Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2010 Singapore GP – Post-race press conference

2010 Singapore GP

Fernando Alonso bagged consecutive Grand Prix wins with victory in Singapore. It’s his fourth race win for the year—the same as Mark Webber, third place, who leads the driver’s championship by 11 points from the Ferrari driver.

Sebastien Vettel started and finished the race in second place. He looked the dominant man all during practice and most of qualifying, but Alonso showed he is made of the right stuff, performing when it matters most. It also shows that the F10 Ferrari has the ability to match it with the RB6 Red Bull on both fast and slow circuits. This title race is going down to the wire.

The full transcript from the post-race press conference with the podium winners is available below. A Singapore GP photo gallery should be up later today.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Audi

New info for Audi RS3, RS7 and S1

Audi S1, RS3 and RS7

German publication Auto Bild has published new info and some pricing detail on upcoming Audi models—the RS3, RS7 and S1:

RS3—Rumours and guesswork on when this car will finally see the light of day continue with new suggestions the RS3 will not be launched until the Geneva show in March 2011. Paris could be off, then?! The constant information that does exist is in relation to the engine being sourced from the TT RS; meaning the 250kW 2.5 litre in-line 5 cylinder should have the balls to propel the RS3 to 100km/h in well under 5 seconds. European pricing is expected to be under €50,000.

RS7—Understood to be powered by a new 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8, which will offer 550bhp (410kW) to the world. The RS7 is said to be revealed at the Frankfurt show in September 2011. The car would then go on European sale shortly after at around €110,000.

S1—Just when you thought it was safe to stop thinking about this car a new rumour has emerged. The latest word suggests the 210bhp (155kW) 2.0 litre turbo from the Golf GTI will be stuffed under the bonnet. There’s no mention of quattro from the Auto Bild article, but you can expect that to be included given earlier news regarding the front-wheel drive “S1 lite”.

[Source: Auto Bild via The German Car Blog]

Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari SA APERTA revealed ahead of Paris

Ferrari SA APERTA

Ferrari has lifted the lid on its latest 599 incarnation, otherwise known as the SA APERTA. The SA badging is a nod to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina whose company has strong links with Maranello. Further honouring Pininfarina is the fact the SA APERTA will be limited to just 80 examples, acknowledging the 80th anniversary of the Italian styling house.

In basic terms this car is 599 GTOBarchetta” and features a 6.0 litre V12 engine. That engine is good for 670PS (500kW). A soft top cover is available, but it sounds like it will be more use for giggles than serious protection.

We’ll see more of this car at the Paris Motor Show in a week or so. Oh, if you would like to buy one of these stunning SA APERTAs, well, you can’t. They have already sold out.

Categories
Ferrari

Here’s your chance to buy a Ferrari F40

Ferrari F40

I’m guessing most AUSmotive readers have, at some point in their lives, lusted after a Ferrari F40. I know I certainly have. I also know some readers have been lucky enough to get up close and personal with the last of the Ferraris built under the watchful eye of Enzo Ferrari himself.

Now, you can buy the car you see here in these pictures. The F40 will be up for sale this weekend at the Historics at Brooklands auction. It’s expected to sell for around £280,000–320,000 (approx AU$465,000–530,000).

Only 1315 F40s were ever made, so this is a rare chance to get your hands on one. The example up for grabs was built in 1989 and has a travelled mere 10,500 miles. Who wants to chip in?

Categories
Porsche

A look inside the new Porsche 911

Porsche 991 911 interior spy shot

The new 991 Porsche 911 is still some time away, but this spy shot from Edmunds Inside Line gives us a great early look inside the car. It looks nice enough and well made, of course, but there’s just a wee bit going on with that Panamera-esque centre console.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes SLS AMG wins Golden Classic Steering Wheel award

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing

The gorgeous and incredibly desirable Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has just been won the inaugural Golden Classic Steering Wheel award, presented by German publication Auto Bild Klassik.

Attracting over 30% of the vote the SLS AMG was judged a “Classic of the future” in the Sports coupés and convertibles category. The new Gullwing finished ahead of eight other competitors, including the Audi R8 Spyder, Ferrari 458 Italia, Maserati GranCabrio, McLaren MP4-12C and Porsche 918 Spyder.

In other SLS AMG news the GT3 racing version will be making its racing debut in a VLN event at the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend.

Categories
Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque gets early showing

Range Rover Evoque

Well-to-do urban hipsters of the world are smiling today following the release of new information from Range Rover about the company’s “smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever.”

