $30k) – Ford Taurus
BEST NEW LUXURY CAR – BMW 335d Sedan
BEST NEW PRESTIGE CAR – Porsche Panamera Turbo
BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR (under $50k) – Volkswagen Golf GTI
BEST NEW SPORTS/PERFORMANCE CAR (over $50k) – Audi S4
BEST NEW CONVERTIBLE – Audi A5 Cabriolet
BEST NEW SUV/CUV (under $35k) – Subaru Outback
BEST NEW SUV/CUV ($35k-$60k) – Volkswagen Touareg TDI Clean Diesel
BEST NEW SUV/CUV (over $60k) – Lexus RX450h

The evaluation process for the Canadian Car of the Year Awards (CCOTY) is based on “real-world” back-to-back testing so that the results have relevance for consumers.

In other words, the rigorous testing program includes “real world” driving on public roads–exactly where consumers drive – so that the test, and vote, results are relevant to potential car and truck buyers.

Every member of a test team compares each vehicle in its class, back-to-back, on the same roads, under the same conditions to ensure objective evaluation.

Team members use a detailed rating form, comprising 21 separate evaluation parameters that include acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics, maneuverability, even off-road capability, where applicable. Each parameter is rated using a prescribed 0-10 rating scale.

Every detail, from safety features to cargo capacity, is thoroughly scrutinized, discussed, and individually rated by secret ballot.

Those ballots are then tabulated by the international accounting firm KPMG. The results are kept confidential–even from AJAC–until the awards press conferences wherein the category and overall winners are announced.

I’ll always remember my week with Bumblebee. Seems everywhere we went–and we’re talking almost 1,000 kilometres, including a scoot from Toronto to Detroit and back–people gawked, stared, pointed, made comments and asked all kinds of questions.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

To be [...]]]> And, unfortunately, I had to return it earlier today

I’ll always remember my week with Bumblebee. Seems everywhere we went–and we’re talking almost 1,000 kilometres, including a scoot from Toronto to Detroit and back–people gawked, stared, pointed, made comments and asked all kinds of questions.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

To be expected I guess, driving around in an icon like this. A few motorists even tried to carry on a conversation with me between traffic lights. And, for one week, I felt pretty special. Well, more special than usual at least.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

For example, I drove it to Hyundai Sundai–an owner’s meet and show and shine–at the Korean automakers Canadian HQ last week. The Toronto Hyundai Club has been organizing the event for several years now. Anyway, the day after on their online forum, there was one guy who posted something like… ‘Hey did everybody notice Bumblebee’s appearance in the yellow Camaro–was like it was watching over us. LOL! Just thought I’d let it out.’ Made me laugh anyway! Truth is, I heard that a lot throughout the weekend, mostly from little kids who’d obviously seen this eye-jabbingly hot car in Transformers (the movie) 1 and 2.

2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS

Anyway, the long weekend is starting and I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I only wanted to post a few pics. But, stay tuned for a more in-depth report on my week with the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS. I’ll let you know where and when.

An oldie but super goodie!!! Watch it!

“…Beneath the car’s killer looks is a fully modern rear-drive chassis developed Down Under. It’s the same one used on the Aussie-built Holden Commodore, with modifications to make it longer and stiffer. Not only is the smaller powerplant smooth and powerful, the overall ride and handling of the vehicle exceeded [...]]]>

2010 Chevrolet Camaro

“…Beneath the car’s killer looks is a fully modern rear-drive chassis developed Down Under. It’s the same one used on the Aussie-built Holden Commodore, with modifications to make it longer and stiffer. Not only is the smaller powerplant smooth and powerful, the overall ride and handling of the vehicle exceeded the expectations of many of us this day.

Michigan is notorious for its aging, scarred and potholed roads. Oblivious to the deteriorating pavement, Camaro’s four-wheel independent suspension did extremely well at soaking up vibrations whilst providing a firm, responsive and almost European ride quality.”

The 2010 Chevy Camaro is built at GM’s award-winning plant in Oshawa, Ontario.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Read my full review of the all-new 2010 Chevy Camaro – More than meets the eye – at AutoNet.ca.

