To mark the start of deliveries of the 12C Spider in North America, McLaren have released a new film shot at the Loveland Pass in Colorado. Pikes Peak star Rhys Millen drifts the 12C Spider around the snow-covered route “racing” professional snowboarder Chanelle Sladics.

At 11,990 feet (3,655 m) above sea level, Loveland is the highest mountain pass in the world that stays open during the winter months.

The 12C Spider made its global debut in North America during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance last year. The second model from the British high performance sportscar company is lightweight with a high powered engine which boasts 616 bhp, a unique Retractable Hard Top (RHT) folding roof system, and a carbon ‘MonoCell’ chassis identical to that of the groundbreaking 12C. The 3.8-litre V8 twin turbo engine is transmitted to the car’s rear driven wheels through a seven-speed SSG dual-clutch transmission.

A dedicated ‘Winter’ powertrain setting on the 12C and 12C Spider sets all electronic support systems to a maximum intervention level, with gearshift strategy and torque control optimised to limit any loss of traction.

McLaren Automotive is represented by 10 dealerships throughout North America. There are nine dealers located in the United States: McLaren Greenwich, McLaren Philadelphia, McLaren Tampa, The Collection McLaren (Miami), McLaren Dallas, McLaren Chicago, McLaren Newport Beach, McLaren San Francisco, and McLaren Beverly Hills. McLaren Toronto represents McLaren Automotive in Canada. The 12C Spider has a base MSRP of $265,750 in the US (excluding titling, tags and taxes).

I think you will agree that snow plus McLaren MP4-12C = Seriously cool fun.

Here at Racing and Waiting we love getting our hands on new keys to a car, but generally it’s just for a week while we have a car on test. Unless you are lucky to have a sizeable income buying a new car generally means a car loan. Loans are a great way to get something nice without the saving part and with careful planning can be hassle free.

Before even thinking about applying for a loan run a credit check on yourself. There are some great resources for this and it will give you a chance to check your rating and ensure there’s nothing wrong with it. Sometimes previous credit and other information that isn’t correct can affect your score and potentially affect your chances of a loan. You don’t want to stumble at the first hurdle!

Once you have run a credit checked and sorted out anything that wasn’t correct you need to work out a budget to see exactly how much you can afford on repayments each month. Write down what your monthly outgoings are per month, then check your bank statements to see what they really are, quite often (well if you’re bad like me) you will be shocked at how much you fritter away over the course of a week. I’m sure you guys and girls are a lot better with your money though!

Again there are plenty of resources online to help with budget and once you have worked out your ‘spare’ money visit a car payment calculator to see what kind of loan amount you can afford.

There are various loans to finance your car out there, so require a lump payment at the beginning or end and some just require monthly repayments. Bear in mind that a low cost loan is not normally the cheapest route long term. But if you buy wisely your car can increase in value and your purchase can turn out to be a good investment.

These days there are some amazing cars for sale for not a lot of money, but don’t forget these cars cost someone a lot of money brand new and servicing and insurance will still cost just as much. A £10,000 Maserati could cost you the same again at its first service!

Then, it’s the fun part, car shopping, don’t buy with your heart, try to purchase something that hasn’t been modified (so often these cars have been badly treated and often mask damage) Once you have found the make of car you want drive as many as possible, private and dealer to get a feel for which ones feel good and which ones are knackered. You will be surprised how different the same car can feel.

Finally, good luck and happy hunting!

It’s no secret that we love the GT86 and everything it stands for. After last years mammoth #FastandFrugal drive with Toyota’s Scott Brownlee, Keith Jones and Karl McCartney we found ourselves even more in love. In standard form the GT86 is a great fun car to drive and in our round the UK drive the GT86 returned well over 30mpg after some spirited driving.

Finally you can officially buy the GT86 with TRD (Toyota Racing Development) parts fitted. The car features forged 18-inch alloys, front and side skirts, rear spoiler, fast-response quad exhaust and TRD-branded details. Don’t hang around though as there will only be 250 available in the UK, on sale from 1 March. With a choice of just two colours –:Pearl White and GT86 Black– you need not spend too long in the dealership, infact you may aswell just call up the dealer to get your car ordered!

