Month: March 2009

Categories
Formula 1

Formula One adopts ‘must win’ strategy

Lewis Hamilton lucky to be 2008 F1 World Champion?

Under new rules released overnight the 2009 Formula One world driver’s championship will be awarded to the driver with the most wins, irrespective of points scored. Were these same rules in place for last season’s drama filled final race then Felipe Massa would have been the one celebrating in the picture above, having won six races to Lewis Hamilton’s five. Of course, Hamilton sensationally clinched the title in the last lap, securing the fifth position he needed to win the title by a single point.

The familiar 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points system will be kept however, and will be used to determine the minor placings once the world champion has been decided.

The potential for farce is high with this system, although, such things usually have a way of sorting themselves out. That said, being used to the system that has decided the driver’s title for over 50 years it will be odd if the second placd driver in the 2009 season has a healthy points advantage over the driver with the most wins. Let’s hope natural justice sorts itself out and the right driver wins the title under the right circumstances.

However, if we cast an eye over all previous F1 seasons then this new system would have affected the results of no less than 13 seasons. Crucially, for Australian readers, Alan Jones would be a dual world champion having won the most races in 1979 as well as 1980, his world championship winning year. Thankfully the BBC has done the legwork for us and a full list of affected world titles can be read HERE.

In other F1 news, teams can opt to break free from the strict in-season testing freezes if they agree to limit spending in any one season to £30M. Hmm, can anyone see salary cap style rorting rearing its ugly head in F1?

Source: Formula1.com

Categories
MINI

MINI Cooper D – Diesel and dust

MINI Cooper D

Australian pricing for the MINI Cooper D was announced today, and its entry level figure of $33,750 completes a trifecta of benefits that leave the Hollywood hyped Prius in its dust.

We already know the Cooper D uses less fuel than Toyota’s hybrid. We already know the Cooper D emits less CO2 emissions. Now, we know it will undercut the Prius on price, as well (according to the Toyota website Prius pricing starts at $37,400).

On paper, at least, MINI shows you can have a fuel conscious car, with style, and driving enjoyment. As MINI puts it, yes, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct-injection four-cylinder engine the MINI Cooper D is fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. A a six-speed auto is available for $2350, if required.

Contributing to the Dooper’s impressive fuel consumption figure of 3.9l/100km is the Auto Start Stop function, where the engine switches itself off when stationary, thereby saving fuel. Other ‘MINIMALISM’ features included are Brake Energy Regeneration and a Shift Point Display that lights at the most optimum time to change gears. There is also a streamlined underbody reducing drag, and many of the car’s ancillaries, such as the power steering, operate only as demand dictates.

The Cooper D engine produces a modest 80kW but, as to be expected with diesel technology, it is the torque on offer—240Nm at a low 1750rpm—that makes cars like this driveable around town. With MINI’s now familiar overboost system torque can peak at 260Nm.

We should see the diesel MINI in showrooms in May this year. Brief discussions with my local MINI Garage indicate this model will generate plenty of interest, and, importantly, solid sales too.

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Categories
MINI Challenge

Denyer and Stokell return for MINI Challenge

MINI CHALLENGE - DecoRug Racing

Great news for MINI CHALLENGE fans with confirmation that Paul Stokell and Grant Denyer will be back chasing the 2009 title with DecoRug Racing.

Defending champion Neil McFadyen will have his work cut out with the fancied DecoRug duo determined to make amends for 2008’s promising, but ultimately disappointing, season.

Bill Gremos, DecoRug Racing team owner, is backing his charges all the way, “If Grant had remained fit, I have no doubt we would have won the Series and Paul would have finished behind him. We had a lot of bad luck throughout the year, but despite all of that, we led the Series for most of the way and Paul had a sniff at taking the Title at the final round. This time we want both cars to be at the front all the way through the year.”

It’s a great sign for Grant Denyer, too, now back to full fitness after his injury scare last year. “There is definitely some unfinished business I need to attend to in MINI Challenge and I intend to do that right from round one at the Grand Prix,” he said.