“…Just before reaching the (Las Vegas) city limit, a black 3 Series BMW that had been in the rear view for some time pulls up next to my graphite silver Z, looks over and gives a thumbs-up. His lips clearly read “nice car.”

The dozen miles of scenic road in [...]]]>

2009 Nissan 370Z

“…Just before reaching the (Las Vegas) city limit, a black 3 Series BMW that had been in the rear view for some time pulls up next to my graphite silver Z, looks over and gives a thumbs-up. His lips clearly read “nice car.”

The dozen miles of scenic road in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area are chock full of tight twists and elevation changes. Even at, uh, normal speeds the 370Z’s assisted power steering is linear, responsive and pinpoint accurate…”

Man, I can’t wait for my next encounter with the quintessential Nissan coupe!

Read Welcome to Z club and View photos from my first encounter with the 2009 370Z at Autonet.ca.

Today I drove the all-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 MR premium edition near home. Mitsu Canada had invited a handful of auto journs and photogs to check out this wicked cool driving enthusiast pleaser. The roads near me are nothing like those in California’s “Canyon Country” earlier this year where I drove the [...]]]>

Today I drove the all-new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 MR premium edition near home. Mitsu Canada had invited a handful of auto journs and photogs to check out this wicked cool driving enthusiast pleaser. The roads near me are nothing like those in California’s “Canyon Country” earlier this year where I drove the new Evo 10 GSR, so today’s excursion was a lot more sedate with roads that are mostly flat and level.

Both cars have a 2-litre Mivec turbo four that makes about 290 hp and 300 torque, super all-wheel drive and several different transmission and traction settings ranging from mild to wild to enjoy the car with. The main difference between the two models is the GSR has a five-speed manual tranny while the MR comes only with a six-speed TC-SST manual with auto modes (that’s twin clutch super sequential transmission by the way) and different wheels.

Both cars have gobs of traction but I actually prefer the manual gearbox, which makes the car feel more predictable and thus easier to control, even though it’s really loud on the highway. There’s no such annoying exhaust drone on the MR edition, however, there is a sport sharp mode on the TC-SST that I still must (really) put through its paces in few week on the track at AJAC’s annual car Test Fest. On long cruises or even day-to-day driving though the latter trans is really, really nice. Gear shifts are some of the fastest around too. That’s because each clutch pre-selects the next gear ahead of your next shift – it almost feels telepathic.

At the end of the day, I was tossed the keys to a 2009 Eclipse Spyder and drove home. Hopefully the rain will stay away for the next week so I can get the most out of it. It has a new exhaust system yielding a couple more ponies, some minor changes to the front and rear fascias as well as a six-speed manual, which I can’t stop wanting in the Evo. Hopefully, Mitsubishi gets enough requests for it because I think it would make this car even better than it already is.

A few more pics I took…

“…Jeep is a four letter word that’s synonymous with outdoor fun and off-road ability… Similar to how the Subaru WRX STI is a road-legal version of a WRC rally car, the Rubicon is essentially a rock-crawling back-country machine built for the streets… So, instead of the traditional Easter morning [...]]]>

2008 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited

“…Jeep is a four letter word that’s synonymous with outdoor fun and off-road ability… Similar to how the Subaru WRX STI is a road-legal version of a WRC rally car, the Rubicon is essentially a rock-crawling back-country machine built for the streets… So, instead of the traditional Easter morning egg hunt this year, I found myself scouring the local countryside alone for a mud pit or cottage trail to put this “Trail Rated” beast through its paces…”

See photos and read the full review – A Jeep for Unlimited possibilities – at AutoNet.ca.

“…The final 60 kilometres of two-lane highway cements the notion that the GT-R is the new benchmark for everyday super cars if such a thing even exists…”

See photos and read more about my first encounter with the 2009 Nissan [...]]]>

2009 Nissan GT-R: A better every day super car

“…The final 60 kilometres of two-lane highway cements the notion that the GT-R is the new benchmark for everyday super cars if such a thing even exists…”

A legend is reborn

See photos and read more about my first encounter with the 2009 Nissan GT-R – A better everyday super car – at AutoNet.ca.

