Month: November 2010

Categories
New Stratos

So, what it is the New Stratos like to drive?

New Lancia Stratos

The official unveiling of the New Stratos project is almost upon us. Already Autocar and Evo have filed initial drive reports. Below are a few of their thoughts, but make sure you follow the links at the end to get the full picture.

Autocar: “The nimble handling and eager speed make an immediate impact, but so does the structural integrity and hugely impressive, all-of-a-piece feel of this car which is completely free of rattles and creaks. That’s some achievement in a one-off.”

Evo: “We got a handful of laps around Circuit Paul Ricard and it feels very much in the spirit of the original. It’s wide but short in the wheelbase which, combined with modest weight, makes it very agile. It’s surprisingly supple, too. It feels like it would take some bottle to drive flat-out at big speeds, or quickly in the wet, but that’s always been a part of the challenge of the Stratos and the systems are there for those who don’t feel that confident.”

[Source: Autocar & Evo]

Categories
Audi BMW

Autocar: Audi RS5 v BMW M3

Audi RS5 v BMW M3

It’s the classic German duel—Audi v BMW—and Autocar has been kind enough to play out the latest fight for us. It’s the 331kW 4.2 litre RS5 up against the 309kW 4.0 litre M3. Will the extra power and quattro all-wheel drive in the Audi give it an edge over the benchmark rear-wheel drive M3?

There’s no fancy timing equipment, no drag strip and no race tracks to decide the winner here. It’s just a seat of the pants match up on a closed road. Just as it should be.

UPDATE: Auto Express has also had a crack at this comparison, and they did take the RS5 and M3 to the track. It’s not the world’s most in-depth review, but it’s still worth a look.

Continue reading “Autocar: Audi RS5 v BMW M3”
Categories
Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing’s hometown heroes

Red Bull Racing, hometown heroes, Nov 2010

On the weekend, some 13,500kms apart, the greatest assets of Red Bull Racing were at “home” spreading the word of Formula One. In German capital of Berlin the 2010 F1 World Champion, Sebastien Vettel, was living it large in front of the Brandenburg Gate. While, in sunny Australia, our F1 high priest Mark Webber and his young protege, Daniel Ricciardo, were burning rubber just outside of Perth at the Australian Festival of Speed.

You can see photos along with a mixture of professional and amateur video after the break. At times like these, the life of an F1 driver looks even more appealing than usual.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Continue reading “Red Bull Racing’s hometown heroes”
Categories
Audi

Audi RS3 promo video

Audi RS3

The Audi voiceover man is back; as lifeless as ever too. This time he is talking about the RS3 hyper hatch. There’s lots of facts and fugures, but, sadly, no driving footage. No 2.5 litre barking its way through a scenic European mountain pass. A bit of a let down, really. Hopefully there is more to come.

Continue reading “Audi RS3 promo video”
Categories
Audi

Oh baby drive away, to Malibu

Audi quattro concept

Last week we told you the Audi quattro concept was spotted in Malibu, west of Los Angeles. Now, we can see what they were up to. Audi has released new footage of the concept car and a Ur-Quattro driving along the Pacific Coast Highway. Interspersed with vision of the quattro concept in front of a city skyline there is a voiceover man telling us what’s what.

He did forget to slip in the bit about the car being locked in for production and the first example to roll of the production line being reserved for AUSmotive HQ, but aside from that I think he got everything else right. Find out for yourself after the break. Also included is a longer video without narration.

Apart from the two clips Audi hasn’t released any extra text to explain why these videos have been released around two months after the car’s debut at the Paris Motor Show. Let’s just assume it’s to support the growing belief that Audi will turn concept into reality.

Continue reading “Oh baby drive away, to Malibu”
Categories
Aston Martin Motorsports

Aston Martin updates Vantage GT4

Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4

Aston Martin Racing has updated its successful V8 Vantage-based GT4 racer ahead of the 2011 season. A new aero package, revised ECU mapping and a new Bosch ABS/traction control setting developed with race data headline the improvements.

But, really, it’s an Aston and with slick marketing pics like these it’s the beauty of the Vantage’s form that is worth savouring. So enjoy these handful of pics and remember to click on each one to launch the 2000px super sizing.

Continue reading “Aston Martin updates Vantage GT4”
Categories
Audi Motorsports

Audi announces race-ready TT GT4

Audi TT GT4

Just weeks after announcing the racing TT RS, Audi will extend its customer motorsport program further with the TT GT4 developed by quattro GmbH. Due for sale in 2012 the TT GT4 was launched at the DTM round in Shanghai on the weekend. Powered by a 250kW TFSI engine, the car will be priced from around €120,000 (AU$165,000) and is designed to be an affordable entry into motor racing.

The front and rear aprons originate from the road-going TT RS, so too the rear wing. However the addition of a race safe fuel cell and roll cage show this little beastie is a track-only proposition. Plastic windows are also a bit of a giveaway and many of the body panels are made from lightweight CFRP.

