Month: October 2009

Categories
Volkswagen

Amarok to offer dual cab? YES!

Volkswagen Amarok dual cab

[Ed: Bit of a brain fade from me on this one, thanks to revhed for pointing that out in the comments section!]

As this pic shows it looks like Volkswagen will be offering a twin cab version of their new Amarok SUV. The Amarok is due in Australia late next year. The question is, will the dual cab be the launch model, with the single cab version, as seen in the show car, be a later release?

That’s a possibility according to the spy photographer who has been quoted as saying, “The double cab as seen here will be the first model, later on a single cab will follow. Power will come from latest generation diesel engines with common-rail and the Amarok will be offered as both two-and four-wheel drive versions.”

More pics available by following the link below.

[Source: Next Autos]

Categories
BMW Formula 1 Renault

Renault on Pole

Robert Kubica

Robert Kubica will be leaving the remnants of the BMW Sauber team to join the newly reformed Renault team in 2010.

Team Principal, Bob Bell, said, “We are very excited to have signed Robert with the Renault F1 Team starting next season. Ever since Robert made his Grand Prix debut in 2006, he has been on our radar as one of the most naturally talented drivers of his generation.”

Due to the circumstances forcing Kubica’s change of teams, there are twin press statements from BMW and Renault, both wishing Robert good fortune.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen spoke glowingly of Kubica, saying, “Robert played an important role for us – and certainly we did the same for him. He joined us in 2006 as a test driver with no Formula One experience, and then we promoted him to be one of our team’s drivers during that season. He never let us down and, with our first pole position in 2008 in Bahrain and first victory the same year in Canada, he set milestones in the history of our team. We are grateful for his strong and constant performances and wish him all the best for his future.”

Full statements from both teams can be read after the jump.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

Continue reading “Renault on Pole”
Categories
Ferrari

Driving the porcelain Ferrari

Ferrari 599 GTB Limited Edition

Some examples of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano go up in flames. Others get crashed by nancy boy footballers. But, this one, has been given the once over by Chinese artist Lu Hao.

Officially part of the 599 GTB Fiorano China Limited Editions the car will be auctioned off early next month at a charity event in support of Chinese automotive engineering students. The glazed finish is inspired by the rare Ge Kiln porcelain of the Song Dynasty.

I’m glad this is a one off, I’m not sure that exterior is a great look for an everyday car. If you can call a 599 GTB an everyday car!

Continue reading “Driving the porcelain Ferrari”
Categories
Ferrari

Want to see how the other half live?

Ferrari 458 configurator

If you answered yes to the title of this article, then take a squiz here and play with Ferrari’s very nifty 458 configurator.

I was rocking it with the cool 1950s-60s colour Avio Metallic (you can just imagine the orange Gulf Racing stripes down the guts) and the forged alloys on the outside, and went for a charcoal/cioccolato leather combo for the interior. Y’know, just because I could.

What did you come up with?

Continue reading “Want to see how the other half live?”
Categories
Ford Motorsports Video

How much fun is this thing!

Ken Block and Chris Atkinson in action

Want to see what Ken Block and Chris Atkinson can do with a seriously tricked out Ford Escort rally car? Thought so.

The old Ford might look old skool on the outside, but it’s a little bit fancy on the inside. The two rally lads were let loose in the Escort around the track at the Team O’Neil Rally School. Check out the footage after the jump.

[Thanks to Sean for the tip]

Continue reading “How much fun is this thing!”
Categories
BMW Mazda MINI Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – September 2009

FCAI banner

A further sign that things automotive and economic are beginning to look brighter is today’s news from VFACTS that 78,131 vehicles were sold last month. That’s an increase of 4,844 sales compared to the August results.

However, so we don’t forget where we are coming from the 2009 figures for September are down by almost 3,000 vehicles against September 2008. The big improver on last year’s results continues to be the luxury SUV segment (up 30.9%), joined by sports cars (up 17.1%) and compact SUVs (up 5.0%).

FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said, “The September figure demonstrates signs of consolidation in the new vehicle market.”

Overall year-to-date figures are down 13.1% with 2009 new car sales so far totalling 681,974. Toyota continues to be the country’s best seller (16,007), ahead of Holden (9,744) and Ford (8,427).

Chest pumping from BMW, Mazda, MINI and Toyota can be read after the jump (more ikely to be available tomorrow).

Continue reading “New vehicle sales report – September 2009”
Categories
Bentley News

White trash

Bentley - white trash

Manchester City footballer Stephen Ireland proves the old adage that money can’t buy taste. But it appears that money can buy love, contrary to the theory put forward by famous Mancs Messers Lennon and McCartney.

The abomination above used to be a Bentley Continental GTC before Ireland and his money trashed it in preparation for his girlfriend, Jessica Lawlor.

A source from Man City said, “He never told a soul what he was doing and Jess was absolutely stunned when he presented her with the car. She’s as pleased as punch with it and is delighted with all the effort Stephen has gone to in having customised for her every need and wish.

“He’s thought of absolutely everything. The other soccer Wags will be jealous for sure when they see Jess cruising around.”

Follow the link below to see the touching tribute Ireland commissioned for the head rests. It’s noice, different, unewesual!

[Source: Mail Online | Thanks to Tim for the tip]

Categories
Audi BMW

Joy division

BMW and Audi advertising of late has taken on a healthy rivalry. First, it was billboards. Now, it seems as though the ad agencies have raised the game a little and started using audio visual to throw their punches.

