Archive for September, 2011

Porsche 918 design process explained

// Posted in Porsche

The Porsche 918 RSR was on show at the recent Pebble Beach Concours. Also on hand was Anthony Hatter, Porsche Design Manager, who was kind enough to talk us through the process of turning the 918 Spyder from showcar into reality. Earlier this year Porsche announced it was ready to take orders for the 918 [...]

2011 Italian GP: Take a lap around Monza

To help you get ready for this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix here’s a couple of videos showcasing the famous Monza track. First we have Phil Prew, McLaren’s Principal Race Engineer, talking us through a lap. He also shows us where the two DRS zones will be for this race. Then, after the break, you can [...]

Jaguar reveals C-X16 hybrid concept

// Posted in Jaguar

Jaguar has given us an official preview of its C-X16 hybrid sportscar ahead of next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Looks pretty flash, don’t you reckon. Mainstream power peaks at a healthy 280kW (380PS) courtesy of a supercharged 3.0 litre V6. Thanks to that blower torque tops out at 450Nm. Green power can be accessed with [...]

Lexus LFA Nürburgring claims Ring record

// Posted in Lexus

Lexus has just released footage showing their LFA Nürburgring package lapping the Nordschleife in 7 minutes 14.64 seconds. As is the way these days when a manufacturer sets a quick lap at the Ring a record of some sort is generally claimed. Lexus say their time is the “fastest ever recorded lap time for a [...]

Audi A2 Concept images released

Audi has further previewed its all-electric A2 Concept with a release of new images overnight. The A2 is a car that will compete with the BMW i3 and although it is less radically styled, it still looks quite sharp. The dramatic line through the shoulder line appears to have LED lighting within that can change [...]

Is this a preview of the 2012 Renault Clio IV?

// Posted in Renault

Renault will be launching a new Clio Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week. It seems they may have jumped the gun by posting this image to Facebook, before it was quickly removed. It would seem the Clio is the red coloured concept model on the far left of the image. Next to that [...]

BMW brings TwinPower Turbo tech to Z4 range

// Posted in BMW

BMW Australia has announced it will introduce TwinPower Turbo technology to its entire Z4 range, with the rollout due in November. Out go the old normally aspirated inline six cylinder engines from the 150kW sDrive23i and 190kW sDrive30i. In comes the new world order of 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo power in the form of [...]

VIDEO: Porsche’s magnificent seven

// Posted in Porsche

Double-clutch transmissions are fast becoming the norm, even in high-end sportscars. Think Ferrari 458, McLaren MP4-12C and Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG to name a few. We’re unlikely to see a manual box in a Lamborghini ever again. On that count, then, Porsche is to be applauded for sticking with tradition and offering a manual transmission  in [...]

New vehicle sales report – August 2011

Things are looking up as far as new vehicle sales in Australia are concerned. At total of 88,082 sales were recorded in August. That’s up 7091 compared to the previous month and 5960 more than August 2010. Steve Payne, FCAI acting Chief Executive, explains the market is trending upwards after a slow start to 2011, [...]

VIDEO: True history of the 911 gang

// Posted in Porsche

To help promote the new 991 911, Porsche has released this short clip reminding us of the previous generations that have entered the history books since 1963.

Koenigsegg Agera R claims six world records

The Koenigsegg Agera R hardly needs to prove to anyone that it’s a bloody fast car. A quick glance over its key stats will confirm that. It has an 830kW 5.0 litre V8 twin-turbo and weighs a relatively modest 1418kg. Surely, if you put 830kW into 1418kg you will get supersonic! Not quite, perhaps, but [...]

Skoda MissionL ‘liftback’ concept previewed

// Posted in Skoda

Skoda has revealed two images of its MissionL concept car. It’s a ‘liftback’ design, which Skoda hopes will help the company achieve 1.5 million global sales by 2018. Last year Skoda sold 762,000 vehicles across the globe. They’ve given themselves seven years to double that number. To aid these lofty goals Skoda is setting up [...]

Get ready for the Eterniti Hemera

// Posted in Eterniti

You’re looking at a teaser for “the world’s first super-SUV”, otherwise known as the Eterniti Hemera. Are you excited? Well, if you’re in the market for an SUV with a “limousine-like rear cabin”, complete with iPads, and “4×4 ruggedness” with “dynamic performance” then you should be. At least that’s what the press guff tells us. [...]

Could this celebrity endorsement be any worse?

The five-door Range Rover Evoque has just been launched overseas. We reckon it and its three-door sibling will sell like hot cakes. Indeed, it will probably be the next must-have accessory in well-to-do suburbs. So, you’d reckon using a member of the Royal Family to promote said car would be a winning strategy. But watch [...]

Williams F1 share price plummets

The share price of Williams F1 has fallen 40% since its flotation on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange back in February, according to a report in UK newspaper The Telegraph. That translates to a value of almost €100m (AU$133m). With poor on-track performance it is probably no surprise to read this news. It paints a sorry [...]