The 2009 MINI CHALLENGE begins in just nine days with practice sessions starting on 26 March as part of the  Formula 1™ ING Australian Grand Prix. A full calendar of races can be seen HERE.

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Categories
Audi

Want a 340bhp hot hatch? It’s as easy as RS3!

Audi RS3 rendering

Ever since the official details of the Audi TT RS were revealed many have been wondering and hoping the 340bhp 2.5 litre 5 cylinder turbo might find it’s way into Audi’s S3 and morph into an RS3 hatch. That hope has been given a tasty turbocharged boost with reports claiming the RS3 is under consideration at Ingolstadt. The suggestion has been attributed to Michael Dick, Audi board of management for technical development.

The rendering above, which first surfaced on CarSpyShots last year, hints at expected RS styling cues with a deeper, more aggressive, front end capturing more air to feed the hungry turbo. While Audi RS cars are known for their flared guards, the ones above do seem a bit too overt compared to previous examples.

With the TT RS donating its 250kW/450Nm engine we can expect similar levels of performance, suggesting 0-100 times in the mid 4 second range with a possible top speed of 280km/h, if the usual 250km/h limiter is removed.

If the RS3 does go into production, it’s a safe bet to assume it will be a few years away yet. A new A3 is due in 2011 and it could be another two years after that before an RS3 would hit the streets. Until then we’ll just have to make do with hoping that Audi approves such a project.

Source: 4wheelsnews via WorldCarFans

Categories
Safety Issues Volkswagen

2009 Volkswagen Golf maintains 5 star crash rating

2009 Volkswagen Golf VI

In February 2009 crash testing authority EuroNCAP revised its rating system, making its guidelines stricter and more difficult to achieve a 5 star rating. In November 2008 it was announced the new Mk6 Golf achieved the top rating and, today, news comes through that the Golf has maintained its 5 star rating under the new testing regime.

Furthermore, the new Golf has achieved the highest score to date under the new procedures (click here to read Euro NCAP’s comments). The new test evaluation now takes into account electronic systems such as Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and has also introduced a rear crash test, designed to measure load on the spine.

The Volkswagen Golf also has also been awarded a 5 star rating by the local body ANCAP. Although in this instance, ANCAP has taken its data from the 2008 tests performed by Euro NCAP.

New video footage of the Golf’s 2009 test has yet to be added to the official Euro NCAP YouTube channel, however the previous test for the Mk6 Golf undertaken in 2008 can be seen here. Volkswagen’s press release follows below. For more information on Euro NCAP’s new testing procedures, check out their official website.

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Categories
Renault

Eric Cantona says yes to Laguna keys

Big name celebrity endorsements don’t always work. This one, though, pairing infamous football legend Eric Cantona with the new Renault Laguna just might. So far, we only have this small teaser to go on. Watch this space…

Categories
Green Machines MINI

Jay Leno talks about his MINI E

This clip, from Jaylenosgarage.com, shows well known car nut and TV guy Jay Leno talking about the MINI E. The film runs for 10 minutes and gives a pretty good inside look at MINI’s electric coupé, including some techno banter and a drive review.

Source: Jaylenosgarage.com via MotoringFile

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing

Mercedes-Benz has officially announced details of its SLS AMG supercar, the car to revive the ‘Gullwing’ nickname. The 21st century iteration is set to pack a 420kW punch, with power coming courtesy of a hand built 6.3 litre V8, driven through the rear wheels via a 7-speed double clutch transmission.

Built and developed from the ground up by AMG the car will use an aluminium chassis and body panels to keep kerb weight to 1620kg. That will give the coupé a power-to-weight ratio of 2.84kg/hp.

While the performance claims have been labelled as ‘provisional’ Mercedes-Benz say the car will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and will have a top speed of 315km/h.

Despite having the engine mounted up front, the car has a front/rear weight distribution of 48 to 52 percent. This is one advantage of the classic sports car long bonnet formula, which has allowed AMG to mount the engine behind the front axle.

The big Benz will roll on light-weight alloys, 19×9.5 inch (front) and 20×11 inch (rear), supporting 265/35R19 and 295/30R20 tyres respectively.

