The Octane Report » Videos

2011 Sno Drift Rally Action Highlights

The Octane Report — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 06:20:53 +0000

Video action highlights from the 2011 running of the RallyCar (formerly known as Rally America) Sno*Drift rally race in Atlanta, Michigan. Ice and snow meet drivers like David Higgins, Dave Mirra, Antoine L’Estage, Travis Hanson and others.

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Tokyo Auto Salon Show 2011 Highlights

The Octane Report — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 08:16:24 +0000

Highlights of some of the best cars from the 2011 Tokyo Auto Salon show floor. Our clips include the Gazoo Racing Nurburgring 24 Lexus LFA, Mine’s R35 Nissan GT-R, RE Amemiya Mazda RX-7, and Honda CR-Z.

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Falken Drift Mustang Burnout

The Octane Report — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:33:50 +0000

Formula Drift driver Vaughn Gittin Jr takes out his Falken Tire Ford Mustang Formula Drift racecar during the Gymkhana Grid 2010 burnout contest. Each competitor was given a couple minutes’ time to do whatever they want and wow the crowd. Gittin chose to do a good ol’ fashioned burnout and drift demonstration with his time.

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Rally Nissan 350Z Donut Burnout

The Octane Report — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 16:29:52 +0000

Dutch rally champion and J-WRC driver Kevin Abbring takes his Nissan 350Z out during the Gymkhana Grid 2010 burnout contest. Each competitor in the burnout contest was given time and a freestyle format. Abbring chose to do donuts around his team using his bio-methanol 300hp near stock Z rally car.

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Buddy Club R35 GT-R On-Car

The Octane Report — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:56:13 +0000

Our on-car video of Super GT and Super Taikyu driver Yasushi Kikuchi driving the 812hp Buddy Club R35 Nissan GT-R. The car is a street car, full weight, upgraded turbos, single exhaust, Toyo R888 tires, and carbon fiber body parts. Raining and wet on track at Willow Springs.

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812hp Buddy Club Nissan GT-R

The Octane Report — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:23:47 +0000

We interview Super GT and Super Taikyu driver Yasu Kikuchi after he takes out the 812hp Buddy Club R35 Nissan GT-R at Willow Springs. With rain falling throughout the day, Kikuchi’s laps are all in the wet. This is just days after his arrival in the US, fresh off of his record at Tsukuba in the Revolution Mazda RX-7.

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Chevy Corvette ZR1 205mph Run

The Octane Report — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:28:22 +0000

With 638hp on tap, the supercharged LS9-powered Chevy Corvette ZR1 is one of the fastest cars that America produces. It was built to be capable on the street and the track but that much power can lead to serious propulsion as well. In this video clip, GM engineers take the Corvette ZR1 out on the banked test oval to measure its top speed – a lofty 205 mph maximum.

Gymkhana Grid 2010

The Octane Report — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 19:03:21 +0000

Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA plays host to the first ever Gymkhana Grid: Ken Block Invitational event. Using elements of autocross as well, the Gymkhana Grid event boiled down to a mixture of timed drifting and\”real\” gymkhana. Class podiums (4WD: 1- Tanner Foust, 2- Ken Block, 3- Stephan Verdier. 2WD: 1- Dai Yoshihara, 2- Jon Rusakoff, 3- Kevin Abbring).

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BMW M5 Powered Burnout

The Octane Report — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:15:55 +0000

Formula Drift driver Michael Essa wins the Gymkhana Grid burnout contest with an incredible run in his E60 V10 BMW M5 powered “350R” pro drift car. Not an actualy M5, Essa’s car is an E92 BMW 335i with a M5 V10 engine swapped in. Turn up the speakers and listen to the noise as the fire-spitting V10 bounces off the limiter in third, emitting a massive cloud of tire smoke.

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Toyota Camry NASCAR Edition

The Octane Report — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 21:15:02 +0000

A quick look at RK Collection’s Toyota Camry NASCAR Edition, on display at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show. Powered by a swapped TRD NASCAR V8 engine, Venza rear suspension, and Lexus SC430 rear pumpkin, the Camry also has a custom sheet metal two-door coupe body. Toyota reps claim that it runs, is fully functional, and does not point towards a possible future V8 RWD Camry.

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Chevy Cruze 2010 WTCC Champions

The Octane Report — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 20:17:37 +0000

At the 2010 Macau Grand Prix round, Chevrolet tied up the 2010 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) with the manufacturers’ title. They would beat such other companies in the WTCC as BMW and Seat. To further sweep the championship season, Chevy Cruze driver Yvan Muller also took the drivers’ title.