Also, I got to ride shotgun with none other than legendary Nissan factory driver Steve Millen for a few HOT laps around the Reno-Fernley Raceway in a red pre-production GT-R last week. Hard it was to hold the camera steady, but I made out just fine. Enjoy the video!

Millen has more than 30 years experience in various racing series’. He is the winningest driver in IMSA GT history and perhaps most famous for his colourful and successful #75 IMSA GTS 300ZX race car.

Related:

Photos from Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto
Press release (Oct 2007)
Nissan GT-R Back Under Wraps (Mar 2006)

My latest assignment took me to Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, AZ for an up close and personal introduction to some new high-performance Bridgestone Potenza tires. I tested the new G019 Grid tire on the VW GTI and the new RE760 on the BMW 1 Series. There was also an [...]]]>

Bridgestone VW GTI

My latest assignment took me to Firebird International Raceway in Phoenix, AZ for an up close and personal introduction to some new high-performance Bridgestone Potenza tires. I tested the new G019 Grid tire on the VW GTI and the new RE760 on the BMW 1 Series. There was also an AMG driving session in both the C 63 and E 63 AMG from Mercedes-Benz. Full recaps are coming down the pipeline soon. In the meantime here’s some in-car video of me tearing up the wet autocross course in the Bimmer.

P.S. The video footage was shot by Bridgestone on March 26, 2008. Obviously, the date/time stamp is incorrect. But, the G-force meter is working fine. Pretty cool!

“…Since the dawn of automotive time, vehicles have been named after all sorts of people, places and wild animals. There’s the Enzo (named after Ferrari’s late founder), for example, Malibu (a star’s hollow where you might actually see an Enzo) and Mustang (perhaps the world’s most popular animal-inspired machine). So, [...]]]>

2008 Subaru Tribeca

“…Since the dawn of automotive time, vehicles have been named after all sorts of people, places and wild animals. There’s the Enzo (named after Ferrari’s late founder), for example, Malibu (a star’s hollow where you might actually see an Enzo) and Mustang (perhaps the world’s most popular animal-inspired machine). So, what’s a Tribeca then?”

Continue reading – Benign Tribeca no longer B9 – at AutoNet.ca.

“…Price is a big reason for the new 2008 Infiniti EX35 crossover’s not winning its category at this year’s Car of the Year search organized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Stiff competition from other new utility vehicles (between $35K and $60K) like the Saturn Vue and Mazda CX-9, [...]]]>

2008 Infiniti EX35

“…Price is a big reason for the new 2008 Infiniti EX35 crossover’s not winning its category at this year’s Car of the Year search organized by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Stiff competition from other new utility vehicles (between $35K and $60K) like the Saturn Vue and Mazda CX-9, for example, made this perhaps the toughest category to judge in years.

That said, by Canadian standards, the EX35 scored higher than Mazda’s recently proclaimed “North American Truck of the Year,” yet it came up just short of the (ultimately) class-winning Vue, which sported a price tag almost $19,000 below the entered EX…”

Read the full review – Infiniti does Hi-Tech in EX – at AutoNet.ca.

“…The new Evo is wider and heavier than previous versions, but it has not given up a thing in terms of performance. In fact, this version has been improved upon in practically every area from steering response to controlability and traction to stability. The Brembo brakes with one-piece [...]]]>

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR

“…The new Evo is wider and heavier than previous versions, but it has not given up a thing in terms of performance. In fact, this version has been improved upon in practically every area from steering response to controlability and traction to stability. The Brembo brakes with one-piece front rotors are fantastic (the MR versions will be even better) and they were still going strong after hours.”

Continue reading Shaun’s full review – More than a feeling – at Autonet.ca.

Related:

Evo 10 photo gallery

“…The steering wheel paddle shifters are simply brilliant on this application! In cahoots with the proven QR25DE 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 170-hp and 175-lb.-ft. of torque, manual shift mode gives drivers more control over the powerband. The paddle shifters make the Rogue a lot of fun to drive and should [...]]]>

2008 Nissan Rogue

“…The steering wheel paddle shifters are simply brilliant on this application! In cahoots with the proven QR25DE 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 170-hp and 175-lb.-ft. of torque, manual shift mode gives drivers more control over the powerband. The paddle shifters make the Rogue a lot of fun to drive and should be standard on all trims.”

