Well the title says it all. For this episode of their Head 2 Head show, Motortrend assembles a dream lineup. From Japan we have the 550-hp V10-powered Lexus LFA, from Italy, the amazing 700-hp V12-powered Lamborghini Aventador, and from Woking, United Kingdom there’s the twin-turbo V8 McLaren Mp4-12C with 590-hp. These cars will each take on the big daddy, the ultimate super car, the 1001-hp W16 Bugatti Veyron.
Peugeot released two new special editions in the UK market based on the 207 CC and 308 CC. These coupe-cabriolets are the ‘Roland Garros’ editions and they’re fully loaded. The launch of these SE cars is timed for Summer and during the Roland Garros – The French Open tournament, as its the best way of publicizing these models.
The RG editions of 207 and 208 are distinguished by bespoke Black or White paintwork. The 207 CC can be ordered in Onyx Black or Bianca White – and with two engines, 1.6-litre VTi 120 petrol or 1.6-litre HDi 112 diesel – and the 307 CC in Nera Black & Pearl White – with a wider engine choice including 1.6-litre THP 156 or THP 200 petrol, or the 2.0-litre HDi 163 diesel.
As for the value-added features, the 207 gets Aluminium door sills, 17” Melbourne alloy wheels, Bi-Zone air conditioning, an electrochrome rear view mirror, auto headlamps, cruise control and speed limiter, Peugeot Connect with Bluetooth, rear parking aid, electric folding door mirrors and tinted rear windows.
The 308 meanwhile benefits from Roland Garros Luxury Blue/ Grey leather seats, 18” Dark Storm alloy wheels (as GT Hatchback), Peugeot Connect with Bluetooth, front and rear parking aid, automatic headlamps, rain sensing wipers, Roland Garros embroidered carpet mats and a Roland Garros branded windstop.
Pricing: The Peugeot 207cc Roland Garros is now available to order priced from £18,795. The larger, newer 308cc runs for £25,845.
Besides all the close-to-production concepts SEAT will be revealing at the Wörthersee event this year, they will also bring along two new track cars – the Leon Super Copa and the Ibiza SC Trophy. These cars are distinguished by a special grey paint finish and orange wheels, spoilers, and mirrors. You can buy these cars either for competition or just for track fun.
The Ibiza SC Trophy is based on the new generation of the car and features the same 180 PS 1.4 TSI engine as the Cupra, mated to a seven-speed DSG transmission. It does however gets a modified oil sump, a powerful brake system and racing suspension plus 18-inch wheels inside flared wheelarches. The interior is stripped-out and only features the necessary racing bits. The price for this car is a very reasonable 31,500 Euros.
The Leon Super Copa is the more serious offering, with 2.0-litre TSI engine from the Leon Cupra R that produces 300 PS and 340 Nm of torque travels through a six-speed DSG transmission and mechanically locking differential to the front wheels. This car is based on its WTCC version which is a full-on, and fairly successful, racing car. It is also much more expensive than the Ibiza, at 63,000 Euros.
SEAT has come up with a lineup of hot cars for this year’s Worthersee event. One of the most interesting cars at their booth will be this, the Ibiza Cupra Concept. This too is a near-production concept. It was first revealed at the Chinese auto show in Beijing and after the Austrian show it will begin its journey to become a production model and lead the Ibiza lineup.
Being a Cupra you’d expect this Ibiza to be really powerful, and indeed it is, even though it’ only got a 1.4 liter engine. It’s a TSI unit though, and makes 180 PS, which is good enough to make this little hatchback scamper around like a little puppy.
Visually, the car features a Spice Yellow paintwork garnished with gloss black accents and 17-inch alloy wheels, with red brake callipers. The Ibizia Cupra also get the signature trapezoidal lower air intake and LEd headlights to proudly showcase SEAT’s new design direction. Still full of emocion.
At the 2012 Wörthersee event in Austria SEAT will unveil a concept version of the its Mii city car – based on VW up! – tuned by their FR division. The FR SEATS are the hottest versions of the cars this Spanish manufacturer makes. They feature exclusive body styling and benefit from more power and sportier chassis as well.
In the case of Mii FR concept, the show car is finished in Tornado Red and features black highlights o its wheel arches and sill. It is also fitted with 16-inch aluminium wheels and a tiny little spoiler to make it looks sportier. Inside the red and black theme with sport seats, two tone upholstery, red dashboard accents and door trims and FR lettering.
This concept previews an upcoming production version. SEAT has not revealed any details about any performance upgrades though. It’s a pity if this FR only gets visual tweaks.
