You’re looking at the insides of the BMW S1000RR engine. That’s the bike BMW runs in the Superbike World Championship. At the time that still was captured the engine was running at maximum revs, which happens to be 14,200rpm.
If you’d like to see what that looks and sounds like, check out the clip after the jump. While you’re watching the clip contemplate for a moment what it would be like to have 144kW powering a 204kg bike. Brutal?
[via Jalopnik | Thanks to Adam for the tip]
Just through from Audi now is official confirmation that the RS5 will debut at Geneva as expected. Following the leaked images of the RS5 over the weekend Audi has also confirmed the car’s basic specs, which are pretty much as reported last week.
Powered by a naturally aspirated high rev 4.2-litre V8 FSI, the RS5 will have peak power of 331kW (450PS) at 8250rpm, with maximum torque of 430Nm available from 4000-6000rpm. Coupled with a specially reinforced 7-speed S tronic transmission the RS5 is able to accelerate to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds. Not bad for a car tipping the scales at more than 1725kg. This is the first of Audi’s RS models to be fitted with the double clutch technology and, at this stage, there is no word on a manual gearbox option.
The engine is derived from the acclaimed B7 RS4 model, but advancements to the engine management, intake and exhaust have enabled Audi engineers to find more power and torque, while at the same time improving overall efficiency. Highlighted by the claimed average fuel consumption of just 10.8l/100km. That’s impressive.
Also getting a once over is the car’s quattro all-wheel drive system. Now fitted with a self-locking crown-gear differential, up to 70% of available torque can be sent to the front wheels, or up to 85% to the rear. In normal conditions the torque is split 40:60, front to rear.
Riding on either 19″ or optional 20″ alloy wheels the RS5 is fitted with 265/35 tyres as standard. To ensure the RS5 can stop effectively 365mm vented discs can be found up front, with the option of 380mm ceramic carbon discs, as well.
After driving the V8 powered S5 last year, I was left feeling like the car was more lazy cruiser than ball tearing coupe. The added power of the RS5 is one thing, but have Audi been able to give the overall driving experience a bit of a nudge as well? Something a car like this both demands and deserves. I’ve heard one unsubstantiated rumour about the RS5’s exploits around the Nürburgring Nordschleife (sub 8 minutes), and if that proves correct it would seem Audi have got it right. For reference, the E92 BMW M3’s best unofficial time stands at 8:05 as tested by Horst von Saurma from German publication Sport Auto.
Other points of interest include an ESP system that can be completely disabled if required. A rear wing, usually hidden in the boot lid, will raise automatically at speeds over 120km/h, it will retract again once speed is below 80km/h. The underbody of the RS5 has been designed to aid downforce, while also providing optimum cooling benefits to the brakes and S tronic gearbox.
Usual Audi RS styling tweaks, such as flared wheel guards and twin oval exhaust tips are also seen on the RS5, as most readers will already be aware.
The RS5 will go on sale in Europe in a few weeks, with a starting price of around €77,700 (AU$117,500). Sadly, you can bet the RS5 will cost a lot more than that when it makes it to Australian shores before the end of 2010.
The full press release from Audi can be read below and six more new pics are also available in 2000px super image sizing.
The fourth iteration in the 5 Series Touring will make its global premiere on 9 April at the 2010 Auto Mobil International in Leipzig. You can see from the rendering above, with thanks to Auto Evolution, what we are expecting BMW’s latest estate to look like. For more on BMW’s new F10 5 Series click here.
Today is the turn of Mercedes-Benz to reveal their star before the Geneva Motor Show. One wonders if there will be any surprises left when the show opens to the public on 4 March. However, Mercedes have most definitely surprised with this new concept called the F 800 Style Research Vehicle. Just look at it. An astonishing blend of curves and surfacing that looks for all money as though it could never have emerged from Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes-Benz are also spruiking the news that the F 800 Style will be the vehicle future Benz models are inspired by. Bravo!