Continue reading – Rogue is worth a look or two – on AutoNet.ca.

South Korean car makers are giving competitors a real run for the money these days. While some domestic auto makers are struggling to stay in business, Hyundai Canada is upping the ante to appeal to its most enthusiastic owners with a new tuning program called Hyundai Performance Parts (HPP). Granted, [...]]]>

Hyundai Performance Parts

South Korean car makers are giving competitors a real run for the money these days. While some domestic auto makers are struggling to stay in business, Hyundai Canada is upping the ante to appeal to its most enthusiastic owners with a new tuning program called Hyundai Performance Parts (HPP). Granted, the name isn’t as catchy as, say, Mazdaspeed, Nismo, SRT or TRD, but the mission is all about providing superior parts and performance to its customers. It also proves Hyundai is listening to its customers, many of whom point out the aftermarket lacks a decent variety of products and support for their Hyundai vehicles.

That said, personalizing a 2007 Tiburon or Accent SR just got a whole lot easier with more than 20 different approved and tested aftermarket parts that can be installed at the dealership. The impressive upgrade list includes everything from AEM intakes, Vibrant cat-back exhausts, B&M short shifters to Eibach Pro-Kit springs and StopTech big brake kits to perhaps the largest selection of aftermarket wheels currently being offered by a manufacturer in Canada. And, that’s just for starters! Read on my friends.

Hyundai has spent the past couple of years developing these parts with a lot of feedback coming directly from enthusiast focus groups. “This new line is all about attitude and versatility,” said John Vermile, Hyundai Auto Canada’s VP of sales and marketing, during his presentation at the ride and drive event held at the Dunnville Autodrome. “Hyundai owners now have the freedom to make their vehicles truly unique and drivers are going to love the way these new performance parts change the look and feel of their everyday experiences on the road.”

You may recall Gerry and I both drove the entire Mazdaspeed lineup at Dunnville earlier this year (on dry pavement) and we came away quite impressed. Even I had doubts that some tuned-up Hyundais would leave as good an impression on me, but impress they did in spite of a rainy day.

My introduction to Hyundai Performance Parts began with short rural test drives in a stock five-speed 2007 Accent SR and RWD Tiburon GT. With a 10-piece ground effects kit and wheel flares, the Canada-only Accent SR looks sporty and sophisticated. Its 1.6L DOHC four banger mated to a five-speed manual provides ample power and acceleration for everyday use, but I found the stock clutch a bit soft. An auxiliary audio jack, 400W Clarion stereo and custom subwoofer enclosure all come as standard.

Having driven it a couple of years ago, the Tiburon is still one of my favourite sports cars. Its quiet 2.7L DOHC V-6 produces a respectable 172 hp at 6,000 rpm with 181 lb-ft of torque at 3,800 rpm and with some subtle design tweaks this year the car looks even better than before. A European-tuned suspension and 17-inch alloy wheels translates into confident cornering and passing on wet two-lane highways; however, the fact that ABS is not available unless you get the GT Limited model is a substantial turnoff.

As for the compact Accent SR, the track-ready mule I drove (they call it an SR-X) was bolstered by an AEM air intake, Vibrant cat-back exhaust ($849.90), B&M short shifter ($181.95), Eibach lowering springs ($453.95), DC Sports front strut brace ($257.95), Hyundai Performance “SR” alloy wheels with 205/40/17 Falken Azenis RT-615 tires, plus an additional lower rear spoiler ($414.95) that adds to the smart rally car silhouette. An SR interior upgrade kit and aluminum door sill plates command another $534.70 to the price, but does improve the cabin in my opinion.

ABS brakes come standard on the SR Accent, however its lightweight FWD layout makes it difficult to put down the power exiting corners. The short shifter is a nice improvement, but I still had to be very smooth to get traction in the wet, however, the challenging conditions made it all the more enjoyable. The stiffer springs and strut bar noticeably cut down on body roll (versus the stock version) while the cat-back exhaust accentuates a sportier, more aggressive tone. This setup will run buyers an extra $2,693.40 in parts, plus the cost of the wheel and tire package selected. Not bad for a car that starts at $19,995 with the five-speed manual (the four-speed automatic adds $1,000).