You and I will call it the Evoque, but the hipsters will probably stick with SLMFERRE. The Evoque will have its first public showing in Paris at the end of the month.

Does the world really need a new two-door urban assault vehicle, or do Range Rover simply need to lower the emissions output of their fleet? You be the judge.

Secretly, though, it does look pretty cool, don’t you think? But don’t tell anyone. And if you do want to save some shred of credibility, don’t, under any circumstances, get the front-wheel drive version.

Full details after the break.

Categories
Citroen WRC

Citroën previews new DS3 WRC

Citroen DS3 WRC teaser

Citroën has offered a brief video tease of their new DS3-based WRC weapon. It’s not much, of course, just a 34 second YouTube clip. But you do get glimpses of the car’s twin deck rear spoiler and dashboard layout. The side profile above is shown for about one second, as well. The full reveal is set for 30 September, so stay tuned for more details then.

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Singapore

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber is ready for the great atmosphere the night race at the Marina Bay street circuit provides. He’s looking forward to the support of all the Aussies who make their way to Singapore for this Grand Prix, too. There’ll even be a few AUSmotive readers in attendance, so let’s hope Mark can bring home a win for the lads.

As usual you can check out Mark’s preview lap after the break.

Categories
Audi

Australian launch of Audi RS5 imminent

Audi RS5

Information found its way to AUSmotive recently that the Audi RS5 will more than likely be making its local debut at the Australian International Motor Show, which starts in mid-October. This complements another anonymous tip that was received some time ago now that reveals the entry level list pricing for the 4.2 litre V8 powered RS5 is expected to be $179,900.

There are reports of RS5s being seen at Audi dealerships around the country and even stories of a few customer pre-orders, as well. Standard equipment starts with the 331kW engine coupled to a 7 speed S tronic transmission. Also thrown in for good measure is Audi’s familiar quattro system which has been tricked up some more thanks to a crown-gear centre differential with torque vectoring. Xenon headlights with adaptive technology are included, too, along with high beam assist, three zone climate control, MMI Navigation Plus, Audi Music Interface and more.

In addition to the basic spec customers can choose from a range of options, including two choices of 20″ rims ($3885 or $4128 if you want the titanium finish), ceramic brakes ($15,000), Dynamic steering ($1080), Matt aluminium styling pack ($1335), Matt black styling pack ($1044), Adaptive cruise control ($2945), heated RS bucket seats ($3450) and a 14-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo upgrade ($2306).

A total of nine colours will be available for the RS5 and it’ll cost you $1695 if you want sparkles in your paint. The range of options is as follows, Monza Silver, Suzuka Grey, Daytona Grey, Missano Red, Mugello Blue, Phantom Black, Panther Black, Sepang Blue and Ibis White.

The thing is, though, with a $180K starting price, pushing well into the 200s, with a few options ticked, won’t take a lot of effort. That’s a lot of cash for a car that has an impressive natural rival in the BMW M3.

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Jota prototype spied at Nürburgring

Lamborghini Jota prototype

Lamborghini has been teasing us lately with some rather esoteric photographs that don’t really say anything. It’s a good thing, then, that Pistonspy was on the ball to capture some images of the new Lamborghini Jota.

It’s understood the Jota will be the new Murcielago replacement and that will be powered by a 7.0 litre V12 spreading the hypercar word to the tune of 700hp (520kW). Lamborghini recently published a statement that reads in part, “The key factor in terms of better handling and acceleration, meaning more immediate pleasure in driving, is the power-to-weight ratio.”

That means this new Jota thingy should really get down and boogie thanks to a lighter shell. With any luck we’ll be seeing some fancy new pics in the very near future. There’s heaps of pics at Pistonspy, too, so make sure you take a closer look.

[Pics: Pistonspy]

Categories
Green Machines Peugeot

Peugeot EX1 turns dreams into reality

Peugeot EX1

This funky little rocketship looks like something that could only have been created thanks to an automotive designer’s wildest dreams. But it’s the real deal. It’s called a Peugeot EX1 and it features a couple of electric engines giving a total of 250kW. It weighs bugger all and it is lightning quick, apparently.

Utilising an all-wheel drive system Peugeot say the EX1 the car has “already broken several world records for acceleration from a standing start.” Although, at this stage, no numbers are given to support those claims.

I guess that means we just have to marvel at the wild exoskeleton structure that has an overall height of just 90cm and features spectacular rearward opening doors.

There’s heaps of pics after the break, make sure you check them out, this EX1 is tres cool!