This teaser image has been released by Lamborghini to preview a new concept car that will be on show in Paris. It is understood the concept car will preview the Murciélago replacement. Although, Lamborghini won’t confirm that just yet.
They will, however, tell us in general terms what they have in store for the future. You can read their manifesto for future supersportscars in full after the break.
Ford has released a few images of the new Focus ST ahead of its public reveal Paris Motor Show. The ST will complete the Focus line up on the stands in Paris, making it the first time all varitations of the next generation C segment platform car have been seen in the one place.
With this new hot hatch ST version Ford has certainly got one thing right, the power. There will be 250PS (184kW) on offer from a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder. The lack of a five pot engine will force the XR marketing team at Ford Australia to scratch their heads – the current Focus ST is called an XR5 here. The XR4 name plate has been used for the Fiesta. Maybe sanity will prevail and we’ll get the call it the ST like everyone else on the planet.
Sadly, however, Ford got one thing horribly wrong, the looks. Perhaps that face won’t look as sad and shark-like in person. In pictures, it’s simply diabolical. Even the official name for the paint colour you see above is in on the act – “Tangerine Scream”.
Anyway, Ford hopes the new ST can become a global hot hatch player and it will go on sale around the world in early 2012. That’s some lead time, given the show car will make its debut more than 12 months ahead of the sales launch.
Prodrive are are testing their new MINI WRC car in Portugal this week. Thankfully, some keen rally fans have been on hand to film the action. After the break you’ll see a selection of videos posted to YouTube which show, if nothing else, the turbocharged 1.6 litre engine sounds nuts as the car rips along the gravel roads. We can only hope, for the sake of the WRC, that Prodrive get this MINI thing right!
As previewed earlier in the month Ken Block is back. The location for his latest rubber burning escapade? L’autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry in France. Why there? Perhaps the 51° banked corners had a fair bit to do with it.
Sit back, turn up the volume and enjoy as Kenny rips his Ford Fiesta to shreds. Quite literally.
[Thanks to Todd for the tip]
Michael Stoschek is a lucky man. Not only does he have the cash to convince Pininfarina to design and develop a new 21st century Lancia Stratos, he has also had some time behind the wheel, as this video shows. The footage was filmed at Balocco, Italy and it is understood a Porsche 911 GT3 was on hand used as benchmark testing.
It’s still unclear if Stoschek will be keeping all the fun for himself, or if he will commission a run of 25 cars to share with the world. Perhaps the video you can see after the break gives us a clue on that front. However, the only language spoken during the footage is German. So, if you are able to translate any of the words, especially the ones that aren’t new, Stratos, Ferrari, Pininfarina and Turin please do so.
Oh, do they explain how they have managed to make that F430 engine sound like a truck?
[Source: World Car Fans]
With the Paris Motor Show almost on our door step rumours of what will be on show are beginning to sprout up all over the place. One new rumour suggests the Audi RS3 will be launched in Paris.
The info comes from a UK reader of The German Car Blog who claims to have pre-ordered an RS3. Supposedly the production run of the RS3 will be limited to 2700 vehicles.
Another tidbit from the same source suggests Audi will also have a Q3 on show.
[Source: The German Car Blog]
Fresh video of an F10-based BMW M5 being thrashed around the Nürburgring has emerged. The new M5 will ditch the delightful old V10 in favour of a twin turbo 4.4 litre bent eight. A V8 from Munich should sound good, right? Well, not yet it doesn’t. Not in this test mule anyway.
It’s expected we’ll get to see an M5 concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year, before the production-ready version makes its first public appearance at the Frankfurt show about 12 months from now.
There’s two clips after the jump, the first released in the last day or so, the second from back in April, which also features an M3 GTS. Now that’s what a German V8 should sound like!
[Source: 5post | Thanks to Richard & John for the tips]
Commercial vehicles aren’t usually an AUSmotive staple, but when a manufacturer sends out a funky sketch with news said vehicle will make its world premiere at the Australian International Motor Show in about a month from now then we may as well give it a plug.
So, you’re looking at a sketch for the new Mazda BT-50. If you want to see what it will really look like then put some time aside in your schedule to check out the motorshow when the lights go on in Sydney from 15 October.
Even better news for consumers, they need not refer to this BT-50 as an SUV, or even an SAV. No, better start preparing yourself for a new euphemism acronym, the ALV – Active Lifestyle Vehicle. Just the news all you pleasure-seekers out there have been waiting for!
This Audi R8 was recently photographed at a service station near the Nürburgring in Germany. It’s a bit of an odd one. Are those red markings on the body work part disguise, or part bad taste? Is that lower front splitter an aftermarket add-on, or a work in progress? Are they really new exhaust exits up high, coming straight from the engine bay? Speaking of which, could there be an even more powerful V10 underneath that plastic engine cover?
But, a bigger question remains; is there really scope for yet another, driver focused, iteration of the R8 given Audi has already give us the R8 GT? Maybe this could be a rear-wheel drive only beast to take it up to the Porsche GT2 RS.
So, we have a lot of questions about this car, let’s hope Audi has some answers for us soon.
[Source: Auto Express | Pics: autoscoop.biz]
UPDATE: Word on the tweet says this car may simply be an MTM development prototype, rather than Audi being up to any new tricks. I thought there were too many unanswered questions on this one.
Fast Fernando fled the field at Monza to send the tifosi into raptures. Button teased them for a moment with a banzai move on the first lap. Massa fumbled about with an over excited Hamilton, before taking no further part in any racing action on his way to the last podium step. Vettel cried about his engine dying before finding the on switch and coming home in fourth. This, mind you, after completing almost the entire race of the soft tyres.
Britney outperformed that Michael bloke, yet again. Aussie Mark fluffed the start, yet again, but scored enough points to find himself at the very pointy end of the drivers’ title race. So pointy, in fact, he is out in front. Mind, his arch rival in fifth place, is within striking distance. So this is one title race that will go down to the wire.
Pedro de la Rosa won’t be winning any races. Rumours suggest Monza is likely to be his last F1 outing after being shown the door in favour of Quick Nick (Heidfeld) who is back for a third try at success with Sauber.
There’s sixty plus pics for you all after the break, which should keep you happy until the sun goes down in Singapore in a couple of weeks time.
The Italian Grand Prix finished as it started, at least as far as the podium is concerned. Fernando won the race after starting from pole position. He didn’t have things go all his own way, though, with Jenson Button, starting from P2, getting the jump on Alonso and snatching the lead on the first lap. Pitting after Button, Alonso made the most of his free air to claw back enough time to take the outright lead after the pitstops. Felipe Massa, in third, seemed to have a trouble free race.
The full transcript from the official post-race press conference featuring the podium winners is available after the break. Stay tuned for the usual photo gallery to follow in the next 24 hours or so.
Caterham has released a new entry-level special edition called the Roadsport 125 Monaco. Based on the iconic Lotus/Caterham 7 the cars of today haven’t changed a great deal in over 50 years.
The Roadsport 125 Monaco is powered by a 1.6 litre four cylinder Ford engine. As the name suggests the engine offers 125bhp (approx 93kW). It’s not a lot, is it. Consider, though, the car weighs just 550kg. Fitted with a 5 speed manual transmission the Roadsport can accelerate to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.
Any genuine link to Monaco is tenuous, at best, you’d think. But the car looks the business and driving it through the tunnel on the Grand Prix track would be a great way to start a day attacking the hills and winding roads around the French riviera.