Despite its small engine and lack of forced induction, the factory-enhanced Hyundai Accent SR-X was just as fun and sporty on this track. Yes, a modified Mazdaspeed 3 is faster, more refined and has two more doors, but comparing its $33,140 as tested price tag, which includes the cold air intake, sport spring kit and exhaust upgrades, is a bit like comparing apples to oranges here. However, it will be interesting to see if Hyundai decides to add more rally car influence to this car–think turbocharger–alongside its rumoured return to the World Rally Championship.

For my track-time in the modified Tiburons there were three to pick from. First up was the 2007 Tiburon GS-X with its five-speed manual and 2.0L DOHC inline-four sporting experimental Hyundai Performance air intake and axle-back exhaust. No real power gains here, but the suspension was completely overhauled with a fully-adjustable coil-over kit by K-Sport featuring 36-way adjustable dampening, adjustable ride height, front strut brace, some other camber goodies. A StopTech 13.2-inch front brake kit with two-piece slotted rotors and four-piston rear calipers on top of slotted rotors commanded an immediate response from the 17-inch FastCo F66 Version 5 lightweight wheels with Falken rubber.

Whereas the GS-based four-banger model was smooth and quiet with more precise handling and braking, the V-6 Tibs offered more of what I was looking car in a performance car. Based on the GT trim, both had their 2.7L engines were supercharged with a fourth-gen Eaton MP62 blower and bolstered with bolt-on mods including a NGM Ice Box intake manifold, DC Sports headers and cat-back exhaust with high-flow catalytic converter. The dark blue stage one car is based on the GT Limited (MSRPs at $28,995 with the six-speed manual) provided roughly 65 more wheel horsepower over stock at four pounds of boost while the light blue stage two GT (MSRPs at $25,495 with the five-speed manual) produces almost 100 whp more at seven psi thanks to the addition of an Ice Box system, uprated injectors and fuel management system by NGM.

As their new, more aggressive sounds denote, the added acceleration is instantly obvious in both cars. You might expect such powerful cars to slide all over a wet race track, but that was not the case as both were sporting some upgraded suspension bits to combat this a bit. The stage one Tib also had a Weapon-R short ram intake and drove on 17-inch FastCo F66 wheels with Eibach springs and sway bars while the stage two car wore 18-inch prototype wheels and a Tein Super Street adjustable coil-over suspension with EDFC (Electronic Damping Force Controller) that allows spring rates to be adjusted on-the-fly. Both had the aforementioned StopTech big brake kit plus a Clutch Masters stage four clutch kit and nine-pound flywheel from Fidanza to reduce the rotating mass and help put the extra power down.

As tested prices for the Tiburons are not as concrete as the Accent SR-X since they utilize many specialty and conceptual parts that don’t yet have solid pricing affixed to them. On the dark blue Tib, however, you would be looking at an extra five grand and about eight grand for the light blue car, but these are only estimates. It’s worth noting that all current HPP parts carry Hyundai’s standard one-year accessory warranty. As of this writing the Tein suspension and superchargers are still undergoing the final stages of certification. Craig Simpson, parts and accessories development specialist for the company, said “We are making all efforts to bring them to market as quickly as possible while ensuring they meet our stringent genuine accessory standards.”

The rain did not subside, but when the action on the track halted at day’s end it was hard to hide the wide grin strewn across my face. With their higher-pitched whines sounding a lot like the modified RX-8 GT ($41,368 as tested) I drove here, the blown Tiburons were as able, fun and memorable as the latter despite costing substantially less. Their widened, more usable power bands, more precise handling and excellent traction improve an already great sports car; and, as someone who knows the tuner market intimately, Hyundai’s brand of fully-tested and guaranteed aftermarket parts will undoubtedly appeal to its enthusiast customers. If this sounds like you, your local dealer can hook it up.

[Note: All pricing is original MSRP supplied by the manufacturer in CAD at the time.]

