INSIDER.
Sliding a 621kW Mustang around LA
Ken Block’salternative guide todowntowncitydriving, Gymkhana-style
621kW and no
forcedinduction
‘I don’t needcrazypower,
just useablepower. I like
450-600kWanda broad
spreadofpower. [Some
engines] givepeaky power
in a narrowrange, but the
V8is flexible with great
throttle response. You
canbabyit aroundon the
torquebut there’s alot
ofhorsepower whenyou
needit.’03
A super-soft
set-up
‘Thesuspension set-up
is key. I like todrive my
Gymkhana cars like you
woulda rally carona gravel
stage. Theset-up is soft so
the carmoves around, you
get more dramatic weight
transferandit’s easyto
break the wheels loose.
When Ibrake hard therear
end goeslight andI cansetit
into adrift pretty easily.’02
Playground LA
‘It takes aproduction
companywith movie-
makingexperience to
pulloff something like
Gymkhana 7. They’ve
gotgreatscouts, tofind
locationsandwork with
the authorities tomake
it happen.LuckilyI don’t
have todoany ofthat. I
get toscriptthe run with
myteam, andthento
drive it. It’s two-part fun
for me.’01
Handbrake or
throttle?
‘A bit ofboth. I usethe
handbrakewhenI want
toprecisely place the
car. I useweight transfer
andthrottle, which
comesbacktothe set-up
andtyres. Pirelli doesn’t
makea drift tyresothey
made meone from one
oftheir performance
moulds using our
compound.’04
All-wheel drive
‘It’s a4wd powertrain
with acentrediff that
disengagesthe rear
drive whenI usethe
handbrake, soI canlock
the rearwheels without
lockingupthe engine. I
can drive aroundwith the
handbrakeonif I want.
It’s a three-pedalset-up.
For filming Idon’t left-foot
brake but if I’m racingfor
time I’ll doit.’05
Minimal clocks
‘Theimportant dials are
enginetempandrpms- there’s nospeedo.
Themain thing is engine
temp. The cardoesn’t
get alot ofairflow
becausethere’s not alot
ofhigh-speed work, so
we’re always concerned
with keeping the engine
safe. This is the first V
onaGymkhanacar– it’s
a greatengine.’
In the moment
1
Rooflessstreak– puristsmay tut,
but the EvoqueConvertible’s settosate
the appetites ofthosefor whomSUV
coupes aren’t sufficiently flamboyant. Land
Rover may justbeaheadofthe curvein
this premium niche.2
Lessis more– soheartyis the
re-engineering –strengthened floor,
new windscreensurround, sturdier
doors –the cabrio has greatertorsional
rigiditythan the three-door, albeit with
a near- 28 0kg weight penalty. 4WD and
nine-speed autostandard, 177kWpetrol or
140kWdiesel engines.3
Hoodwinked– Remember the
2012 concept’s rigid tonneaucover?
It’s vanished.Instead,the largest
fabricroofin production concertinas
behind the seats, itsfront thirdserving also
asa vanitypanel. Onlyfourseats here, with
aninconveniently-narrow letterbox boot
opening out back.4
Spring sale– prices are yet
tobeconfirmedbut it’s not going tobe
cheap. You canexpectprices tobe
be northof R900 000whenit arrives in
showrooms in thesecond quarter of 20 16.NEW CARDEBRIEF > RANGE ROVER EVOQUE CONVERTIBLE
06