Month: October 2010

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

Japanese GP qualifying washed out

2010 Japanese Grand Prix

It would be out of the ordinary for AUSmotive to feature an image gallery on a Grand Prix weekend before the race had been run. It would be out of the ordinary for qualifying to be cancelled due to heavy and persistent rain. But these extraordinary events have happened today, and when you see the pictures, mostly taken during this morning’s Free Practice 3 session, you will see why.

Heavy rain started to fall this morning at the Suzuka circuit and barely abated all day. Despite several delays to allow conditions to improve qualifying was eventually called off and is now scheduled to be run tomorrow morning at 10am Japan time (midday AEDT). The race will go ahead as scheduled at 3pm (5pm AEDT). Weather conditions are expected to improve.

As well as the pics below you can also read the concise and somewhat humourous qualifying report from Lotus Racing.

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Holden Hyundai Kia Mazda Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – September 2010

FCAI banner

Official VFACTS data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) showed that 85,054 passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were sold in September, up 8.9 per cent (or 6,923 vehicles) on the same month in 2009. It also represents a new record for the month of September, beating the old mark (2005) by 584 sales.

Toyota and Holden retain their place at the top of the charts, while perennial top-three challenger Mazda has once again knocked Ford back to fourth place.

Year-to-date sales now tally 780,720 and the full year prediction has been raised to over 1 million, up from the previous forecast of 980,000. It would be only the third time in Australia’s history that 1 million new cars have been sold in a calendar year.

Press releases from FCAI and various manufacturers are available after the break.

Continue reading “New vehicle sales report – September 2010”
Categories
Motor Shows

AIMS launches iPhone app

AIMS 2010 iPhone app

The Australian International Motor Show starts next week and to help visitors get ready organisers have released a new iPhone app. Event director, Russ Tyrie says, “The ability to pre-purchase tickets using your mobile phone is a great convenience, and the ‘what’s on’ calendar means people can time their visit to coincide with their individual interests.

“Some of our younger users will enjoy the fun driving game on the app. I’m sure they’ll be keen to see if they can beat the top score.”

The app is free and can be downloaded now. Overall, it’s not a bad effort for a first attempt, but there is room for improvement.

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Subaru

MY11 Subaru WRX STI information

MY11 Subaru WRX STI

Subaru UK has released new info on the 2011 WRX STI. We’ll update you with local details as soon as Subaru Australia has something to say, but for now you can check out the UK release after the break.

The key points with the MY11 WRX STI are a stiffer chassis, a lower ride height with “Spec C” suspension improvements, lighter alloy wheels and enhanced exhaust note. The 300PS 2.5 litre boxer engine now meets Euro 5 emissions standards, as well.

Cosmetic changes have been made to the bumpers and the rear quarter panels have been beefed up a bit more. Inside the car, Subaru say they have improved the quality of materials along with adding some new Recaro bucket seats.

And, of course, the new WRX STI (yes, they have intentionally dropped the Impreza badging) is fast. It currently lays claim to being the fastest four-door production car around the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

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Audi Oh the humanity

Audi R8 GT lights my fire

Audi R8 GT

That thing, above, is an Audi R8 GT. Or at least, it was. The R8 GT is a go-faster version of the R8 V10. Lighter and more powerful than the regular model, only 333 R8 GTs are scheduled for production.

It is understood the driver lost control on a damp patch of motorway near Munich. Subsequently the car skidded along the road for some 400m, hitting barriers several times, before finally erupting in flames. The driver escaped with no serious injury.

And then there were 332.

[Source: donaukurier.de via Top Gear]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Suzuka

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

There are just four races left in 2010, maybe three if Korea is a last minute withdrawal. Still, ever composed, Mark is just looking forward to lots of cameras, lots of people and zipping about on a moped at the Japanese GP this weekend. Although, a race win would surely be welcomed, too. It would be a great result for the Australian who holds an 11pt lead over nearest rival Fernando Alonso.

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

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Categories
Green Machines Lotus Motor Shows

Paris 2010: Lotus City Car concept

Lotus City Car Concept

Lotus has added to its Paris Motor Show bonanza with this wee City Car concept. As with the Eterne concept, Lotus are proving anything Aston Martin can do, they can do too. The petrol-electric hybrid City Car should do a ripping job at reducing the CO2 emissions of the Lotus fleet. The dirty air emitted from this concept is rated at around 60g/km.