SEAT’s sister company Skoda also announced a rally concept version of the Citigo. We’re waiting to see what Volkswagen themselves have in store to the up!
For those who don’t like heavy modifications and body kits, Khan offers light packages designed just to refine the base a car a bit, making it feel better. This BMW X5 benefits from one of those packages. At first glance it looks pretty much stock, but look deeper and you notice the mesh grille, side steps and of course, Kahn Design RSL wheels.
The program is more thorough inside the cabin. Diamond quilted leather upholstery with white stitching, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, and a new instrument cluster with red and white dials are among the enhancements made to the X5′s rather boring interior.
There’s no word yet on engine upgrades or exhaust systems, but Kahn likes step by step tuning. So in a couple of weeks we probably get another package. We’re quite keen to see what kind of body kit Kahn has designed for the big Bimmer.
A couple of weeks ago we’ve shown you the Lotus Ladies Cup, a very interesting competition where beautiful ladies race each other on 1.6 Lotus Elise cars. Well, we’ve contacted them and got the chance to get this Exclusive Interview with one of the racing drivers - Anett Kõváry (AK). Anett’s been very kind to answer all of our questions and provide us with a few photos, even from her private collection.
One thing is for sure, Anett’s got a few new fans in our editor’s team, we hope she can also get a few more among our readers.
Lotus Ladies Cup – Exclusive Interview with driver Anett Kõváry
MW – Anett, please give us some details on the Lotus Ladies Cup, how you had this idea and how long it took you to prepare the competition, in this case season 1.
AK – The Hungarian Lotus Ladies Cup is Adrienn Bende’s idea. Adrienn is a Hungarian Formula 1 reporter and a model as well. She thought it would be great to have a championship only for girls. The first season was very exciting because there were a lot of rookies, but also many experienced drivers. If I remember well we had two months to prepare ourselves, which means we have used the Hungaroring racing track twice or three times a week. My teachers were my team-mates in the Zengõ Motorsport (WTCC), Norbert Michelisz and Gábor Wéber. I’m glad to learn from them, they are fantastic drivers and great persons.
MW – Do you think being a support race for WTCC is necessary for the Lotus Ladies Cup to get the media attention it requires, or does the series has enough potential to be on its own, and race wherever it wants?
AK – I think that being a support race for WTCC is necessary for all series, and for us is especially important because most people think girls can’t drive; this way we can prove them wrong and maybe we can tempt other drivers too. For example, Tom Coronel’s girlfriend heard about the championship from me after seeing our race in the Hungaroring, and next weekend she will be racing with us. It’s fantastic, isn’t it? And in the Salzburgring our race will be a support event for WTCC again. We can say thanks for it to Mr. Tamas Frank, he was the one who asked Marcello Lotti about the Austrian race and everything went OK. Mr. Frank has a very good relationship with Mr. Lotti and Mr. Bernie Ecclestone, this due to the series that will run in the Hungarian Formula 1 GP and on the WSR weekend as well. We do have a turn in the Slovakia Ring too, so I think we are international at the moment.
MW – How did that spectacular crash (Kapócs Zsóka accident) felt like from your point of view?
AK – I felt a very huge hit on the right back of the car, and after that I saw Zsóka’s car flying above me. I thought I was having a dream. I can’t explain it because I kept mixed feelings about it, at the same time I know and I don’t know what happened. (I hope you understand what I want to say. ) It was in the first corner of the second lap, so my race was very short. I was sad because I wanted to run a good race.
MW – Do you expect to expand the competition in the future, like adding more tracks to it and more countries to the list?
AK – Absolutely! In the first season we were a support race for WTCC only in Hungary, but this year we can go with the WTCC to Salzburg as well. Last year there were only two countries in the race calendar (Hungary and Slovakia), but this year there are three countries on the list: Hungary, Slovakia and Austria.
MW – Is the competition between between female racing drivers as fierce as it is between male drivers?
AK – Of course! We are friends in the paddock but opponents on the track. Everybody wants to win and everybody does her best for it.
MW – Looking at the drivers pictures, we see that most look they’re out of a Victoria’s Secret catalog; is beauty a condition to be in?
AK – No, no… Look at my pictures! I’m not a beauty; I’m the ugliest girl in the field. I’m a little, thick girl with an absolutely average face. It’s just a strange coincidence that the beautiful Hungarian girls are fast.
MW – (we can’t really agree that Anett’s not beautiful, but well…) How did your Motorsport career begin in the first place, from being a news editor at Class FM radio station to a Lotus driver?
