Ten things we learned this week: 17 July 2015 edition

This week we got more details on the Vuhl 05, a trackday toy that sells for just shy of £60,000. That’s a staggering £23,000 more than one British gentleman recently paid for this, an actual Formula 1 car raced by Rubens Barrichello in 2007.

He describes it as “the worst performing Honda F1 ever,” likely prompting protestations from Jenson Button, but added that it’s more than adequate as a loopy track toy.

Its bargain price is perhaps explained by its lack of engine, with its owner seeking a 500bhp V8 to get him and his girlfriend used to the chassis (presumably not at the same time) before a 750bhp upgrade.

If he does succeed in getting his hands on a reliable, 750bhp Honda engine, we suspect McLaren might like to know where from...

Or so says Roberto Giolito. Fiat’s Head of Design told TG this week Dante Giacosa – the man behind the original 500 from the fifties – would favour the bloated brother of its modern-day successor.

“The guy was dreaming of a car with a very efficient greenhouse and cockpit, instead of creating a car with a certain design,” Giolito told TG.

“I guess in the 500 family the L would be the preferred one for Mr Giacosa, because of the efficiency, the visibilities. The car has basically no obstruction, because any pillar was dimensionally at the minimum thickness.”

We still think it’s fugly.

A bunch of Ssangyong SUVs and pickups will ferry the great and good of motor racing around Britain’s second-best-known classic motorsport event next weekend.

In bald terms, they’re handy for their many seats and field-crossing ability. In PR speak? “SsangYong is Korea’s oldest vehicle manufacturer, and with a history stretching back over 60 years, we have a heritage that well complements that of many of the cars lining up on the grid.”

Perhaps true, but TG suspects that none of the cars lining up on the Silverstone Classic grid will wear a Ssangyong badge.

Not if VW has its way, anyhow, for this video shows us the future of plonking your car in front of things when you don’t want to park it yourself. Simply hop out, and the spookily intelligent car will trot off and find a space itself, seeking out a charging point if it’s electrically powered and needing juice.

It’s all with the aim of making our lives easier and giving us more of that valuable free-time stuff. In the case of valet parkers, they look set to gain a lot more free time.

Certainly not to the eyes of Ten Things it doesn’t. He certainly won’t sit astride it like his road-racing bikes, but then even someone with plums of Guy Martin proportions would probably rather be encased in a cabin when there’s 1000bhp of rocket power on board. Falling off would not be pretty.

Martin’s – and Triumph’s – attempt on the 376.363mph bike speed record will take place at the end of August on the Bonneville Salt Flats. Presuming, that is, they are salty enough. Heavy rain has lessened the salt’s consistency and Bonneville's Speed Week 2015 hangs in the balance…

It’s difficult to put this politely, but we shall endeavour to. The basics, then: a British lady was spotted rear-ending a fish van in her Mini this week. The apparent cause of her attention-lapse?

She was having, um, an enjoyable moment to herself. The van’s rear-view camera recorded the aftermath of the prang, its footage showing her holding a toy – the type of which we are leaving to your imagination – while adjusting her trousers.

Many puns are possible, but none shall be as subtly classy than that of M&J Seafood, owner of the van involved. "The matter is in the hands of our insurers."

Back when the G Wiz first entered our lives, electric cars were synonymous with misery and being very scared of crashing.

Now, we live in brighter, BMW i and Tesla filled times, where electric cars can be faster and more fun than the petrol cars they rival. Sometimes.

This, though, is the new e2o, made by Mahindra Reva, the same people who brought us the G Wiz and the associated negative PR hurdle successfully jumped by the i3 and Model S. It comes with a heady 25bhp and quite a bit more styling than last time around. These things are relative.

Last week, Ten Things reported the death of the Audi RS4. Well, with a reincarnation turnaround beaten only by that of Easter weekend, there’s a new one not too far away.

So says Quattro boss Heinz Hollerweger, anyway, speaking to Car and Driver. As well as confirming it will have a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, he said it will arrive nice and early in the new A4’s life.

There’s an S4 to come first, but we could have an RS4 in our lives within two years. Can it be as exciting minus a rev-to-the-heavens V8?

We very much doubt you missed this news, but it’s worth recapping. Lewis Hamilton – he of F1 title-winning and fashion-abusing – boasted via Instagram of his posh seats for last weekend’s mens’ final at Wimbledon.

Turns out that was a hasty and optimistic move, however, for Lew’s attire, or more specifically his lack of jacket and tie, got him turned away from the Royal Box.

Rather than nip off to buy what was needed to comply, though, we got another, moodily shadowed Instagram picture. It seems Hammo couldn’t bear a Sunday afternoon of sport without him in the headlines. #dressed

Following the fully excellent brick Ferrari F40 comes this, the Lego Mercedes Arocs.

It’s a bit more complex than the Fezza, with suspension, steering and lift systems to construct – as well as that massive grabber – via 2793 pieces.

Described as one of Lego Technic’s most complex kits, it measures 31cm high and 54cm long when complete. It’ll set you pack a princely £170. 

Add it to our Christmas wish list...