Month: December 2010

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Baby Benz to mix it with 1M and RS3

Mercedes-Benz A Klasse AMG rendering

Autocar brings word that Mercedes-Benz are getting a bit sick and tired of all this 1M and RS3 talk from BMW and Audi. Even Volkswagen are being annoying with their Golf R. So Mercedes is going to put things right by giving the world a 320hp AMG-prepared A Class.

The three-pointed star hyper hatch will be powered by a 2.0 litre turbo four and will also feature an all-wheel drive system similar to the one used by Audi and Volkswagen. It will also feature a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. Codenamed W176 the model will be built on the third-generation A Class platform, which will not feature the clever, but heavy, collapsing sandwich floor structure employed by the first two generations of A Class.

It’s expected we’ll see a show car, likely to be badged A25 AMG, at Shanghai in April, before the car goes on European sale in the latter half of 2012.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
MINI Motorsports

MINI All4 Racing at Dakar

MINI All4 Racing

More detail on the MINI Countryman-based Dakar racer has come to light, including a handful pics of what we now know is called the MINI All4 Racing. The car is being prepared by the X-raid team, who have been competing in the Dakar since 2005.

They’ve just completed a couple of days testing in the Burgundy region of France with driver Guerlain Chicherit and co-driver Michel Périn.

Chicherit, a four-time world extreme skiing champion, finished fifth at this year’s Dakar in January and said, “The handling is excellent, the engine is very responsive and it is well balanced at jumps because of the improved centre of gravity. The view out of the car is much better than we were led to believe when the car was being built. Visibility is good and there is no disadvantage compared to the BMW X3CC.”

There’s more pics after the break. You can also download the team’s press release HERE (290kb PDF).

[Source: x-raid via MotoringFile]

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Categories
Safety Issues Subaru

A different approach to the road safety message

Jake's $8000 Subaru WRX STi

Here in Australia we’ve had some pretty confronting advertising campaigns to tackle the issue of road safety. This is especially in regards to targeting the young male audience, where graphic accident recreations are usually the norm. In fact, last year marked 20 years since the Victorian Government’s Transport Accident Commission began its crusade.

Young males generally don’t like being told what to do and conventional advertising methods don’t always have the effect the creators are chasing. Over in New Zealand they have taken a different approach, with thanks to some excellent creative from Ogilvy. You can see the results after the break.

Warning: Offensive language is used in the video.

[Thanks to Michael for the tip]

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Categories
Ford Video

Ken Block kicks it just for fun

Ken Block

You might remember last year we had some footage of Ken Block and Chris Atkinson living it large in an old skool Mk2 Ford Escort. Well, some new footage filmed around the same time has just been released. It’s waiting for you after the break. And, if your name is Tom, you may want to slip into something more comfortable first.

No fronts, no tricks…

[via Autoblog]

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Categories
BMW

More detail on BMW’s front-wheel drive plans

BMW 1 Series FWD

Planning for the second-generation of BMW 1 Series is well underway and part of those plans, as previously reported, include a front-wheel drive platform. Fans of the current rear-wheel drive 1 Series need not panic, though, as Autocar brings word that the next 1er will include a sextet of models; two front drivers and four tail sliders.

One of the FWD 1ers will be a trad five-door hatch, aimed squarely at the Audi A3 (see rendering above). The other will be a wagon with quasi sporting intentions. These models go under the internal acronym of UKL (Unter Klasse or sub-class).

The UKL models will be repackaged following the usual method of transversely mounting engines. This will allow BMW to free up cabin space and match class leaders like the Volkswagen Golf. It’s expected we’ll be able to buy a front-wheel drive BMW sometime in 2013.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Formula 1 Lotus Renault

Dany Bahar talks about Lotus Renault GP

Lotus Renault GP

Amid all the controversy about the use of the Lotus name in Formula One, Group Lotus CEO, Dany Bahar, took the time out to speak to the press to explain, among other things, his company’s reasons for entering into a title sponsorship role with Lotus Renault GP.

Here’s a little of what Bahar had to say:

Q. You have also said RIP to Team Lotus. So will you be disappointed if there is a Team Lotus on the grid next season, and are you surprised Tony Fernandes is pursuing the route he is going?

