Categories
Volkswagen

2010 Golf Wagon – Australian pricing

2010 VW Golf Wagon

Volkswagen Australia have just released an Estate version to their volume selling Golf range. Known in Australia as the Golf Wagon, it will be initially offered in two model lines—Trendline and Comfortline.

Entry level pricing, before those nasty delivery and government charges, starts at $26,990. That gets you a 90kW 1.4 TSI Trendline with 6 speed manual. The top of the range model, 103kW 2.0 TDI Comfortline with 6 speed DSG, is priced from $36,490. The usual range of options is also available and a list of prices is available below.

Four engines will be available for those wanting the maximum 1495 litres of cargo space the Golf Wagon provides. Two 1.4 TSI engines, with either 90kW or 118kW are complemented by a 77kW 1.6TDI and a 103kW 2.0 TDI. The full gamut of Volkswagen transmissions is on offer, including 5 and 6 speed manuals in addition to 6 and 7 speed DSG offerings. At a basic level you can choose a manual or DSG with all engine choices, the numbers of cogs you get depends on the engine choice.

This is the first time we have seen a Golf Estate/Variant/Wagon in Australia and it remains to be seen how successful this addition to the Golf line up will be. I know one thing, though, they’d sell a lot more of them if they bothered to get Volkswagen to design the rear of the car. Instead, it looks like they just picked up some 1990s Honda Accord tail lights, stuck them on the back and thought, that should do it. When the rest of the Volkswagen range is, generally, so expertly styled—and of particular note here is the Passat Wagon—one has to wonder just how on earth they came to this conclusion.

Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour BMW

BMW takes out the Bathurst 12 hour

2010 Bathurst 12 hour

The Eastern Creek International Karts BMW 335i driven by Garry Holt, Paul Morris and John Bowe has won a dramatic 2010 Armor All Bathurst 12 hour race. They completed 202 laps in all and finished 3.3 seconds ahead of the East Holiday Parks Mitsubishi EVO IX. It was the second win at the event for Garry Holt and his team who also won the 2007 race.

However, the official winning margin only tells part of the story. The 2010 race was marred by heavy rain which caused a lengthy stint of around three hours behind the Safety Car. Also delaying the race, just as the Safety Car was about to pull in, was a freak incident where a massive gum tree fell and blocked Conrod Straight just after Forrest’s Elbow.

Eric Bana’s Mitusbishi EVO X was also involved in a nasty accident while co-driver Paul Hill was at the wheel. Hill had clipped the wall approaching Reid Park and came to a rest in the middle of the track. An unsighted Dean Herridge, in a Subaru Impreza WRX STi, drove into the back of Hill’s car ending the race for both teams.

There were eight Safety Car periods in all, the last of which caused the race to end under the control of race stewards. Providing some consolation the Safety Car pulled in before the last corner allowing drivers to cross the line at their own pace.

A list of top 10 finishers can be seen below, full results are available on the Natsoft website.

Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

VIDEO: Lotus T127 launch & shakedown

Lotus Cosworth T127

Lotus Racing have provided some behind the scenes footage of the launch of their new Lotus Cosworth T127. There’s three clips in all and they can be seen below. The first Lotus in Formula One since the mid 90s was first revealed on Friday. It will be driven by Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli.

For more on Lotus Racing make sure you bookmark their website.

Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour

Can’t see the Forrest for the trees

2010 Bathurst 12 hour

Major disaster has been avoided at the Armor All Bathurst 12 hour race today after a massive gum tree fell over and blocked the track just after Forrest’s Elbow. It was around 1pm when the incident happened and the race was being held under Safety Car conditions due to consistent heavy rain.

The Safety Car period lasted almost three hours, due mostly to the inclement conditions. Ironically, conditions around the track were at the best they had been for quite some time when the tree came down. Thankfully some very quick work from race organisers and local SES volunteers had the track cleared and ready for racing in around 15-20 minutes.

Of course, with the race still being run, albeit behind the Safety Car, the field was on course at the time. Therefore they all came to a halt along the top of the mountain while the track was being cleared. Some images captured from the live stream can be seen below.

Categories
News

MINI 50 Camden: Inside Mission Control

MINI 50 Camden - Mission Control

The special edition MINI 50 Camden released last year features an exclusive “Mission Control” system. While the name sounds comprehensive, it’s essentially a novelty addition that plays pre-recorded message in response to driver inputs, for example, turning the car on or off, switching on the Sport button and so on.