The TRD touches also extended to a branded radiator cap and fuel filler cover, while inside the car there is a new TRD gear shift lever.

These items are all in addition to GT86’s established equipment specification, which includes HID headlamps, front fog lamps, limited slip differential, Smart Entry and Start, dual-zone climate control, analogue dials and meters, drilled aluminium pedals, sports seats, scuff plates, cruise control and the Toyota Touch multimedia system.

Acceleration and maximum speed are unchanged at 7.7 seconds for 0-62mph and 140mph for the manual and 8.4 seconds and 130mph for the automatic. There are slight changes in fuel consumption and emissions: 192g/km and 34.9mpg for the manual and 181g/km and 36.2mpg for the automatic (all figures official combined cycle).

Prices start from £31,495 for the six-speed manual which would be our choice to get the best out of that lightweight boxer engine.

Kent-based Wheelwright has released details of a stunning new design from its premium AEZ range. The latest wheel to come from the German/Austrian brand is called the ‘Bridge’ and uses a range of subtle OEM styling cues to create a tasteful and understated design.

Featuring ten slender and perfectly proportioned spokes, the Bridge looks deceptively large for each given diameter. Each spoke slightly twists as it reaches the rim, adding an additional visual depth to the design. Whether fitted to a compact or premium car, the Bridge makes a perfect complement in style, with a wide range of fitments ensuring that most key manufacturers and models are covered.

AEZ designs are known for their subtlety, and the Bridge, with its discreet CNC-turned centre logo and embossed rim logo to the rim, is no exception.

As Wheelwright’s flagship collection, the AEZ range carries an appropriate amount of buyer comforts – an impressive 3 year warranty is further augmented with the reassurance of TÜV approval. The 5-stud wheel is available in a matte black and premium silver finish, and in 17″, 18″ and 19″, making it suitable for a broad range of vehicles. Prices start from £181.00 + VAT.

For more information on the AEZ range, or to find your nearest dealer, please click to www.wheelwright.co.uk

Finally the wait is over. This latest instalment promises to be the most action packed yet and with filming set in the UK for part of it, there should be a few familiar locations.

The first of three specially commissioned short films was launched last week alongside this years Formula One car. The powerful film features Bruce McLaren and shows life and emotion that we have never seen from what is traditionally considered a very cold and precise brand. Don’t take that as a negative comment though, McLaren is famous for its design and engineering but not so much for showing the emotive side.

Maybe it’s because I have always lived near Goodwood and regularly walk past the memorial but this video really sent chills down my spine, it is beautifully shot and I am really impressed with McLaren for having the confidence to do it.

Directed sensitively by Marcus Söderlund, the short film forms part one of the 50th anniversary trilogy following the ghost of Bruce McLaren as he retraces the scene of his crash at the Goodwood circuit in 1970 – the crash that took his life at the tragically young age of 32. Shot in Söderlund’s trademark, dreamlike state, it is accompanied by a spine-tingling Bruce McLaren monologue, ending poignantly with the words:
“…What might be seen as a tragic end was in fact a beginning. As I always said, to do something well is so worthwhile that to die trying to do it better cannot be foolhardy. Indeed, life is not measured in years alone but in achievement…”

Marcus Söderlund said: “This is Bruce McLaren’s film. I love that Bruce McLaren is revisiting his crash-site, like an angel from a Frank Capra movie.  The script for this film made me shiver and I wanted to recreate that feeling. I wanted to fill the film with emotions. I am obsessed with gestures. These things that reveal who we are and the physical spaces that we inhabit. Films can change the way you look at the world by showing you how another person sees it.  This is how I imagine that Bruce McLaren looked at the world.” 

Parts two and three of the McLaren short film trilogy will be released in due course and promoted, like part one, via www.mclaren.com and virally through the official McLaren Automotive YouTube channel – http://youtu.be/23E1m8ZxFmU – and www.facebook.com/McLarenAutomotive

Mercedes have recently launched their new generation of ‘BlueTEC’ engines across their Benz ranges, with the E-Class diesels being upgraded to being the first hybrids being introduced by Mercedes. They have also introduced this technology to their commercial vehicles and offer HGV training to all their commercial drivers that may not be familiar with this new technology.

