Ignition

On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman investigates whether the fabled Italian brand can actually build a decent SUV. Long known for racing glory, the Maserati Trident has never before graced the body of an off-roader. Furthermore, can the Levante actually survive off the pavement? More importantly, is there any way that even a drop or two of Maserati’s on-track heritage makes it into a fancy crossover? And is it or can it be any good? Watch and find out!

On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, Jonny Lieberman takes a look at a 700hp British luxury sledgehammer, the second-generation Bentley Continental Supersports. The first-generation Supersports was, in Lieberman’s mind at least, the greatest Continental ever made. Eight years later there’s a new one and power is through the roof. But is it as good as the first? As important, is the new Supersports a fitting coda to the reborn Continental? Also, what does Randy Pobst make of the thing on the track? Watch and find out!

On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, we take McLaren’s newest supercar and find out if it eclipses the supersophisticated, incredibly expensive hybrid hypercars of just a few years ago. To do that, Jethro Bovingdon first experiences it on the public road and then takes it to Willow Springs to see if it can beat the Porsche 918 Spyder’s scintillating lap record. So can the 720S stand toe-to-toe with P1, 918 Spyder, and LaFerrari and set a new performance benchmark? Watch and find out.

On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, raging bull apostle Jonny Lieberman sets out to convince doubting Jethro Bovingdon that the wind-cheating Huracán Performante really is as good as Lamborghini says it is. Remember, Lambo showed the world a Nürburgring lap time of 6:52.01, at the time a record-breaking run that was 4.99 seconds quicker than the Porsche 918 Spyder. The plan is of course to hand the Performante over to pro driver Randy Pobst—the man who set the Big Willow lap record of 1:23.54—to see what he can make of the bright green beastie. If the Performante can beat the 918 on Big Willow, then surely it can (and did) do the deed on the ’Ring. However, before they get to the track, Bovingdon and Lieberman have a little driving to do themselves. To summarize, does the Performante do the numbers? Watch and find out!

On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, hosts Jethro Bovingdon and Jonny Lieberman take a long, strange look at one of the automotive world’s biggest oddities: the Hellcat-powered Jeep Trackhawk. On the one hand, the crazy SUV is more powerful than many supercars. But on the other, what’s the point of a Jeep that can’t go off-road? Or, as is the case with this episode, on-road, either. Bovingdon and Lieberman decide to see what’s in a name, and put the Trackhawk through its paces on both the dragstrip and the racetrack. With a little help from their pal and pro driver Randy Pobst, of course. What do they make of the nearly hundred-thousand-dollar Jeep? Watch and find out!

The Subaru WRX STI Type RA is a highly specialized U.S.- and Canada-only limited-edition model: lighter, more powerful, and with a unique suspension tune. So, naturally, we took it to Europe on this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack. Why? Well, firstly because Subaru’s heritage was forged on the rally stage in places just like here in northern Sweden. And secondly because we know this pretty cool frozen lake near Arjeplog, right next to the Arctic Circle. So join us on snow- and ice-covered roads and then on the craziest frozen lake you’ve ever seen. Is the WRX STI Type RA really worth nearly $50,000? We’ve gone to the ends of the Earth to find out.

On this special episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, we travel to Germany to compete in the world’s most grueling, exciting, and plain crazy endurance race. Contested on the infamous Nürburgring and with more than 150 cars and hundreds of drivers taking part, the ‘N24’ has become a gritty, old-school alternative to Le Mans and a real throwback to the glory days of tough racing. Host Jethro Bovingdon is racing for Mercedes-AMG in its new GT4 car and is joined by a legendary teammate, too. Will he discover why this track is often referred to as the ‘Green Hell’ or can he conquer the track, the traffic, and the weather to score a good result? Watch and find out.

The GT2 and GT2 RS have long been the scariest of 911s. The latest model takes a huge leap in power to nearly 700 bhp, but also promises to be more exploitable and a bit less demanding. On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, we take it to some of the narrowest, toughest roads we know to see if it breeds confidence or terror, and then Randy Pobst tries to break the lap record at Willow Springs International Raceway. Can it beat the incredible McLaren 720S? Watch and find out.

On this episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, the boys take a hard look at the most powerful machine in the history of General Motors, the Corvette ZR1. Not just one ZR1, either. Jonny Lieberman and Jethro Bovingdon check out both types, the low- and the high-wing cars. With 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque flowing freely from the 6.2L supercharged LT5 V-8, power is not a concern with the ZR1. What is a concern is what the new big-dog ’Vette will do with all that power. The Corvette Z06 “only” has 650 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque, but since it debuted it’s been plagued by a lack of mechanical grip. The ZR1 has even more. Additionally, Randy Pobst has managed to break the production-car lap record at Big Willow three different times this season: first with the 630hp Lamborghini Huracán Performante, next with the 711hp McLaren 720S, and most recently with the 690hp Porsche GT2 RS. Can the even more potent Chevy beat the best from Italy, Britain, and Germany? Watch and find out!

In a world-exclusive track test, guest presenter Marino Franchitti gets behind the wheel of a championship-winning Formula E machine and the all-new version that debuts later this year. Franchitti is a former 12 Hours of Sebring winner, has raced Ford GTs at Le Mans, and classic Maseratis at Goodwood… and this is his first-ever drive of an electric car. If he sees an exciting future in this technology, maybe we should all sit up and take notice. So get ready for a very different episode of Ignition presented by Tire Rack, and welcome to the future. Let’s hope Franchitti discovers that EV tech and driving thrills can go hand-in-hand.