Kia Proceed GT
Kia Proceed GT That we rate Kia’s warm hatch on the road is no secret, but what about its ability on track?
WITH TRACK TIME AT ONE of evo’s track evenings booked but my Eunos Roadster currently awaiting a few bits and pieces, it was the Kia’s time to shine on circuit this month. There were a few certainties: it would be a great deal faster than my MX-5 and a doddle to get used to if its road handling was any indication. I was less certain about whether it would be fast enough, and as it’s
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one of the less extreme front-drivers around, I also wasn’t sure whether it’d be particularly fun. I needn’t have worried. After chatting to Kia’s performance-car chief Albert Biermann recently, he most likely has something tasty planned for the next Proceed GT, but the current car is as much a hidden gem on track as it is on the road. The steering, already precise, transmits an extra layer of detail under load,
and while the front Michelin PS3s capitulate early on the road, they found extra reserves on the grippier tarmac of Bedford Autodrome. Both highlight the GT’s surprisingly adjustable balance. It’s responsive to movements of the throttle without ever being snappy, allowing you to trim understeer with the tiniest of lifts and helping out in long, fast sweepers. And the 1.6-litre engine does indeed have just enough performance to have fun with – I clocked around 120mph down the South West circuit’s back straight before leaning on the middle pedal. This was one of the GT’s only real deficiencies during the day – at 1359kg it’s a heavy beast and after four sessions (twice myself; once each for production ed Ev and subeditor Ricky) the brakes were feeling decidedly mushy. And if you think I’m also coming over all soft on Kia’s warm hatch, Ev jumped out after a handful of laps and declared it more fun on track than our Golf R. Can’t wait to try Biermann’s ‘spicier’ version… L Antony Ingram (@evoAntony) Date acquired Total mileage Mileage this month Costs this month mpg this month
December 2015 11,307 645 £0 29.9
Mazda MX-5
After nine months in our web editor’s hands, the MX-5 bites back THE MX-5 WAS LONG overdue a trackday, and with its new Dunlop SportMaxx RT 2 tyres fitted, I didn’t really have an excuse. So it was off to an evo track evening on Bedford Autodrome’s South West circuit that the MX-5 and I went. The Dunlops have done a good job in giving the MX-5 that extra bite that it so badly required on the road, and so it also proved on track, but
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the body-roll issue was even more noticeable on circuit, where the car could be pushed that bit harder. Roll aside, the MX-5’s brakes stood up surprisingly well. It’s wearing OEM pads, but even after five-lap runs they continued to perform. This is largely due to the MX-5’s low weight, which means the car just doesn’t lean on its consumables in quite the same way a heavier hot hatch might. The Mazda feels like it just wants to be driven hard, but it’s at its best at about seven tenths. In fact, anything more than that and you can quite quickly come unstuck, as I discovered. Reader Russell Watson was following the MX-5 in his Mini, filming on his GoPro. He managed to capture the moment where I very rapidly had to learn how to deal with oversteer. Just a lap before, staff writer Antony
RUSSELL WATSON
Mazda MX-5
Ingram had returned in the car saying, ‘It’s much better with the traction control off.’ Gauntlet laid down, I set out on a non-TC attempt at a lap. I was immediately made aware of how much the MX-5 likes to move about. So aware, in fact, that I almost span the car onto the grass. Thanks again Russell for mistaking it for some
excellent oversteer management! L Hunter Skipworth (@HunterSkipworth) Date acquired Total mileage Mileage this month Costs this month mpg this month
October 2015 11,455 793 £0 27.1