AK – First of all I’d like to state that I don’t think I’m a driver. To be a professional driver you need 5-10 years in the motorsport field. For me it’s just a hobby, my main job is still at Class FM radio. The first thing in my life is the news, but after it it’s sitting in the car racing. To be better on the track I need learn soooooooo much , still, the WTCC has became my passion! I go out with my team (Zengõ Motorsport) almost every race, and I do videos about the events. I like every team in this series, and all drivers are very-very nice! And a brand new thing in my life: I tried myself as a commentator in the Hungarian EuroSport. I did it on the WTCC Marracesh and it was amazing! I really enjoyed it.
MW – What’s it like being a female racing driver anyway?
AK – Hehe… It’s cool of course. To see girls in racing clothes is very exciting for boys.
MW – (we have to agree with this last answer here) Having finished 9th in 2011 season, what’s your ambition for 2012?
AK – I know that I’m not too fast. Someone told me I’m talented, but too careful. And you know, I wake up every morning at 3.30 because I start my work in the radio between 4.30 and 5am, so I’m more tired than the others. That’s why my ambition for the current season is only to enjoy the races and maybe finished 8th.
MW – Did you meet Bernie Ecclestone when he showed up to hand over trophies?
AK – Nope. Unfortunately I wasn’t on the podium at that time.
MW – What’s your favorite race track (besides Hungaroring)?
AK – The Pannónia Ring, which is near the Hungarian city of Sárvár. It’s a very technical track with 18 turns. I like it very much; I had my favorite weekend there last year.
MW – What’s your favorite car?
AK – Where? In the streets? I have a Volvo C30. I like Volvo because it’s elegant and cool and very safe. In the WTCC the BMW is my favorite, because it has results without factory support. It’s good looking, cool and well developed. It’s like a fortress. In the Formula 1 I like Mercedes… because of Michael Schumacher.
MW – Who’s your favorite driver?
AK – Ohhhh, I hate this question because I can’t stop speaking about my favorites. In the WTCC my favorite is Norbert Michelisz, because he is a real Hungarian hero. And Gábor Wéber, because he is a real fighter. Tom Coronel is one of my favorites, because he can overtake in impossible situations. And of course Tiago Monteiro, who never gives up. And Pepe Oriola, a very-very young driver, only 17 years old, but a very fast driver! That’s only the WTCC? Sorry… I told you I can’t stop… In the Formula 1 my absolute favorite is Michael Schumacher. He is intelligent, maximalist, professional, and aggressive when he needs, he’s also the most handsome driver I’ve ever seen. I like Jenson Button as well, because he is a very elegant competitor. And the other favorite in this series is Kimi Raikkönen, ‘cause no one gives an interview as he does. He is the funniest character in the F1. In the Lotus Ladies Cup my favorite driver is Edina Bús, champion of the last year. She is a real driver, the best on the track. And Dr. Ágnes Bánki, who has four children!!! She is a hero I think.
MW – (we also like our fellow mate Tiago Monteiro, I wonder if Anett knew I’m from Portugal) Do you have any story or some final words you’d like to share with Motorward.com readers?
AK – It’s so nice to give an interview for the journalists of Motorward! If you like, come to Hungary for our race and cross your fingers for the “Fighter Princess” – that’s me.
And in the WTCC please support the small Hungarian team “Zengõ Motorsport” and their drivers, Michelisz and Wéber.
MW – Anett, thank you very much once again. Your interview was great! Thanks for the photos, for your time and for being so nice to us! Good luck for your next race, we’ll be supporting you, that’s for sure!
We leave you now with a few videos of Anett Kováry and a short biography of herself.
Anett’s Videos
Anett’s best start, last year in the WSR @ Hungaroring. Started from P9 and in the first corner she was 5th! (I’m a very good starter!! – Anett says )
One of Anett’s first videos @ the WTCC – it’s like a “behind the scenes” from Monza
Anett’s video when Michelisz won his first pole position this year in Slovakia
About Anett Kõváry (Biography)
Personal Data
Name: Anett Kõváry
Birth Date: 25. 02. 82.
City/Country: Budapest/Hungary
Profession: Journalist/Editor @ Class FM Radio
Favorites
Music: Linkin Park, Bon Jovi
Actors: Jude Law, Al Pacino
Food: Steak underdone
Drink: White wine and whiskey
Photo Credits: Observer, Attila Gyuru/Zengõ Motorsport, Tamas Sandor, János Bányik, Pál Nánási, Attila László, Péter Pataky, and Anett Kõváry
) It was in the first corner of the second lap, so my race was very short. I was sad because I wanted to run a good race.
