KEN Block and co-driver are okay, but the Cossie burned beyond recognition

Remember Ken Block's rally-spec Ford Escort RS Cosworth? Sadly, memories and some charred structures are the only things that remain of the Cossie, as the car is no more.

After hitting a rock at the New England Forest Rally in Maine, Block's Group A rally car rolled over and burst into flames, which quickly consumed the Euro-spec '90s legend. Luckily Block and his co-driver Alex Gelsomino were able to get out of the car after noticing it was on fire and escaped serious injury. In an Instagram post, Block even says he wanted to continue after rolling the car, as they landed wheels down, but the quickly advancing flames put an end to those plans. The YouTube video above shows just how little time they had to exit the car.

Part of the blame can lie with the Escort's gearbox, which, according to Block, messed up a shift as he approached the corner. In the onboard video, the engine note does sound a little funny just before the incident. Block's racing line, combined with the unfortunate timing for the gearbox malady, caused him to clip a really big rock, which sent the Cossie rolling. It's a shame, especially as Block and Gelsomino were at third place overall.

A Reddit thread analyses the gearbox issue further, with some blame placed on a confused transmission position sensor. 

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Volkswagen starts with profits

Volkswagen has in the first quarter of the current year, the net income as a result of advances in the Save and the recovery of the increased demand for automobiles in Europe was surprisingly strong.



According to the light of power struggle against€Ferdinand Piech is waiting for Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn said with a glossy quarterly balance sheet. The surprisingly strong operating profit jumped to the beginning of the year by almost 17 percent to 3.3 billion euros, as Volkswagen announced on Wednesday before the beginning of the exchange trading.

Cost-cutting measures will affect

Winterkorn can also first successes of his austerity measures. The brand with the VW logo, for a good half of the turnover, operating profit in the first quarter increased by 16.8 percent to 514 million euros. The return on investment (ROI) remained unchanged at 2.0 (previous year 1.8) percent but lean. In the view of Analysts further steps must follow, in order to increase profitability.

Piech had in the Supervisory Board in addition to the weak profit margin of the main brand also denounced a misguided policy in the United States. The problems there are likely VW occupied for some time, because the announced large off-road vehicles are only 2016/2017 on the market.

Piech had surprisingly his resignation as supervisory board chairman on Saturday and from all other mandates in the global enterprise. Previously, he was with the plan in the narrower leaderships were failed, Winterkorn to urge from the office. The 78-year-old had more than two weeks ago by "Der Spiegel" article of his pupil publicly distanced himself and the Volkswagen Group plunged into a deep crisis.

After his departure is open, who at the top of the supervisory body of the Zwolf-Marken -Empire is to follow. As a possible candidate is CEO Winterkorn. He had the influential families Porsche and Piech before long a change in the Supervisory Board in order to Piech to redeem it, if its mandate expires in 2017. However, this was long before the power struggle broke out.

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Sports BMW-Toyota: you go through to the operational phase

ALLIANCE 360° - the collaboration agreement between BMW and Toyota is fully operational and is bearing fruit. To say this is the same German car manufacturer in a statement released to Bloomberg: "the development of a common platform for sports cars continues according to the plans. The technical feasibility study, which began in January 2013, has been completed with success". Now we go on the stage proper. From this point to debut the car real will probably other two-three years. The new architecture, which should also include the hybrid propulsion, should derive the next generation of the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra.

EXCHANGE OF EXPERTISE - the backbone and the technology for the two sports models and only one of the areas of collaboration between the two brands: the plan will include, among others, the development of fuell cell, the study of new lightweight materials and batteries of new generation. At the base of the agreement, an exchange of skills they should benefit from both manufacturers. If the Toyota needs to sports cars to restore energy to the trademark, the concept FT-1 (photo above) is the first taste, BMW has just launched with the decision in alternative mobility with the electric i3 and the hybrid i8.

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Mazda CX5: le photo Spia del restyling

ESCAPE… PAPER - as already advent recently for the Mazda 6, galeotto was the brochure. Once again, the spread of the promotional material has unveiled before expected the characteristics of a novelty. This is the Mazda CX-5, however, reached the halfway point of the restyling still in the form (in the sense that its line and current and shows no signs of fatigue). The brochure "caught" from the site Autifilou refers to the model for the Japanese market, but for Europe there should be no significant differences.

NEW "face" - as mentioned, the main interventions on the Mazda CX-5 of 2015 relate to the front from the profile made tended to be more sharp and where stands a new grid in which the trademark Mazda located in the center and surrounded by five horizontal bars, cravat and chrome. Very stylized and also the perimeter of the mask itself, developed more horizontally and vertically. Deeply reviewed are also the optical assemblies from the profile more horizontal, developed on the side. In their interior contain lights to led with particular design that evokes strongly the portion of the eyes. Renewed and even the design of fog lights, now by the opening different.