Adding neither speed (0-100km/h: 9 seconds) nor lightness (1400kg), the three-door four seat City Car has a total range of 500km from its hybrid power, reduced to 60km in full electric mode. Lotus do say the new concept offers class-leading acceleration, but let’s face it, that’s no great claim at this point.

Perhaps forewarning us of new greenwash euphemisms to come Lotus call the City Car concept’s 1.2 litre petrol engine a “Range Extender”. To be fair, with just 35kW and 3 cylinders, calling it an engine might be stretching the truth, too. In total, peak power can be as high as 162kW, which is not too shabby at all. However, the catch comes when you see continuous power is rated at a more modest 54kW.

I suppose we shall have to get used to these econoboxes from sports car makers in years to come, but it doesn’t make them any less palatable. More details on the City Car concept can be read after the break.

[via World Car Fans]

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Categories
BMW

BMW continues 1M Coupé tease

BMW 1M Coupé

BMW has continued its treacle slow release of details for the new 1 Series M Coupé with a new image from the Paris Motor Show. Revealed in the closed section of the M-Power.com website the new pic shows the lower corner of the rear valance. As is the norm, not a lot is given away, but it does show that the superb amateur renderings released a while back were not quite on the money.

A few people are also asking “where are the cooling fins for the M3 slippery diff”, which is expected to be fitted to the 1M Coupé. Just out of frame, or completely out of the picture?

UPDATE: A camouflaged prototype BMW, believed to be a 1M Coupé has been spotted in Munich. In true 1M fashion you can’t really see anything we don’t already know about!

[Source: 1addicts]

Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Italia photoshoot

Ferrari 458 Italia

The wonderful Ferrari 458 Italia is a beautiful looking car. Especially before it has burnt to a crisp. Little wonder, then, that the 458 is the subject a new photoshoot over at My Car Portal. Dejan Sokolovski was the clever clogs behind the camera this time. Click the source link below for more.

[Source: My Car Portal]

Categories
Fifth Gear Top Gear

Ben Collins joins Fifth Gear

Ben Collins

Ben Collins has joined former Top Gear presenters Vicki-Butler Henderson and Tiff Needell at rival television program Fifth Gear.

Collins has been at a bit of a loose end since he outed himself and his Stig gig went belly up. He is now welcoming a new chance to perform “Stig-like” duties saying, “I’m delighted to be joining the Fifth Gear team.”

“I am looking forward to a new set of exciting challenges, apparently with and without the helmet,” he continued.

Series 18 of Fifth Gear will go to air later this year (later this week if twitter is to be believed) and The Artist Formerly Known As The Stig is expected to feature in at least five episodes.

Channel 5 exec, Steve Gowans, is excited too, “We’re delighted to have the Ben on board – it will be fascinating to see how he does in a head-to-head with Tiff and Jason [Plato] – the best drivers on TV.”

[Source: The Guardian | Pic: Tim Ireland/PA | Thanks to Richard for the tip]

Categories
News Porsche

Porsche tuner Uwe Gemballa found shot dead

Uwe Gemballa

Sad news this morning with word that the body of Uwe Gemballa, who had been missing since February, has been found shot dead in South Africa.

Gemballa, 54 at the time he went missing, was last believed to be in South Africa on business looking to set up a new dealership for his wildly tuned Porsche creations. At this stage no arrests have been made in the case.

Following his disappearance the Gemballa company was liquidated and shut down. It has since been re-opened by Andreas Schwarz and investor Steffen Korbach and is now operating as Gemballa GmbH.

[Source: autoweek]

Categories
Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb – World Rally Champion again in 2010!

Sebastien Loeb - 2010 WRC winner

A quick shout out to Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena who won their seventh consecutive World Rally Championship by claiming an outright win in the Rally of France on the weekend. It marks an amazing run of successes, which includes most titles, most successive titles, most wins, most wins in one season, most successive wins in one season, most consecutive wins on one event. That boy Loeb can drive!

For added emotion Loeb the event took in the town of Haguenau where Loeb was raised. Thousands of well-wishers surrounded the nearby liaison stages ensuring Loeb knew his success was being appreciated, “There were people everywhere on the road, and at the stage. It was rather moving,” he said.

There are still two rallies left on the 2010 calendar, but already the Citroën Racing team has given the all-conquering C4 WRC a fitting send off. Its replacement, the DS3 WRC, also made its public debut over the weekend at the latest world motor show, which is being held in Paris – where else!

Continue reading “Sebastien Loeb – World Rally Champion again in 2010!”