Today, turbochargers are a standard part of the hot hatch formula. And some of the hottest, like the Golf R, rely on all-wheel drive for greater speed and traction. Both helped start the legends of cars like the Audi Ur-Quattro, Subaru WRX, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo. But all 3 were hard-pressed to keep up with …
Besides Porsche’s cars having a deserved reputation as premium high-performance vehicles, many of the company’s products also have an extensive off-road history. The 959 supercar was partially developed for rallying, and the Cayenne SUV competed in a few. So has the 911, and even now, valuable air-cooled 911s are regularly converted into dirt-drifting Safari builds. …
Racing homologation specials are often significantly different than the cars they’re based on. Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution got a larger engine and all-wheel drive. The Toyota Celica GT4 got that, plus a factory water-injection system. The Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, meanwhile, got a revised suspension, reinforced frame, limited-slip differentials, and Recaro seats. The Isuzu Vehicross, though, looked …
Usually, if you’re going rallying, all-wheel drive is practically a necessity. Although rear-wheel drive rally cars have won races, after Audi’s Ur-Quattro debuted, AWD became the norm. The technology allowed the Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Celica, Nissan Pulsar, and Mitsubishi Lancer to compete on the world stage. The Porsche Cayenne and Rolls-Royce Cullinan are also rally …
Rallying has created some very cool vehicles. Mitsubishi, Nissan, Mercedes, Fiat, and Lada, have all duked it out in Paris-Dakar. Porsche took its famous 911 sports car rallying and inspired a massive trend. Through the World Rally Championship, Lancia arguably helped create the modern car. And your AWD SUV wouldn’t exist without the Audi Ur-Quattro. …
If you really want to prove how good your off-road vehicle is, you take it rallying. Porsche proved its Cayenne in the Transsyberia Rally; Ford, Honda, and SCG duked it out in Baja for similar reasons. Lancia and Audi achieved fame at the World Rally Championship. But for most of the world, the most grueling …
Racing doesn’t just improve vehicles; it also helps automakers start fanbases. Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, and Audi made names for themselves on the rally circuit. And often the technology being flung about on gravel tracks or through desert sands ended up on sale in the showroom. The Audi Ur-Quattro, in particular, helped usher in the modern …
Although ‘racing’ may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to pickup trucks, it’s actually quite popular. Although some series are on paved tracks, the vast majority are set on dirt and rocks, the kinds of conditions that many modify their trucks to tackle. Rallying is the exception. Although off-road, rally …