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2012 Ford Focus ST Turbo

The Octane Report — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:59:33 +0000

With 247hp, a six-speed transmission, Recaro seats, big brakes, a new body, and a global platform (meaning shared European tuning and rally parts – Ed.), the 2012 Ford Focus ST had the booth abuzz at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show.

We spoke with Jost Capito, Director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsports Business Development at Ford Motor Co., about the new turbocharged Ford Focus ST and Ford’s racing plans for it. Previous to being head of SVT, RS, and all Ford racing, Capito has worked at BMW, Porsche, and Sauber F1. A four-time veteran of the Paris-Dakar rally, Capito has also had his hands in the E36 M3 and 911 GT3 before joining Ford.

To start off its motorsports career, the new Focus ST will be campaigned in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and the Nurburgring 24 Hours race. The Focus ST Race Car Concept, also shown at LA, will be available as a factory-built race chassis for American touring car teams.

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Chevy Camaro Votest Hottest Car At SEMA

The Octane Report — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:23:47 +0000

At the 2010 SEMA Show, the Chevrolet Camaro won the “Hottest Car” award from the show floor. The award was given to the manufacturer that had the most number of vehicles on displays. With numerous companies showcasing the Camaro in their booth, Chevy took home the award.

“With more exhibitors showcasing their new products and styling trends on the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford F-Series and Jeep Wrangler, the SEMA Award winners are vehicles that consumers can confidently turn to for unlimited possibilities in personalization,” said Peter MacGillivray, a SEMA spokesman.

This year’s show features more than 1,900 companies, offering aftermarket products for existing vehicles. Products include those meant to enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks.

Mazda Shinari Concept Car Animation

The Octane Report — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:30:31 +0000

The Mazda Shinari, debuted at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, is a concept car that Mazda says calls the theme of Kodo (“Soul of Motion”). According to Mazda, Shinari is a Japanese word that “describes the powerful yet supple appearance of great resilient force when objects of high tensile strength, such as steel or bamboo, are twisted or bent.”

Whatever the hell it is that they’re talking about, the Shinari is not a production-bound car. Instead it’s a design concept that points towards future Mazda directions. Next RX-7 anyone? This video is a quick animation highlighting the new Mazda Shinari concept car and shows it “virtually” going for a drive.

408hp 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Preview

The Octane Report — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 16:36:02 +0000

The new 2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS debuted to the US at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show with a 408hp naturally aspirated engine, wider bodywork carried over from the all-wheel drive Carrera 4, standard six-speed transmission, and 19-inch wheels. Catch a glimpse in this video of the 911 Carrera GTS, coupe and convertible, driving across some scenic European roads.

Porsche and Ferrari Supercars at Laguna Seca

Joey Leh — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 21:47:27 +0000

The 2010 Global Tuner Grand Prix was the first of its kind, a combination time attack (i.e. time trial) and road racing event featuring cars from a variety of series. Beyond the usual rich guys with Ferraris and Porsche 911 GT3s, entrants included the Super Lap Battle, Redline, ALMS, Grand-Am, Driver’s Cup, and World Challenge series. In this vid, we take a look at the track action from Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

2011 Scion tC Turbo at SEMA Tuner Challenge

Joey Leh — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:07:35 +0000

For more coverage from the 2010 SEMA Show, visit here. John Pangilinan finished 2nd in the 2010 SEMA Show’s Scion tC Tuner Challenge with his turbocharged, widebody, track car 2011 Scion tC. The all-new Scion is one of the first turbocharged models in the US thanks to Descendant Racing (330whp), has big custom Brembo brakes, a full cage, and a custom widebody that will appear next year on Tanner Foust’s own Formula Drift racecar.

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Kyle Mohan’s FC RX-7 at Gymkhana Grid

The Octane Report — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:47:47 +0000

We talk with Formula Drift and time attack driver Kyle Mohan at Ken Block’s Gymkhana Grid event. Mohan’s ride is a 400hp turbocharged rotary FC3S Mazda RX-7 racecar that is also used in drift and time attack.

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Lexus Safety Tech Demonstration

The Octane Report — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:09:33 +0000

Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, CA plays host to our Lexus/Toyota safety demo, which showcases how traction control and ABS make a difference and what it looks like to see these systems in action. Also on hand was Lexus’ new “Smart Stop”, which lets you brake to a complete standstill while full throttle on the gas.

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R-Magic Mazda RX-7 time attack car

The Octane Report — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 21:39:54 +0000

A quick look at the turbocharged widebody R-Magic Mazda FD3S RX-7 time attack car from Japan. One of the fastest track-built RX-7s in Japan, together with the Panspeed Mazda RX-7. The R-Magic FD3S uses a powerful rotary engine and big aerodynamics. We catch up with it at Eastern Creek Raceway in Australia during the World Time Attack Challenge.

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