The car has been in development since late 2006 and will reach the market around this time next year, with all vehicle component testing scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.

More teaser images and press guff after the jump. (Extra images available at eMercedesBenz.)

UPDATE: Renderings of the SLS AMG can be seen HERE.

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Categories
Aston Martin

Internal Aston Martin One-77 document leaked

Aston Martin One-77 interior

Dutch website 925.nl has published an incredibly detailed PDF on the Aston Martin One-77. They claim the file is an internal Aston Martin document describing everything you ever wanted to know about their new 700bhp supercar. I’ve only had a quick flick through the publication, but it is very comprehensive.

Included in the file are computer generated images of the One-77’s interior. The document also confirms the car’s weight as being 1500kg, and is listed in a table comparing the One-77 to the Mercedes McLaren SLR (1768kg), Lamborghini Reventon (1630kg) and the epic Bugatti Veyron (1888kg).

The final power output of the 7.3 litre V12 engine is not confirmed; the relevant paragraph merely states: “we are confident it will produce in excess of 700bhp”.

The PDF really is very interesting, I suggest you check it out by following the link below. For more on the One-77 check out AUSmotive’s earlier entry from the Geneva Motor Show.

Source: 925.nl via autoblog

Categories
Volkswagen

Golf R20T/GTI-R to be unveiled in September

Volkswagen Golf R20T

The latest in Golf R20T/GTI-R speculation suggests an official reveal at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (15-27 September). Last month AutoExpress took a reasonable stab at how the car might look (above). And, while debate over the final badge remains, the good news is that it is now believed the über Golf will have an all-wheel drive 4motion system.

The closest thing to an official release to the predicted range-topping Golf has been the Scirocco Studie R from last year’s Bologna Motor Show. There was nothing in that information that confirmed how many wheels would be putting the 198kW of power to the road. It was hoped this question might be answered with a Scirocco R20T reveal at Geneva, but, failing a last minute headline grabber from Volkswagen this weekend, that hasn’t happened. Indeed, Volkswagen didn’t even come to the Geneva show with a production-ready Golf GTI.

With the hot Golf/Scirocco engine likely to be sourced from Audi’s S3 the adaptation of the donor car’s quattro all-wheel drive hardware seems a formality, and the latest gossip from CAR magazine in the UK tends to support this.

Let the speculation continue, with all eyes on Frankfurt for the final answer.

Source: CAR via autoblog

Categories
Audi Motorsports

Audi R8 LMS deliveries begin

Audi R8 GT3 LMS

Last August when the Audi R8 GT3 sports car was revealed you probably giggled with the excitement of a six-year-old like I did. Well, I’m pleased to say you can giggle some more as news of these awesome looking machines starting to reach customers.

Audi Sport Italia have been handed the keys to the Audi R8 LMS. The handover of chassis number 101, the first customer car, was made on Tuesday in the Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Emilio Radaelli, Team Manager of Audi Sport Italia, accepted the R8 LMS from Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

The R8 GT3 will make a dual race debut in mid-April with both the French GT Championship and the ADAC GT Masters starting on the same weekend (10-13 April). That marks the start of a long campaign for the new machines, with a full list of events available after the jump.

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Categories
News

MINI Cooper S Clubman gets a slice of Fritz

MINI Cooper S Clubman - Space Box

MINI, ever the masters of style, have allowed design gurus Republic of Fritz Hansen to give a Cooper S Clubman the once over. While the Danish design house were at it, they gave Airstream a call to build a rather nifty caravan. Or, in MINI terms, a Space Box.

Both the MINI and the 22ft Space Box will have touches of wetsuit neoprene to really hammer home the lifestyle statement. The trailer doesn’t stop there, though, as it will have a fully waterproof interior. Mr Surfer Dude will be stoked about that, no doubt.

The concept will be presented for the first time at the INTERNI DESIGN ENERGIES exhibition in the courtyards of Università degli Studi di Milano during the Salone del Mobile show in Milan, which runs from 21-30 April.

MINI’s press statement can be read after the jump, and make sure you click on the image above for the full effect.

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