More piccies after the break.

Continue reading “Audi announces race-ready TT GT4”
Categories
Motorsports

Crunch time for Kovalainen

Heikki Kovalainen

Lotus F1 driver Heikki Kovalainen was representing Team Finland in the Race of Champions last weekend. Things didn’t quite go to plan when he was racing rally ace Sebastien Loeb at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS. Apparently a suspension failure and a jammed throttle caused him to lose control and smash through the barriers.

Fortunately, the incident happened moments after the drivers crossed the finish line otherwise Loeb may have found his way into the muddle as well.

According to Kovalainen’s twitter feed he was unconscious for 30 seconds, but didn’t suffer any major injuries. Footage of Heikki’s stack can be seen below.

Continue reading “Crunch time for Kovalainen”
Categories
Audi Motorsports

Roll with the crunches

Michele Mouton rolls Audi S1

This weekend saw the annual running of the Race of Champions in Düsseldorf, Germany. As part of the exhibition event former rally star Michèle Mouton took to the track in an Audi Quattro S1. As you can see things didn’t quite go to plan for the only woman to win a round of the WRC.

Fortunately the crash was low-speed and low-impact meaning Mouton escaped unharmed and damage to the car was limited. Speaking after the incident Mouton, who helped organise the first ROC event back in 1988, was apologetic for the delays caused to the racing action.

For the record the home town team of Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher won the main prize ahead of Team Great Britain, represented by Jason Plato and Andy Priaulx.

Continue reading “Roll with the crunches”
Categories
MINI Challenge

2010 MINI Challenge – Round 6, Gold Coast

2010 MINI Challenge - Round 6, Gold Coast

With one round to go, defending series champ Paul Stokell picked a good time to bag his first Round win at the Gold Coast last month. That puts him very much within striking distance of Chris Alajajian, who has led the 2010 MINI Challenge all year. Alajajian did manage to win Race 1 on the Gold Coast, but suffered car issues thereafter.

Stokell finished all three races on the podium, but it was his Race 2 win that will go down in the history books. His winning margin was a mere 0.014 seconds, thanks to a last corner lunge to snatch the race from rising star Sean Carter. You can see highlights of that race after the break.

Glenn Seton returned for another drive in the UberStar Car and became the first driver to secure a race win in car #50 by taking out Race 3.

So, the final MINI Challenge race to be held in Australia for the foreseeable future will take place in Sydney next weekend. Let’s hope it’s a great spectacle with some good clean racing.

Continue reading “2010 MINI Challenge – Round 6, Gold Coast”
Categories
Formula 1

Ricciardo has Friday on his mind

Daniel Ricciardo & Sebastien Bueml

Young Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo (left) will take another step towards an F1 career with Scuderia Toro Rosso in 2011. The 21-year-old will drive in the Friday practice sessions at all 20 races next year.

Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi (right) have already been confirmed as Toro Rosso’s drivers for next season and they will miss alternating Friday sessions in 2011 to make way for Ricciardo’s role.

Ricciardo will also continue to race in the Formula Renault 3.5 series, but says F1 is his long-term goal, “I am really excited at the prospect of driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso in the practice sessions next year, so I have to say thanks to Red Bull for this great opportunity.

“My main priority for 2011 is to win the Formula Renault 3.5 championship, but my ultimate aim is to be a full-time Formula One driver and this new role has to be the best step towards achieving that ambition.”

The news follows this week’s earlier rumour suggesting Buemi could make way for Ricciardo in a full-time capacity. While that doesn’t look like happening just yet, Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost has left the door open for the young West Australian, “When our team was created, its stated aim was to bring on young drivers from the Red Bull Junior Team, so Daniel’s appointment as our third driver is an obvious one.

“Although Daniel has done some F1 testing already, running on Fridays at the grands prix will give him a valuable insight into the additional pressures of doing it for real during a race weekend. I am also sure that having a hungry youngster on the books will keep our current driver pairing nice and sharp!”

[Source: Scuderia Toro Rosso | Pic: STR/Getty Images]

Categories
Volkswagen

VW Australia boss raises Scirocco hopes

Volkswagen Scirocco R

Volkswagen Australia Managing Directo, Anke Koeckler, has lifted the hopes of local Scirocco fans by virtually confirming the car could be a surprise arrival in 2011.

Speaking to media at the launch of the Polo GTI Koeckler said, “It’s an amazing car, and I love this car as well—that’s why I’m working on that.

“It’s probably more a matter of when [it arrives].”

It’s likely the Scirocco would be brought in R specification only, which means a front-wheel drive 195kW/350Nm engine spec, outstripping the Australian spec Golf R by 7kW/20Nm.

The Scirocco has been available in Australia for some time now, but only as a non-factory import via a specialist importer. It’s a gorgeous looking car, but has the hype died down too much and the horse already bolted? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

[Source: Drive.com.au | Thanks to Peter for the tip]