In the ad above BMW hits out at Audi in what is, shall we say, a feeble attempt at humour. It’s funny, almost. Actually, it’s a bit daft. But I guess it does make you feel a bit queasy—if you’re male, at least.

The ad from BMW is possibly a response to the longer, but more convincing, swipe made by Audi with last year’s Meet the Beckers series, which poked fun not only at BMW drivers, but also clients of Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. You can see Audi’s three part series below.

Continue reading “Joy division”
Categories
McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C website

McLaren Automotive - MP4-12C website

McLaren Automotive have launched a new website that offers some great information and insight into their new super car, the MP4-12C. It’s pretty cool, too.

Lianne Daly, McLaren Automotive Head of Marketing, said, “It is vitally important that potential customers of McLaren Automotive across the globe are able to see the unique properties of the MP4-12C and gain an understanding of why we are claiming that this car will set new performance and efficiency standards in the core sports car market.

“Until the car is physically presented in showrooms in early 2011, this website will be the only publicly-available source of official information relating to our range of high performance sports cars. Visitors to mclarenautomotive.com can now explore the interior and exterior of the car in beautiful detail and over the coming months time we will add more engaging content.”

That extra content is likely to be the focus of a new blog that will present the latest news from the McLaren Technology Centre.

So, what are you waiting for, get the latest Flash 10 plug in, and check out McLaren’s new e-digs. There’s some extra pics and a new video after the jump, which shows how the gullwing-style doors work on the new MP4-12C.

Continue reading “McLaren MP4-12C website”
Categories
MINI

Mountain climb

MINI Cooper D

One tank of diesel, 161 laps and a touch over 1000km. That was the challenge created by Tarmac magazine and put to MINI Australia and its Cooper D. What’s even more amazing is that this challenge was conquered! A pretty amazing stat, too, 1000kms around Mount Panorama—Australia’s most famous racetrack—on 40 litres of fuel.

Two drivers shared stints behind the wheel across a big day that began early in the morning and finished some 17 hours later. During that time the car only stopped for driver changes. The Dooper’s stop-start function ensured no fuel was wasted while the car was “idling” in pit lane.

A few parameters were put on the crew to ensure the challenge could be met. The first being the most obvious, the 60km/h speed limit—it won’t be long until the Mountain is closed and V8s are thundering around for the annual Supercar enduro, until then, though, the track is a public road and as such all speed limits apply. Keeping speed down is one way to save fuel, keeping revs down is another. For the duration of the challenge the goal was to keep revs below 2500rpm. Lucky, then, that the MINI has great road holding abilities which meant the 60km/h speed limit could be held as long as possible through some of the tighter corners around the 6.2km track.

Pretty cool, huh. You can read all about it in the next issue of Tarmac.

Of course, those of you with a good memory will know that Mini has a strong history at Mount Panorama with another amazing stat in its books. In the 1966 Gallaher 500 (that’s miles, remember) the first nine places were filled by the Mini Cooper S. Nine places! I told you it was another amazing stat!

Continue reading “Mountain climb”
Categories
Volkswagen

GTI Advanced Driving Academy comes to Australia

Volkswagen GTI Advanced Driving Academy

The Australian launch of the new Volkswagen Golf GTI is just around the corner. When exactly, I still can’t say (other than a tip passed on to me for 26 October). What can be said with certainty is that you, yes you, could have the chance of fanging around a racetrack in the new GTI very, very soon!

Volkswagen Australia will be conducting a series of drive days to showcase its new GTI to the public in early and mid November. Sydney’s Eastern Creek will be the venue for the first two days (2-3 November), while Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway will be the venue for the second, and final, two days (17-18 November).

That’s right, no joy for Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra or Perth customers. Not to mention Hobart, Darwin or any rural areas. That said, this appears to be a very cool initiative from Volkswagen, so full marks to them for that.

For more details, why don’t you take a peek at the GTI Advanced Driving Academy website.

[Thanks to Simon for the tip]

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Alonso signs three-year deal with Ferrari

Fernando Alonso

Ferrari have, finally, confirmed that they have signed Fernando Alonso on a three year deal. Tell us something we don’t know!

Alonso is pretty pleased with himself, as you can imagine, “I’m very happy and very proud to become a Ferrari driver. Driving a single-seater from the Prancing Horse is everybody’s dream in this sport and today I have the opportunity to make this dream come true. Above all I want to thank Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who really wanted this 3-year contract.”

Stefano Domenicali is looking forward to Alonso’s input with F1’s most famous team, “We’re happy that we made this agreement with Fernando, who is not only a driver of great talent, but also victorious, as he has shown many times throughout his career, also under difficult conditions. His contribution will be very important to bring Ferrari back to the level where it has to be, to fight at the top.”

Alonso will be just the second Spanish driver to race for Ferrari.

Of course, the Alonso move will trigger a game of musical chairs around the F1 paddock. Already Kimi Raikkonen’s deal with Ferrari will end one year early and it is expected he will return to McLaren for the 2010 season. That will leave Heikki Kkovalainen looking for a drive, along with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld who have some spare time ahead if they are unable to find seats after the departure of BMW from F1. It is expected Renault will pick up the services of Kubica to replace Alonso, with more driver musical chair rumours set to continue.

Meanwhile, injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is under no pressure to return to F1 this season, although his recovery is “proceeding in a very positive way”.

Continue reading “Alonso signs three-year deal with Ferrari”