Related:

Event Photos

Life is full of experiences. Some you’d like to relive while others you’d prefer to forget. Learning to walk, riding a bike or tying you shoes are some early ones most people will have. Of course, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. At 30 I [...]]]>

Ariel Atom Experience; photo courtesy of OTP

Life is full of experiences. Some you’d like to relive while others you’d prefer to forget. Learning to walk, riding a bike or tying you shoes are some early ones most people will have. Of course, they’re only the tip of the iceberg. At 30 I have many more experiences to, well, experience. But, I can say with complete confidence that one of the most memorable of them will be the Ariel Atom Experience. There just aren’t that many opportunities to feel what going from zero to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds on four wheels is like (and, what better way is there to celebrate my 30th?). The AAE gives you that experience, but that’s just for starters.

The Ariel Atom Experience is a high-performance driving adventure you’re not likely to forget! Part and parcel to this is the awesome Brammo Motorsports Ariel Atom you get to drive. At 1,400 pounds with its whiny 245-hp supercharged 2.0L GM Ecotec rear engine, the low-cost British supercar’s unsurpassed power-to-weight ratio of over 600 bhp/ton translates into pure adrenaline rush.

The second key to having a most memorable time at the AAE is the top-notch team of experienced professionals that keep the grin-filled programs well-oiled and progressing safely with personal one-on-one interactions. Hosted by Trak Motorsports Inc. (TMI), CEO Dave Goadby and his team have motorsports experience starting with amateur karting in 1989 on up to professional road racing from 1995 to 2004. They definitely know how to run a program!

The high level of hospitality they offers its customers reflects their passion for speed and motorsports. It’s immediately apparent upon your arrival at the track where your eyes begin to take in the professional track side paddock dominated by a huge trailer that functions as the guts of the operation. On one side is a covered pit area where the program’s eight Atoms line up and get ready for action.

Running the full length of the race trailer, the opposite side functions as an indoor/outdoor classroom/dining room where participants get both oriented and refueled with gourmet food throughout the day. A manned continental breakfast buffet spread with coffee, tea and espresso is out when you arrive. At lunch it’s replaced by a fully catered affair with menu choices like longue de boeuf, curried Hawaiian broccoli salad, poached salmon with a strawberry jalapeno compote and more.

There’s also a 60-inch plasma screen on the side of the trailer that comes in handy for presentations and video review sessions later on in the day (all AAE cars have in-car cameras installed). After a short orientation briefing it’s time to suit up in your Nomex fire suit, brand new driving gloves and helmet and head out on the track for the first time. Seated next to your personal driving coach who is now talking over the two-way radio from the driver’s seat, the next six to eight minutes will be your first real taste of the Atom. Then it’s your turn!

Going progressively faster every lap up to where you’re comfortable, you will find the Atom drives like nothing else you’ve ever experienced. It’s blazingly fast and the exoskeleton you sit inside offers a view of the road found nowhere else. As long as you have a valid license and can work a manual transmission, you can drive this car fast, very fast!

Depending on the package, full-day programs offer about two hours of segmented seat time in the Atom. At $1,450 per person, AAE Gold packages offer the most driving time. The corporate half-day rate for groups of 20 or more is $495 per person. At the end of the day, if you must own one, TMI–the exclusive Canadian distributor for the Brammo Atom–will deduct your AAE fees from the purchase price of your very own custom-built Atom. How cool is that?

AAE events are taking place on both side of the 49th parallel. Visit the Ariel Atom Experience to find out when and where to have your own supercar experience in this incredible car. Seats are going fast. Ariel Atom fast!

[Update: It's been a few months since I drove the Ariel Atom on Shannonville's Fabi race track on my birthday. It feels like it was just yesterday though. How does time fly by so fast? A couple of weeks after getting to do this, I got married and spent 10 days honeymooning in beautiful, sunny Negril Jamaica with my amazing wife. We had a fantastic time but found it really difficult to re-adjust back to normal life. It's not that I wasn't prepared to face reality again, it's just that I was having trouble getting Ariel out of my head.]

Related:

Photos from my Ariel Atom Experience
Book your own Experience today!