Month: December 2010

Categories
Formula 1 Volkswagen

Wind changes and Volkswagen reignites interest in F1

Daniel Ricciardo in Volkswagen powered F3 winning car

It’s barely been a month since the Volkswagen Chairman supposedly put a stop to rumours linking Volkswagen to Formula One in the role of engine supplier. But with new engine regulations for 2013 recently confirmed Hans Stuck, at least, reckons VW might be keen to build on its Formula 3 commitments.

Speaking to Welt am Sonntag Herr Stuck said, “The conditions for a possible entrance of the Volkswagen group have been created.”

The former F1 driver is also on record at rp-online.de, saying, “We have not decided anything, but we very much welcome the FIA’s decision.”

[Source: ESPN]

Categories
MINI

MINI all set to go mini at Detroit

MINI Cooper S

MINI will be showing off a new city car concept at the Detroit Auto Show next month. According to Dr Wolfgang Armbrecht, who was quoted in Financial Times Deutschland, “the next spectacular idea from the MINI brand” will be coming soon. Dr Armbrecht then added, “Keep a close eye on the coming months.”

It’s understood the mini-MINI will be based on a shortened R56 platform and will likely be the first car to employ BMW’s new three cylinder engine. Being positioned below the regular R56 models the new city car will also be the cheapest way to enter the MINI brand.

[Source: MotoringFile]

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen downsizes the London taxi

Volkswagen Up Taxi

Volkswagen has created this London black cab concept based on its forthcoming Up city car. Like the E-Up! shown at Frankfurt last year this creation is powered by an electric engine. Although, the taxi version has 112hp and claims impressive numbers, including a 120km/h top speed and a range of 300km. Less impressive is its 1500kg weight and ability to carry only two fare paying passengers.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
BMW

BMW compares the 1M Coupé against its rivals

BMW 1M Coupe
Audi TT RSAudi RS3
Nissan 370ZPorsche Cayman S

According to a leaked BMW internal document these four cars are the models the 1 Series M Coupé has in its sights. A duo from Ingolstadt, Audi TT RS and RS3, a fighter from the land of the rising sun in the Nissan 370Z and, perhaps the toughest nut to crack, the Porsche Cayman S. What do you reckon, would you pick the 1M ahead of these?

The five page document, created for BMW’s Australian dealer network, reads much like a regular sales brochure at first, listing the details and specs of the 1M. A few pages in BMW provides brief comments about the three German rivals. On the last page a table of specs compares all five cars together.

Continue reading “BMW compares the 1M Coupé against its rivals”
Categories
Motorsports Porsche

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

Porsche has come good with some great new pictures of its 2011 911 GT3 RSR. This is the Grand Poohbah of the 911 kingdom.

Since last year Porsche has unleashed an extra 5kW from the 4.0 litre flat six, making a total of 455hp (335kW). They’ve mucked about with the intake and exhaust and reckon the updated RSR is a breeze to drive, as well. Mods have also been made to the front lip and rear ironing board. The front wheels are wider now, up an inch to 12″, which should help reduce understeer.

Most importantly, the RSR now has LED rear tail lights. That should make all the difference.

All you need is a lazy €410K (approx AU$550K) and about the same again to race it for a year and you’re all set. What are you waiting for?! Hmm, like us, maybe you’d better make do with the pretty pictures after the break.

Continue reading “2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR”
Categories
BMW

BMW 1M Coupé colour palette

BMW 1M Coupe

One of the things left wanting after official info on the BMW 1M Coupé was released was seeing the full suite of available colours. It’s not too much to ask, there’s only three options after all. Well, thanks to the visualiser on the BMW International website (above) and 1addicts user “philip” (below) we can see just what the 1M looks like in Alpine White, Black Sapphire metallic and, of course, Valencia Orange metallic.

Continue reading “BMW 1M Coupé colour palette”
Categories
Caterham

Caterham Cars ready for new chapter

Caterham Cars

Caterham Cars has announced it will be launching an all-new model early next year. They say their new car “marks the beginning of a new dawn for the Company, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven and will complement its continuing global success.”

We have high hopes for this model. If they are true to their word, then this pocket-rocket, powered by the latest Caterham Motorsport engine, is sure to provide a new era of seat-of-the-pants motoring. Stay tuned for the official reveal on 13 January 2011.

Continue reading “Caterham Cars ready for new chapter”
Categories
Ferrari Motorsports

Ferrari 458 Challenge tested at Circuit de Valencia

Ferrari 458 Challenge

The New Stratos isn’t the only car to have flaunted itself in front of motoring glitterati lately. The Ferrari 458 Challenge, recently launched at the Bolonga Motor Show, spent some time at the Circuit de Valencia so that prospective buyers could gain some first hand experience behind the wheel. A highlights package from Ferrari can be seen after the break.