The new engines feature Bluedirect four-cylinder petrol engines with direct-injection, increasing fuel performance to 48.7mpg. The diesel engines have received a little more attention, with the first time combination of a four-cylinder diesel engine with an electric motor. This new engine, dubbed ‘BlueTEC Hybrid’ conforms to the new standards of consumption and emissions with those of their competitors, yet still delivering the same performance that Mercedes drivers are accustom to.

The engines have proven to be effective in delivering greater fuel efficiency no matter what size the engine is in other Mercedes ranges. With general opinion now shifting toward supporting greener initiatives, it was logical that Mercedes was going to introduce this new class engine throughout its fleet eventually.

The E-Class is the current testament to having more fuel efficient engines in executive saloons as even weighty cars such as the E-Class can achieve 46mpg when driven properly.

Mercedes engines in some models have a reputation for being notoriously thirsty, especially in the GL and CLS series’. Mercedes aims to have the entire range be at least 5mpg more efficient by the end of the year. This may not sound like much; however, even the biggest engines in the range can achieve so much more than that depending upon the driver.

Fast or aggressive driving styles can really decrease the efficiency of any engine. A more economical approach to driving even a high performance car will let the engine be as fuel efficient as it can potentially be and save anyone that cooperates with the economic style a lot of money at the pumps.

Mercedes is heavily invested in their new BlueTEC engines that they have even installed them into their commercial vehicle lines. They are so confident that the engines can be fuel efficient enough to cut the costs of commercial goods companies that they offer training courses to HGV drivers as to how to drive as economically as possible. As only driving properly combined with clever technology can make any engine truly fuel efficient.

I try to drive my little Mazda MX5 all year and generally can get away with it but last week with the temperatures dropping again i was pushed to my limits, scrapping thick ice off the inside of the windscreen and suffering two dead batteries in as many week my perseverance was being tested. Luckily a very welcome seven day break came along in the guise of the Toyota Land Cruiser LC5.

First things first this car is huge, the driving position completely removes you from the daily grind of commuting in rush hour, towering over almost all cars makes driving a pleasure and a lot safer with excellent vision of the road ahead.

Secondly the cabin is a nice place to be for a long day, I drove 60 miles to pick up a colleague in Surrey then we headed u to Birmingham for the Autosport show, then drove back down to Surrey then I headed into London for a long meeting and then drove back to the south coast. Leaving my door at 7.30am i finally arrived home a 12.30am. 17 hours out and about, I should be absolutely knackered but arrive home feeling pretty good about things having covered 470miles in total comfort.

The biggest let down for me was the mpg, even cursing on the motorway I struggled to see over 30mpg, which is pretty good for a car of this size but didn’t match up without he figures supplied to me. I am happy to put some of this down to my cursing speeds but still feel it could have been a little more impressive.

the LC5 starts at £52,895 which is a lot of money but put into context is actually excellent value. Toyota’s 5 year / 100,000 mile warranty provide a nice amount of peace of mind and the car is built beautifully, doors shut with a solid thud, everything works, all the buttons are firm and don’t feel like they will break off in your hand it’s everything you come to expect with a Toyota.

On the road the the toyota is really easy to drive with a soft ride over the bumps, into corners the The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) does its job well and you wont find yourself leaning and bobbing round the corner. Accelerating certainly isn’t brisk with 60mph reached in 11 seconds but with 420lb/ft of torque the 3.0 diesel can give you the confidence to overtake when needed. The automatic box is very smooth and if you try to keep your driving with in the recommended Eco mode you will struggle to notice the shifts. The Variable Flow Control power steering adapts the level of assistance to suit the conditions and is also worth mentioning as when you do come across one of your favourite roads there is still fun to be had hustling the Land Cruiser along with the steering firming up to give decent feedback through the corners.

Parking a car of this size could be a really scary prospect but the rear parking camera is exceptional meaning you can reverse as far back as the car will go into spaces. You will soon find yourself putting other road users in smaller cars to shame in the car parks!