APPOINTMENT IN CALIFORNIA? - But the renewal is not limited to the bezel. To give the Mazda CX-5 a new image and a little the whole of the graphics that refines the model. In addition to the new alloy rims, precisely from the drawing totally original. Other news on the new proposal Mazda there are not. However, it is possible that they may know more at the exhibition in Los Angeles, from 21 to 30 November, where the car could further enrich the package of news on the stand of the Japanese house. In fact, are expectations, on the same occasion, even the all-new Mazda CX-3 is Mazda 6 facelift.

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Kia, a breakthrough sports?

Watchword SPORTIVITÀ - Kia presses the accelerator on sportsmanship, from the perspective of differentiation more as the brand younger, more dynamic in the context of the Korean group Hyunday -Kia. This announcement . According to rumors seems to have received approval for the production the concept GT (photo above) unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show of 2011. This is a four-door (rear ones with opening upwind, with a solution that eliminates the pillar) belonging to the band of the market of the Audi A5 Sportback: equipped with a 3.3 V6 petrol, transmits motion to the rear wheels through an automatic gearbox with 8 gears. This, at least, is the engine of the concept: for Europe and almost sure that arrivals also the 2.2 diesel capable of more than 200 HP, without forgetting that the 2.0 that equips the next generation of the Kia Sorento develops 185 reputable museum owes its CV.



BRAND IMAGE - The model series derived from Kia GT should debut toward the end of 2016. The aim of this model will be not to realize high numbers of sale, but rather to reinforce the image of the Kia at the high end of the market, providing a credible alternative to the sedan-coupe as German Audi A5 Sportback and BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo.

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Audi A4 of 2015, the photo light

SORRY FOR THE DELAY - seized on the fact, with a abundant camuffatura that however suggests the forms: the debut of the new Audi A4 is provided for the end of 2015, after which the technical director Ulrich Hackenberg has held (so at least it says) the initial project too conservative at various points and ordered a series of changes that have delayed the debut of a year. The new Audi A4 will have to clearly distinguish between the A3 Sedan, not so much on the European market, as in those where the younger sister was called "to do numbers", China and North America on all. The platform on which the A4 will be developed and the MLB with Evo longitudinal engines, which promises a weight savings of about 100 kg less than the current MLB, also thanks to the use of lighter materials.

ENGINES FOR ALL TASTES - in terms of engines, according to the rumors, would be confirmed, the 2.0 turbo petrol (that probably will receive some horse in more than the current 224) and the 3.0 V6 S4; the musclecar RS4 with bodywork family should give up the V8 in favor of a V6 with dual turbo, while the diesel, at least initially, should be current Audi, recently renovated. There will be versions "clean", hybrid and electric, as well as those four-wheel-drive Quattro.

850,000 CALLBACKS - with regard to the current model of the Audi A4, on the other hand, there is to mention a recall of 850,000 vehicles on a worldwide basis due to the possible malfunction of the airbags: according to Audi, it is not a question of components manufactured by Japanese Takata who brought to recall (here the news) of almost 8 million cars in the United States. In the case of A4, and provided an update to the operating logic of the software: on European territory, the nation most affected and Germany with 150,000 points.

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BMW X1: the photo light of the interior

WE WILL SEE YOU IN 2015 - less than a year from their debut, abound new photos of the new BMW X1, which could make his debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show at the end of September 2015: this is not the first time that the smallest of the suv of the German manufacturer is surprised on the road, but this time the camuffature different still ajar better the differences with respect to the previous model, and the sneak peek on the extensions and sharp and explanatory notes.

SIMILAR TO THE ACTIVE TOURER - Thanks to the pictures of Carscoops we can say that the dashboard refers to the Series 2 Active Tourer, with which the new BMW X1 will share the platform is also a large part of the mechanics. The instrumentation is similar, as well as appears similar the positioning of the control display of the multimedia system, obviously a tactile feedback; appear instead different checks of the climate, just below the sound source.



3- AND 4-CYLINDER ENGINES - THE motors will be the 3 cylinders 1.5 and 4-cylinder 2.0 , turbo charged and petrol-powered or diesel fuel, coupled with manual transmissions 6 speed or Automatic to 8: the same that have recently debuted, it is not by chance, on Mini and 2 Series Active Tourer.

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Porsche 911: in 2015 arrive turbo engines

RESTYLING AND NEW ENGINES - will have double interest the appointment at the Frankfurt Motor Show 2015 with the new edition of the Porsche 911, identified in code with the abbreviation 991. A point of interest is of course the line: see what have changed and what have they invented the stylists of the Porsche for their model arrived at the halfway point of the facelift. If the line should not change very much, under the hood, according to rumors, and hold a revolution as far as the engines.

