Categories
Porsche

Jeremy Clarkson on the 911 GT3

Porsche 911 GT3

For every Chris Harris there is a Jeremy Clarkson. That is, for every person who will always find something positive to say about a Porsche 911, there is always someone to find the negative.

Clarkson is well known for his dislike of all things 911, too. This following comment is a perfect example of that, “I don’t remember what sort of 911 I drove first, but I’d heard so many horror stories about the wayward handling that I didn’t dare go more than 4 mph. Which meant I had more time to examine the ridiculously basic dashboard, and the heater controls which appeared to be connected to nothing at all.”

However, has Jeremy seen the light? Maybe be has, “But then along came the new GT3 and I won’t dwell on the whys and the wherefores, but I loved it. Not liked it. Loved it.

“Despite the aesthetic shortfalls, and the fact it’s a 911, this is a great car. It goes round roundabouts like nothing I’ve ever driven. In a test of pure handling and grip, it would be a match for anything. And it only costs £86,000. That’s just shy of half what you’d pay for a Ferrari 458. Half.”

Was the 911 GT3 really able to turn Clarkson’s opinion around 180 degrees? Follow the link below to find out.

[Source: TopGear.com]

Categories
Porsche

Chris Harris on the 911 GT2 RS

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

Chris Harris from Evo has just filed a report on the stonking Porsche 911 GT2 RS. He’s rated it five stars. Sure, he might be a bit of a Porsche fanboi at heart, but here’s how he explains his thoughts, “This is a remarkable car. Veyron aside, it’s the fastest road car I’ve driven – but it’s completely useable and it still involves you in the process. Want.”

Make sure you follow the link below for the full review. There’s at least one GT2 RS coming to Australia, too. It will be in the calm guiding hands of Jim Richards. He’s selling not one, but three race-prepped 911s to help pay for it—I bags the 997 GT3 RS!

[Source: EVO]

Categories
Audi

Audi A7 Sportback to debut next week

Audi Sportback Concept

Audi have announced the world premiere of their new A7 Sportback model will take place next Monday, 26 July at 6:30pm UTC (which is 4:30am on Tuesday 27 July for Australian readers).

The launch will take place right in the heart of BMW country at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. The event will be broadcast live on the internet via Audi tv.

Shown above is last year’s Audi Sportback Concept. Our guess is the A7 version will look a little bit like that. There is a teaser video released from Audi, but other than the date of the launch, it doesn’t give too much away.

Categories
BMW Motorsports

The power of M

BMW E30 M3

A few days ago BMW celebrated the 25th anniversary of the mighty M3. They did so with a press release and a gallery of photos. Perhaps this video of a race-prepped E30 M3 lapping the Ring in under 7 minutes 40 seconds might have been a more fitting tribute.

[Thanks to Chris for the tip]

Categories
Honda Video

Designed to win

Honda NSX by Format67

Format67 bring us this remarkable short film. It features a Honda NSX moving through the streets of Frankfurt en route to its ultimate destination—the ultimate destination—the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The credits at the end of the film say it was inspired by Ayrton Senna. Throughout the clip the following quotes from Senna are featured:

“The main thing is to be yourself. Many times its through a mistake that you learn. And the main thing is to make sure you learn through your mistakes and get better.

You should know, that, by being a racing driver you are at the risk all the time. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you’re no longer a racing driver. Because we are competing, we are competing to win. And the main motivation, to all of us, is to compete for victory. It’s not to come third, fourth, fifth or sixth. I race to win, as long as I feel it’s possible.

Designed to win. And as long as I can live by it. Some people agree, some don’t. I can only do what speaks for my mind.”

It is brilliant. Check it out after the break. For more Ayrton Senna guidance click here.

[Source: Format67]

Categories
Citroen WRC

Citroën confirms all-Sebastien WRC line up for 2011

Citroen DS3 R3

In other WRC news there will be change at Citroën Racing for the 2011 season, but it won’t be in their driver line up. Both Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier have been re-signed for next year. However, changes in WRC specifications will dictate the arrival of a new rally weapon from the dominant French team.

Out goes the highly successful C4 WRC and in comes the new rally-prepped DS3 WRC. The new car will maintain all-wheel drive, but will be fitted with a 1.6 litre turbocharged four cylinder motor, down from the current 2.0 litre capacity.