The surprises don’t stop with the F 800’s exterior either. The rear doors slide back, as you might expect on a people mover. The front doors open conventionally and the lack of a b-pillar offers a generous opening to make access into the car a breeze. Once inside you are greeted with a pretty wild interior, as well. It’s quite sparse, but take a gander at that steering wheel. What is that all about!
Pushing the envelope even further the F 800 Style has two drivetrain options, a petrol-electric hybrid or a hydrogen powered fuel-cell electric motor. The latter has a theoretical range of 600km of emissions-free travelling.
There’s heaps to see and read after the break, so sit down and enjoy.
BMW has retaliated to Audi’s latest ad campaign in which the Ingolstadt marque boasts it has beaten BMW in three consecutive comparos. The tests have been run in the US mag Car and Driver and this BMW response reminds Audi that its 3 Series has been on the Car and Driver 10best list for 19 years in a row.
BMW is also offering a $1500 inducement for current Audi owners and if they accept the offer they will also be rewarded with free servicing. The promo quips this will allow owners of the four rings to “leave those Audi maintenance bills behind”.
Now, I’m not sure what the BMW servicing scene in the US is like, but here in Australia I can’t see what benefit BMW would gain from criticising the repair bills of their competition. It would be a dumb strategy.
Similarly, I’m not surprised in the slightest that BMW have responded to Audi’s latest offensive. However, that a $1500 “bribe” is the best they can come up with is not only surprising, but an equally dumb strategy that might be the first step in a very slippery discounting war which could leave both brands licking their wounds.
[Source: Autospies]
Jenson Button saved his best for the last day of pre-season testing at Jerez when he became the first and only driver to break the 1:19 barrier. Button’s time of 1:18.871 was four tenths quicker than the previous best lap set by Mark Webber on day three. Robert Kubica (Renault, 1:19.114) and Kamui Kobayashi (BMW Sauber, 1:19.188) also bettered Webber’s best lap on day four.
A full list of times is available after the jump. The final pre-season test window opens at Barcelona on Thursday night (Australian time). It will run over four days, ending on Sunday 28 February. The first race of the 2010 Formula One season is at Bahrain on 14 March.
[Source: Formula1.com]
Volkswagen’s new CrossPolo will join the Polo GTI in making its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in just over a week. The CrossPolo is the fourth in the range, also including the regular Polo hatch, the fuel efficient BlueMotion and the sporty GTI.
Described by Volkswagen as an “all-rounder”, the CrossPolo has been raised by 15mm. A number of exterior tweaks have also been carried out which further enhance the model’s individual look compared to the rest of the Polo lineup.
A total of six engines will be offered to European customers, split evenly between petrol and diesel power. Following tradition, the CrossPolo will only be available in a 5 door layout and, new for this iteration, all models will be available with a 7-speed DSG transmission.
German customers will get their hands on the CrossPolo first, with deliveries commencing in May, with the rest of Europe and Japan to follow shortly after. No word yet on Volkswagen Australia’s plans for the car, but I would expect they will want it, but possibly with a limited engine lineup.
Further details and more pics are available after the break.
BMW Australia has just launched a three-pronged 5 Series Gran Turismo offensive on the family wagon market. No, hang on, they’ve launched an attack on the luxury saloon segment. Or maybe they’re hoping to come up trumps in the SUV category?
Hmm, just what is BMW doing with this new 5 Series GT model? Maybe they have created a new segment? Or perhaps, regardless of their rationale, they have just given the market another car it doesn’t need (X6 anyone?). For now, I’m prepared to give BMW the benefit of the doubt. Given my dislike for the X6, I’m not sure what it is about the Gran Turismo, but I think it looks great and can see the model being a big hit for BMW.