Toyota take their sound systems very seriously and the LC5 comes with an excellent 17 speaker JBL system, spend a few minutes setting up the balance of the speakers to your own ears and it really does impress across all genres of music. As you would expect the LC5 has Bluetooth for your music and phone as well as a USB connection for MP3 and iPod playback.

Over the week sadly no opportunity arose to take the LC5 off-road but there is a reason these cars are popular with people in remote parts of the world, they do their job exceptionally well with out requiring a hug fanfare about it.

After seven days my only regret is giving back the keys, even with over 600 miles covered I still had more things I wanted to try out in the car and at this time of year there is no place I would rather be sat for my day to day driving needs.

28th February – 3rd March, £595pp

Racing and Waiting have teamed up with Classic Grand Touring and AutoTweetUp to offer you guys a fantastic reduced rate on their excellent ice driving excursion. This is probably the best value ice driving experience out there, check out what Thomas from Classic GT has to say below about the event.

Possibly the most fun you can have on four wheels……
We have been visiting the same lake for the last five winters so we know all the elements required to make your trip a very memorable one. We arrange the flights and hire cars to get you up to the lake. We have accommodation organised for three nights allowing us two full days driving on the lake. You will have initial instruction in each of the FWD, RWD and 4WD cars to get the most out of them, then you will be free to enjoy the different cars all day long. At the end of the weekend there will be a timed stage to assess how far you have mastered the art of driving quickly on ice.

Thursday 28 February
Fly from Gatwick on the 0910 flight arriving at Oslo Gardemoen airport at 1220. We collect our hire cars here (Car hire to be organised directly by you, we can help with this) and drive in convoy up to the lake; expect a three hour drive. We will go straight to the lake for our briefing on the weekend’s activities, and there might even be time for a few laps before the sun goes down.

Friday 1 March
After breakfast we head to the lake to get started in the cars. We will share the time between the cars available whilst taking instruction through the day. Lunch is included here.

Saturday 2 March
Again we have a full day on the Lake with lunch included. We aim to round the day off with a timed stage. We will have a finale evening at one of the ski resorts.

Sunday 3 March
Either there is the final opportunity to drive on the lake otherwise we can organise a karting race. We will then return back to Oslo airport for the 1820 flight arriving into Gatwick at 1930.

The price
£595 per person based on two persons sharing a room
Single supplement £100

Car hire isn’t included in the price but tends to cost around £300 for a Nissan X-Trail which is just £75 when split between four people.

This is going to be a popular event so don’t hesitate for too long. We have just 12 places available.

Any questions please ask, Thomas is also on Twitter as @classicgt so add him and have a chat.

Email us to find out more or to get your name down

Launched at the recent Essen Motorshow, the well-proven BILSTEIN B16 ridecontrol® system has just received an innovative upgrade in the form of a convenient iPhone-App.

The switchable suspension system, which offers three pre-set suspension modes, can now be switched in an instant after the simple downloading of the BILSTEIN software from the App Store. Once loaded, precision adjustment of the Comfort, Normal and Sport modes can be achieved by varying the acceleration thresholds, switching times and filter parameters to create an absolutely bespoke suspension set-up. It’s like having a race-engineer in your phone!

Each of the basic settings was achieved after extensive test driving at BILSTEIN’s Papenburg test facility in Germany, along with exhaustive benchmarking on the Nordschleife. As well as allowing remote switching between modes, the BILSTEIN software also presents a graphical representation of both longitudinal and transverse acceleration forces on the iPhone, as well as saving of all adjustment parameters. Even illuminating the control button can be done remotely!

Adjustment can be made ‘on the fly’ at any speed. The self-explanatory ‘Normal’ mode apes all factory damper settings, ‘Comfort’ softens everything off for a superbly cosseting ride whereas ‘Sport’ draws on BILSTEIN’s enviable competition experience to deliver sharply focused vehicle dynamics with peerless handling and enhanced driver feedback. Perfect for driving at the absolute limit!

The app itself is very clear and simple to use, making initial set-up and subsequent adjustments the work of mere seconds. The price of the system has yet to be confirmed, but will be in line with the rest of the BILSTEIN range. Fitments will be rolled out in the first quarter of 2013.

For more details etc please click to www.bilstein.de or call BILSTEIN UK on 0116 247 8930.