A brief clip of the system in action has been posted to YouTube by MotoringFile and you can watch that clip below. AutoWeek also has a rather amusing review of the Camden with the Mission Control system in full operation. You can also see that footage after the jump.

On the hand the Mission Control feature is fun and light-hearted, on the other hand, it is annoying and downright naff. The best feature, perhaps, is that Mission Control can be switched off.

Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour

LIVE STREAM: 2010 Bathurst 12 hour

2010 Bathurst 12 hour - live internet stream

The 2010 Armor All Bathurst 12 hour is currently streaming live online. Click on the image above to load the live stream, or you can watch the race right here on AUSmotive with the embedded stream loaded below.

Racing started at 6:30am and currently after a bit over quarter race distance Rod Salmon is leading the event in his Mitsubishi Evo X. Live results can be seen HERE.

A reminder, also, that Channel Seven will have an edited race highlights package going to air on Saturday 20 March (check your local guides).

UPDATE 11:30am: If you’re having trouble accessing the live scoreboard from the Bathurst12hour website, then check out the natsoft website which has regular updates.

Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

Lotus unveils 2010 F1 car

Lotus Cosworth T127

Overnight Lotus Racing unveiled their 2010 Formula One racecar, the Lotus Cosworth T127.

Mike Gascoyne, Chief Technical Officer, spoke at the launch and here’s a bit of what he had to say, “The last few months have been some of the most challenging of my career, but it’s been a challenge the whole team and I have thrived on since we first started work on the car up in Norfolk.

“I’m delighted that we’ve reached this point, and now we have a beautiful car that gives us a great base to work from for the season ahead and a fighting chance of going racing in the right way, with a winning mentality. The hard part starts now, and I know everyone in the team and I are up for whatever lies ahead.”

More images available after the break.

Categories
Motor Shows Motorsports Porsche

OFFICIAL: Porsche GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche GT3 R Hybrid

Following yesterday’s post about the GT3 R Hybrid comes this official release from Porsche, including high res images which you can access by clicking on the pics you like. Porsche have described this car as a”racing laboratory” so we can expect this to be the first of many hybrid racecar applications from Stuttgart.

As reported the first public showing of the GT3 R Hybrid will be in Geneva, in a little over two weeks time. And, I’m not sure about anyone else, but I am really looking forward to seeing how this car runs in the Nürburgring 24 hour race. Will the KERS-style system provide a true advantage, or will it be a bit of a fizzer?

Oh, there’s a very good reason why the hybrid technology in this GT3 R sounds very similar to the KERS systems used in Formula One. A company called Williams Hybrid Power is behind the gizmo in the Porsche racecar. And, yes, it is that Williams. Seems Sir Frank reckoned he was on to a good thing and bought into to the energy storage system game, even if the technology wasn’t fully embraced at F1 level.

Yep, there’s a brief press statement from Williams Hybrid Power too. You can check out all these goodies after the break, so what are you waiting for…

Categories
Volkswagen

2010 Volkswagen Touareg – due in Australia next year

2010 Volkswagen Touareg

Volkswagen unveiled it’s new Touareg in Munich yesterday. It’s certainly a sharper looking car than the model it replaces, and it’s 200kg lighter, as well. The savings don’t stop there, either, with reductions in fuel consumption of 20% expected.

The launch was dominated by a V6 Hybrid version which offers 280kW and 580Nm of torque, thanks to a 245kW 3.3-litre supercharged V6 and a 35kW electric motor. The full zero-emissions range is a modest 50 kilometres.

The styling is very much of the emerging Volkswagen design language, with cues taken from the new Polo, Golf VI and Compact Coupe. The new Touareg is 40mm longer than the first generation, with the overall length now measuring 4758mm. The SUV’s wheelbase has grown by the same amount to a new figure of 2900mm. The sportier more taught look is helped by the car’s height dropping by 20mm to 1724mm. However, the width is unchanged at 1928mm.

European sales of the new Touareg will commence in the next few months. The exact date of arrival in Australia is uncertain at this stage. Although we do know the Touareg will arrive some time in 2011. Those wanting the the Hybrid version will be disappointed as Volkswagen Australia don’t believe there is a strong enough case for that model to bring the model down under. You’ll have to make to with regular petrol or diesel options.