FAMILY TURBO - it seems that the engines are all turbo, with displacements from 3 liters. This capacity has been mainly decided in function in China, where more than the threshold of three liters you pay more taxes. The architecture will be the traditional Porsche: the six cylinder boxer. The reduction in engine capacity will not, however, a loss of power. There are no official news about the characteristics of the new family of engines, but it is expected that the new 911 will be approximately 370 BHP, while the Porsche 911 Carrera comes up to 420 HP.

New "Face" - not lacking even a few indiscretion on external modifications to the Porsche 911 of 2015, thanks to the photo light of Motorauhority. In the images it is possible to observe the now inevitable front lights to leds, which allow a new drawing of the interior of the lighthouse, which maintains, however, his profile. But important and also the new design of the bumper. Also modified the air vents, expanded to allow a greater influx of air for cooling of the three oil coolers stowed in the front. Behind, the changes are the lights, leds, and the profile of the bumper, which are also formed two openings to extract the hot air from the engine compartment.

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Volkswagen Golf: the next one is already in the pipeline

The Golf 8 will focus on reduced emissions and on a major diet, but there is discrepancy on when released.

LIFE IS SHORT? - Hard, the life of the best seller: the Volkswagen Golf (in the photo, the current series), that is to say the car far more sold in Europe (here to learn more) has been submitted, in its seventh generation, a little less than two years ago, and already chasing rumors on what will be the heir. According to media sources, the german Golf 8 will debut already in 2017, making it very short the life of the current. Not that the previous Golf 6 is duration of more, as that was in the price list from 2008 to 2013 - less than five years, all inclusive.

RICH INSIDE - The future Volkswagen Golf, that other sources more realistic damage to novice for the 2019, will be stylistically very different from the present and will have various devices to help guide, the aid for the car parks to the automatic braking in the case of recognition of pedestrians. Inside there will be neither the head-up display, nor the transposition of app smartphone connected to the display of the multimedia system. As the current Golf Course, the one that will be based on modular platform MQB and weigh up to 50 kg less; also provided three cylinder engines derived from those of the current Polo for the basic versions.

DRAMATIC DECREASE OF CO2 - The goal of the new Golf 8, regardless of the date of debut, would be the one of the reduction of emissions (and consumption) on the order of 90 g/km of CO2, also because in 2020 will come into force new Community standards in Europe just in theme of emissions. According to calculations, for then the Volkswagen will have to reduce the emissions of the future range of a percentage of between 22 and 27% with respect to those present. Hence the need to focus development on aerodynamic efficiency, which might affect the shapes of a car that is born to be the most reassuring as possible and certainly not the most daring.

THE LESSON OF THE XL1 - Always according to the rumors, in the future Golf we should find many of the "lessons" learned from Volkswagen with the futuristic XL1, especially in aerodynamic terms. This is the field in which the German engineers have identified room for improvement in reducing consumption, without increasing the costs of production. The weight of the base version of the next Golf course should be about 1100 kg (today are 1130), a possible reduction without the use of materials particularly sophisticated. On car in this class the margins for the automakers are already today great haste; use carbon, magnesium or aluminum would mean having to increase the sale price decreasing, then, the competitiveness.

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Fiat 500X: ready to debut

We're a little to the presentation of the Fiat 500X, one of the hottest "hot spot" of 2015: this is what we know about her.

IT HAS MOMENTUM - waiting to be able to see and live the next Paris Motor Show (October 4-19 2014), already circulating rumors on how it will be the Fiat 500X. In our reconstruction (drawing above), we played what should be its appearance. Have nothing in common with that of her cousin Jeep Renegade (read here the news), which has the same mechanical. Long about 420 cm, the crossover will have italian a piglio trendy and dynamic, with the rear window very tilted. The front will resume the style of the other cars in the family Fiat 500, but it will be more elusive by adding together the shell-type fenders, a note of sportsmanship. To streamline the bodywork, protect it from shocks and give the Fiat 500X a aspect by car "tuttoterreni", the lower part will present extended bands of black plastic material. For the cockpit, and hold the dashboard of a strong aesthetic impact, where the juxtapositions of color play a fundamental role.

TWO OR FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE - THE engines of the Fiat 500X should be more extensive than that of the Jeep Renegade. It speaks of three units with petrol: a 1.4 or 1.6 with about 100 HP and the MultiAir 1.4 turbo with 140 and 170 horses. The units to diesel fuel will be two 1.6 (105 and 120 BHP) and as many 2.0 (140 and 170 horses). In a second time, could be added the 1.4 turbo (120 BHP) to LPG. Models with no less than 140 horses will be proposed even with the four-wheel drive and, those turbodiesel, also with the automatic transmission to nine gears (debuted with the Jeep Cherokee). Speaking of prices is premature, but probably should start from about 18,000 euro.

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