Despite conquering every mountain the WRC series has posed Loeb is as motivated as ever, “Of course, it’s no secret that we’re already working flat out on the new Citroën DS3, and I can’t wait to see where it stands in relation to its rivals. In the meantime, winning my seventh consecutive world title is my main objective.”

Ogier, too, is looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the new machine, “I’m thrilled at the idea of driving the new generation World Rally Cars, and of defending the colours of the make at the topmost level.”

Full release after the break.

Categories
MINI WRC

MINI and Prodrive ready to announce WRC entry

MINI WRC

News has emerged that an announcement from MINI and Prodrive confirming a WRC entry is imminent. As the rendering above shows the rally car will be based on MINI’s new four-door Countryman model and will derive its engine from the 1.6 litre John Cooper Works range. It is expected the announcement will be made before the end of this week.

Norwegian driver Mads Ostberg is understood to undertaking a chief testing role with the MINI/Prodrive program and will likely sign on as one of the drivers for the 2011 season.

Despite these latest murmurings the car is still in its early stages of development. As a result the MINI is not expected to debut in the WRC until Round 5 of next year’s championship.

More news as it comes to hand.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: theSwitchback]

Categories
Motor Shows Porsche

Goodwood FoS: Porsche 911 GT2 RS explained

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

The fabulous 620bhp Porsche 911 GT2 RS made its public debut at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed. In this video (available below) Andreas Preuninger, Manager of High Performance Vehicles for Porsche, talks us through some of the things that make the GT2 RS so special.

[via The German Car Blog]

Categories
Fiat

Abarth Punto EVO photo gallery

Abarth Punto EVO

The Abarth Punto EVO has just gone on sale in the UK. It is powered by a 1.4 litre turbo four with “MultiAir technology”. The feisty Punto can punt its way to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds. Peak power from the Punto EVO engine is 165bhp (123kW), which is complemented by 250Nm of torque from 2250rpm. A 180bhp+ esseesse upgrade will also be made available in the future.

Inside there’s race-style front seats, a smart looking interior and a bloody big sport button that sharpens up the EVO’s responses. You also get Brembo brake calipers and sticky Pirelli rubber wrapped around model specific 17″ alloys.

Fuel consumption for this car is around 6l/100km and CO2 emissions are a relatively responsible 142g/km. And it’s all packaged up in a pretty decent looking hatchback body. The Abarth Punto EVO has the makings for a very tasty city car, then. The only disappointment is that the Punto EVO is currently not on the local importer’s radar.

So you’ll just have to make do with a press release and a raft of images, which are all yours after the break.

Categories
Ferrari Oh the humanity

Ferrari 458 Italia lights my fire

Ferrari 458 Italia fire

The gentleman you see above got a bit of a fright when he saw the rear arch of his Ferrari 458 Italia in flames while driving through the streets of Paris. No danger of the captain going down with the ship here, though. Monsiuer Italia legged it leaving his poor 458 to a firey end.

All was not lost, however, a good samaritan saw the trouble ahead and soon stepped in with his trusty fire extinguisher to minimise the damage.

[Source: AutoGespot | Thanks to Chris for the tip]

Categories
Porsche Video

How close can a Cayenne get to a 911?

Porsche 911 Carrera 4S v Cayenne Turbo

Ever considered how a Porsche Cayenne Turbo would go against a 911 Carerra 4S around a test track? No, neither have I, to be honest. That said, the Cayenne and its ilk are behemoths that tend to defy the laws of physics by being quite capable handlers. But can a big truck like this really get within cooee of the revered 911?

Take the jump, watch the video (with thanks to Autocar) and find out.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

Categories
BMW

X factor by 4

BMW X6

Sales of the oddball X6 have exceeded BMW’s wildest dreams. Expecting to sell around 20,000 models per year the X6, can you believe it, has already sold 80,000 units worldwide since its launch in 2008. Indeed, the model is on track to achieve 100,000 sales by year’s end.

Perhaps it is no surprise then that Munich’s top brass is considering a new X4 variant. If the model does come to light it would most likely be derived from the recently revealed second-gen X3. Proving there is no end to this apparent madness, suggestions are around, already, of an X4 M which could source its power from the 1 Series M Coupé.

Fair play to BMW for making these cars that seem to provide answers to questions nobody was asking; the sales figures don’t lie.

[Source: Autocar]