Need some energy? Drive a Redbull...
The super-nifty little formula car that maybe promises a bit more than it can deliver...
Quickfire racing at GT Arena!
It seems RedBull can't get enough of motorsport these days. Their logo is spotted on cars of all different categories and disciplines, Formula One, WRC, DTM, V8 Supercars, Indycar... in fact I think you'd be hard pressed to find a pro race series they
haven't dipped their toes into! And one of their most ambitious projects of recent years was the conception of the RedBull X1. Later renamed the X2010 to differentiate it from it's successor, it was the physical answer to a simple request. Concieve the fastest race car on earth, bound by no regulations or limitations. The result was a 1500bhp, 500kg monster with mind blowing performance in every way possible. It quickly became the most loved (and hated if you were online) car in the franchise, for the simple fact that nothing could hold a candle to it on the track. Some will argue that the SRT Tomahawk X has pinched that title from it. Well, maybe on SSRX, but as the original Duel Of The Week crew found out when
@Cowboy finished up as leader,
The RedBulls are still better when corners are involved...
For 2014 however, we got not one new RedBull car, but three. And the baby of the group is... literally that. A baby in comparison.
When I grow up, I want to be a real X2014!
Many people consider this to be an oversized gokart. I disagree. I think it's more like a near-future Formula 3 car. No 1500bhp flame spitting V6 to be found here, instead you have a 2 litre boxer 4 pumping out 258bhp. It still manages to weigh in at 55okgs, which is odd, given the fact that it's so obviously smaller and has a smaller engine, I expected it to be lighter than it's brothers. It's silhouette is still very much X2014, though lacking the fan technology and glass canopy. It's still got the covered wheels though, so it's got that going for it. It's also very much cheaper. $200,000 is a bargain for a RedBull car, though I'll bet most of you got yours for free thanks to the RedBull challenges in GT6, along with the rest of the X2014 lineup.
Now, it's time to address the elephant in the room.
Moving on, when you ignore the PP level it's actually a pretty neat racecar. With an explosive power to weight ratio, and delivered straight to your garage with a set of RS tyres, you've instantly got tonnes of grip, the rubber, the aero, and the suspension means you can instantly tackle corners with full confidence. I have virtually no critisisms about how it handles, although it is worth noting that the Jr. gets very unsettled if you drive over rumble strips. You're better off avoiding them, there were a couple of times I nearly crashed out thanks to simply using the kerbs as clipping points, as you would in real life. In fact,
@todally_lit very nearly pinched my 2nd place at Tsukuba because I'd gotten loose on the final turn thanks to, yes you guessed it, a rumble strip!
The Jr isn't mindblowingly fast in a straight line, it's more focused on corners and keeping speed through tight sections. However, the gear ratio still seems to be excessively tall, I don't think I ever needed 6th gear the whole meet, and you'd think a closer ratio would further help acceleration. Still, it goes great! It sounds like it's really working for it's performance, not screaming, not too lazy, just enough to sound like it's got a bit of grunt! The fact still stands though... the PP is too high, leaving it all but useless. It's only welcome in the highest tier events, and even then you'll be outpaced by Toyota 7s and Jag XJR-9s before you even get to the end of the first sector. Realistically, I think it should be more like 600pp at the most. At least then it could take on the GT class cars and have a better shot at contention!
With no windscreen, and an open helmet, @Draggon requests at least a pair of sunglasses so his eyeballs don't dry out.
Now, as far as day to day practicality, well it has none. If you were to do a grocery run in one, you would find that it lacks any kind of trunk or storage space. You may get away with it if you simply need bread and milk because it could fit in your lap, but if you need the weekly shop, look elsewhere.. Oh and be sure to check the forecast ahead of your venture, as it lacks a roof. So either try driving while holding an umbrella, install a makeshift windscreen, or just submit to your imminent wetness and wear your swim trunks and possibly flippers. Finally, do not, I repeat DO NOT use it to pick up that cute girl next door for a date. Not only is there an absence of a passenger seat for your petite blonde partner, but you don't want her clinging for dear life to your precious carbon fibre aero parts, do you?!
In summary, the X2014Jr is pretty fun, providing you don't give a crap that you can't use it in any event it would have a fair chance in. If you're willing to overlook the lack of usability, you got yourself a pretty fast, fun car with gokart handling and the potential to set some monty quick laps! Speaking of which, I'll try this week to have a crack at that time
@Vic Reign93 set. If I do, you'll be the first to know!!!
..oh, what? That's right! Beater or sleeper?
I vote Sleeper solely because it can do under 2 minutes round Bathurst with under 300bhp. Respect where it's due!!!
You're going to have to tell us how it drives.
, I ended up with the next car, sooo close.
What car did you get?