DB: No. I cannot comment for Mr Fernandes, but if he believes he has all the legal grounds to own this brand, then he should use it. I don’t believe we are fighting this. What we are 100 per cent certain of is that we own the brand that is called Lotus, which is associated with the car manufacturer. And that Lotus brand has the right to enter in any sports activity. And if any chassis will be called a Lotus then it is our chassis, and no one else’s.

We don’t claim to have the name Team Lotus or to use the name Team Lotus. That is not what it is all about. We just don’t want other people to call their car a Lotus because the Lotus car is our brand and that is all.

Autosport has a full Q&A article on Bahar’s meeting, so follow the source link below for the complete text.

[Source: Autosport]

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador prototype revealed

Lamborghini Aventador

We’re probably just a few months away from seeing a show car version of the Lamborghini Aventador. In the meantime, though, this pic of a development mule has been published on Facebook by the Lamborghini Club of Los Angeles.

The Aventador will be powered by a new 6.5 litre V12. With 700hp on tap it is the replacement for the Murcielago and we should be reading more about this car at the Geneva Motor Show in March next year.

[via Car Throttle]

Categories
Audi Safety Issues

Audi A1 granted 5-star crash rating

Audi A1

The Audi A1 is the latest car to be awarded a 5-star safety rating by testing authority Euro NCAP. The A1 scored 90% for adult occupants, 86% for safety assist, 79% for child occupants and 49% for pedestrian safety. You can read the full report on the Euro NCAP website. Meanwhile video footage and Audi’s press release are all your after the break.

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Categories
Top Gear

BBC gives another peak at Top Gear Christmas specials

Top Gear in New York

Earlier in the month we brought you the news that Top Gear will be running two Christmas specials—the first on Tuesday 21 December, followed by another on Sunday 26 December. The BBC, via YouTube, now gives us a second preview of the two episodes. You can check it out after the break.

[Thanks to Richard for the tip]

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Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber interview with BBC 5 Live

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber, by any measure, had a great season in Formula One this year. He led the championship for the majority of the year and won four races—Spain, Monaco, Britain and Hungary—but there were also some lowlights, as well. In a typically candid interview with BBC 5 Live Webber opened up about all manner of subjects, including Ricky Ponting’s captaincy, the health of his pet chooks and, of course F1, too.

No topic was left untouched and Mark discussed openly about the procedure the team went through following the crash with Sebastian Vettel in Turkey. He praised Red Bull Racing’s chief designer Adrian Newey. Webber also explained in more detail about his late season shoulder injury and the reasons why he kept it quiet. And he also discussed that spectacular crash at Valencia, where he pressed the brake pedal so hard he snapped the pedal!

It’s a fascinating insight and rare opportunity to hear an F1 driver speak his mind. It was also a rare chance for the public to be involved with most of the topics discussed in direct response to questions from callers.

The good news is you can still listen to the interview via the BBC website. Just follow the link below for the full 60 minutes of audio. It seems the link will only be active for a few more days, so make sure you tune in soon.

[Source: BBC 5 Live Formula 1]

Categories
MINI

MINI Coupé starts new life at Plant Oxford

MINI Coupé

Word from MotoringFile is the very much anticipated—by AUSmotive at least—MINI Coupé has started its new life at the Oxford production facility. Indeed the first pre-production example could be rolling down the line as we speak. It’s understood that while a few changes from the concept model will be made, the overall look and feel of the R58 Coupé model will be pretty much as we’ve already seen. Bravo!

[Source: MotoringFile]

Categories
Ferrari

Is this going to replace the Ferrari 599?

Ferrari test mule

Apparently you’re looking at a new Ferrari model which will replace the 599 GTB Fiorano. Video footage of the car was recently captured at Ferrari’s own test track. The owner of the clip claims the new car is based on the 599 GTO and is currently being tested for mechanical enhancements. A new outer design is still being developed.

It’s also believed this model could feature a variation of the HY-KERS technology as previewed by Ferrari at Geneva earlier this year.

You can watch the video after the break and here’s a tip, turn the volume up to eleven!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading “Is this going to replace the Ferrari 599?”