A quick reminder, though, to the pear-formance-uh of the 458 Challenge. Its 4.5 litre V8 produces 570hp (419kW) at 9000rpm, with 540Nm of torque at 6000rpm. It has a top speed of 310km/h and thrashing this car around a race track at Ferrari’s expense is our idea of a great day out!

[via World Car Fans]

Continue reading “Ferrari 458 Challenge tested at Circuit de Valencia”
Categories
Lancia

New Stratos – The presentation

New Stratos

The official, invite only, launch of the New Stratos took place almost two weeks ago now. And while tech specs and performance data has been provided, not much else has been said about the presentation of the car. The location for the launch was the Paul Ricard circuit in France and if you’d like to see what went down you can see a brief highlights clip after the break.

Oh, will the New Stratos be put into limited production? It’s the question everyone wants an answer to. Well, all we know is, “If demand is sufficient, this question may soon have an answer as well.”

There has been talk of a GT2 version of the New Stratos, so who knows, maybe a run of 25 road cars or so will happen.

[Source: New Stratos]

Continue reading “New Stratos – The presentation”
Categories
Motorsports News

Tom Walkinshaw 1946-2010

Tom Walkinshaw

UPDATE: A statement from Holden has been added at the end of this article.

UPDATE #2: Ex-pat Aussie Steve Cropely has penned this obituary for Autocar.

Sad news overnight with confirmation that Tom Walkinshaw has lost his battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.

Walkinshaw is best known in Australia for his involvement in touring car racing. The determined Scot brought a three-car Jaguar XJS team to Bathurst in 1985 and announced his intent when he claimed pole position by over one second. Big Tom didn’t win the race—he and Win Percy finished third—but team-mates John Goss and Armin Hahne did steer their XJS to victory.

From then on Walkinshaw had an ongoing connection to Australia through touring car racing and eventually with part ownership of Holden Special Vehicles. He also, at various times, had part or full ownership of the Holden Racing Team in V8 Supercars.

As well as his involvement down under, Tom Walkinshaw Racing was a big player in the British Touring Car Championship, with Tom playing the role of driver and owner. In 1984 Walkinshaw won the European Touring Car Championship driving a Jaguar XJS.

Continue reading “Tom Walkinshaw 1946-2010”
Categories
Audi Drive Thru

Drive Thru: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Ambition

Audi A1

Audi claim its new A1 is the next big thing. They reckon it will set new benchmarks in the small car segment, especially at the premium end. We spent some time in an A1 1.4 TFSI Ambition earlier this week and put Audi’s claims to the test.

Let’s start with the looks. Overall we rate the A1 pretty well in this area. There’s definite four-ringed styling cues, but the littlest Audi sold in Australia has enough individuality to carve its own niche. Okay, the wasabi green interior highlights of our test car may not be to everyone’s taste, but the A1 is about fun; to be honest, the bright colour tended to mellow the longer we spent in the car. The flashes of colour added to the cabin provide a welcome change and the ability to tailor choices to one’s taste is also refreshing to see.

Comparisons with MINI are impossible to avoid with the A1 and while the MINI might have the edge on exterior cheekiness—just—the A1 has a better built interior. Perhaps the A1’s slightly more conventional dash layout will win over those buyers who can’t get past the MINI’s dominant centrally mounted speedo, as well. So long as you’re not sitting in the back seat, the cabin of the A1 really is a great place to be. Audi has certainly achieved its aim of bringing a premium feel into a compact hatch.

Continue reading “Drive Thru: Audi A1 1.4 TFSI Ambition”
Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

Team Lotus to stick with green and yellow livery

Lotus Racing

Team Lotus boss, Tony Fernandes, has revealed his cars will not race with a black and gold livery in 2011 as previously announced. They will now be sticking with the traditional Lotus colours of green and yellow.

Fernandes made the decision following the announcement of the Lotus Renault GP team and their subsequent plans to revive the classic black and gold livery. Speaking to Autosport Fernandes explained, “I do think it would be ludicrous if we are both black and gold, and I can inform you that we will be changing our plans for the colour scheme.

“We declared that we were going to run in black and gold, and I’m not going to be childish to say we were first with our plans, so we will do it whatever. They have painted their car black and gold, they have made their intentions clear on that front, so be it.

“And after yesterday’s announcement by the FIA about the new engine plans for 2013, which means F1 is going green – so what better colour to be than green? So, we have been testing our fans’ reactions and many have come back to us to say we should stay green and yellow. So, I am 99 per cent sure that we will be green and yellow.”

The shame of that decision is the wonderful Emerson Fittipaldi and Ayrton Senna inspired schemes will not see a race track.

Autosport’s interview with Fernandes is a good read and gives more insight into the Group Lotus v Team Lotus debacle. Make sure you check it out.

[Source: Autosport]