Whichever market segment BMW’s GT fits into, buyers will have a choice of three engines—the 535i, featuring a 225kW six-cylinder in-line twin-turbo petrol engine; the 550i, powered by a 300kW V8 twin-turbo; or a 530d, a 180kW six-cylinder in-line diesel unit. All models include Brake Energy Regeneration and an 8-Speed transmission. Of course, there’s the nifty liftback dual opening hatch/boot as well.
According to BMW the GT, based on the F10 5 Series saloon, has the same rear seat headroom as an X5 and the same legroom as a 7 Series. The rear seats can also move forward and back by as much as 100mm.
There is an extensive release after the jump which covers the GT lineup in detail. You can also download the spec sheet below.
Manufacturer’s Recommended List Price (incl. GST & LCT)
Downloads
Following yesterday’s images and press release of the Citroen DS3 R comes this official video of the car being driven on some nice mountain roads. Looks like fun to me. Take the jump and see for yourself…
Following the news the Audi RS5 will be released at the Geneva Motor Show comes these leaked images from a forthcoming sales brochure. There’s 28 images in all, but not a lot of written detail is given.
There are no shots of the engine bay, but we’re still expecting to see a normally aspirated V8 under the bonnet to be badged as a 4.2 FSI HDZ. Peak power from the high-rev concept engine should be around the 330kW (450PS) mark. Looking at one of the pics below redline starts around 8200rpm, and it looks like you may be able to extend past that a little. Maybe?
You can see that there will be three choices for seating and four alloy wheel designs to choose from. As expected there is no manual gearbox shown, so it will be S tronic only for now. Hopefully a 6-speed manual transmission is released later at a later date. It would also seem apparent that Audi’s familiar flat bottomed steering wheel is not standard equipment, with all interior shots showing a conventionally shaped wheel. This is offset by the fact it can be optioned in alcantara, along with the S tronic shifter.
So, for now, just feast your eyes on these images and let your excitement build in anticipation for official details to be announced soon. Make sure you click on the pics below to load the larger 1460px sizing.
UPDATE 23 Feb: Official details and images have now been released by Audi.
A MINI Countryman-based WRC entry is looking increasingly likely with news such a car could make a surprise appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in a couple of weeks.
RallyBuzz is reporting that BMW officials met with Dave Richards from former WRC constructor Prodive in Sweden last week to discuss MINI’s WRC future. Rumours of MINI contemplating a WRC entry surfaced last August and with BMW now out of Formula One they potentially have the budget to fund a rally program.
Dave Richards was quoted earlier in February as saying, “It is still our intention to be in the WRC in 2011.” Now, it seems clear that MINI will be the brand Prodrive partners with to make its WRC return.
Here’s hoping the Geneva rumour proves true and there is more MINI WRC news to bring you in the bear future.
[via theSwitchback & MotoringFile | Pic: theSwitchback]
UPDATE 27 July: MINI confirms WRC entry from 2011
Formula One pre-season testing at Jerez finally saw some sunshine overnight and Australia’s Mark Webber made the most hay while it did. Webber piloted his Red Bull RB6 to the quickest time posted at Jerez so far in 2010 with a time of 1:19.299. Last week Lewis Hamilton topped the sheets with his lap of 1:19.583.
A full list of times from last night can be seen below, with the dry weather allowing all teams to record their best times for the week.
Mark Webber isn’t getting ahead of himself, though, and he knows pre-season form doesn’t count for much. Speaking to autsport.com he said, “I promise you that in Malaysia we won’t be talking about the second test in Jerez, things change fast in F1.”
Fernando Alonso was second fastest last night (1.20.115) and the word on the street is that the Ferrari F10 is shaping up as the car to beat in 2010.
After the jump you can see a gallery of pics featuring Ferrari, Lotus, Mercedes GP, Red Bull, Renault and Toro Rosso.
The final day of testing will start in a couple of hours and the only change to the original schedule will see Jenson Button behind the wheel of the McLaren instead of Hamilton. You can follow all the action by reading AUSmotive’s F1 list on twitter. Also keep an eye on the autosport.com website for their live updates as well.