Volkswagen describes the new Touareg as the most “technically innovative” model it has ever produced. That’s some claim, best read the press blurb after the jump to see what all the fuss is about.

Categories
Porsche

Porsche GT3 R Hybrid heading to Geneva

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid

Despite claims to the contrary just a few days ago, plans are now emerging for a hybrid Porsche to be built on the 911 platform. And this is not any old half-cocked hybrid, either. Nope, Porsche are embracing the technology at full tilt by sticking a 120kW electric-gizmo-thingy in the passenger seat of the über track-only GT3 R. Let’s not forget the old-skool internal combustion power already found in the GT3 R offers some 360kW.

KERS may have been a flash in the pan in Formula One, but Porsche is adopting a similar approach with the GT3 R Hybrid. The heart of the system sits beside the driver and derives enough energy under braking to power a flywheel at speeds of up to 40,000rpm. That energy is released to two motors powering the front wheels giving a 120kW boost, offering increased acceleration out of corners and enhancing overtaking opportunities. The power boost will last for 6–8 seconds and is activated by a button on the steering wheel. On paper, it’s a pretty neat solution when you think about it.

Nothing concrete has been released by Porsche at this stage—the GT3 R Hybrid is scheduled for a public debut at the Geneva Motor Show (4–14 March). The car’s race debut is set to follow soon after at the gruelling Nürburgring 24 hour race in May. Porsche currently enjoys a four-race winning streak at the event. It is understood Porsche also hopes to use hybrid race technology at Le Mans from 2012.

[Source: Autblog via InsideLine]

Categories
Audi

2010 Audi A1 pics revealed ahead of Geneva debut

2010 Audi A1

Audi has surprised us by releasing a full suite of images of their “next big thing“—the Audi A1. The A1 is due for a full public reveal at the Geneva Motor Show in a few weeks.

So, what do we make of the Audi “MINI”? First impressions of the exterior are very good. Although, this is one car that will look best with larger alloys. The front and rear light clusters are works of art, as is the norm for Audi these days.

Inside, too, the immediate response is one of quality and Germanic style. The fold away nav screen is a nice touch. Although, speaking of touch, the touch screen nav systems used by Volkswagen, in the Golf for example, are a step ahead of current Audi navigation systems in terms of usability. Of course, it remains to be seen how this new MMI system will work in the A1, but a move towards the VW style would have been welcome.

Another observation from these pics is the apparent lack of dual climate control. Such systems are becoming common place these days and for a car claiming to be the first fair dinkum premium car in the compact class this might be a minor oversight. Having said that, the detail of the air vents in the A1 is something.

Audi is intent on trying to match MINI for customisation with the A1. Things like choosing the colour of the dramatic roof arch or tailoring interior appointments, even down to the detail of the air nozzles and colour of interior LED lighting, should ensure potential buyers are kept busy while working out how many of said options they can afford.

Not too much is given away on the engine range at this stage. There’s certainly no confirmation of an S1 model at this early stage, that’s for sure. For now, then, we know there will be four engines at initial launch, two diesel and two petrol. All will be turbocharged and the power on offer ranges from 63kW–90kW. As expected with those moderate numbers fuel consumption (l/100km) hovers around high 3s-mid 5s and CO2 figures are also relatively low.

These figures are gained, in part, through the use of Audi’s start-stop system which will be included on all engines mentioned at this stage. A 7-speed S tronic transmission will also be available across the board.

I’d say I speak for most AUSmotive readers when I say I am most anticipating the announcement of the S1 model (expected to debut at the 2011 Paris Motor Show). However, I am now more inclined to think the S1 will have a quattro drivetrain after AUSmotive recently learned there are plans to use such a system on the A1 platform. Either that or I was indirectly given the scoop on plans for a new Q1 model. Let’s hope it was the former!

You know the drill, heaps of images are all yours after the jump, along with more detail in the form of Audi’s press release.

Categories
Formula 1

Virgin Racing VR01 shakedown

Virgin Racing

Just a few days ago now the first Virgin Racing formula one car, codenamed VR01, was driven for the first time. A simple shakedown at Silverston with Timo Glock at the wheel. According to trackside reports at Jerez, Glock is about to take the VR01 out for its first official test run. Before he does that, take a quick squiz at this YouTube clip courtesy of Virgin Racing.

If you would like a closer look at the VR01, then check out the Virgin Racing gallery.