Month: September 2011

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Motor Shows Volkswagen WRC

Frankfurt 2011: Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

After confirming plans to enter the WRC in 2013 back in May, Volkswagen has presented a Polo R WRC prototype at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Polo R WRC will feature a 300hp/350Nm 1.6 litre TSI engine in compliance with the new engine regulations that have enticed the auto giant into the sport.

“In February we started designing the vehicle concept for the Polo R WRC. Now we’re already in a position to present the first ready-to-run vehicle that will subsequently be used in extensive tests – an important step in our preparations for the WRC entry in 2013,” says Volkswagen Motorsport Director Kris Nissen. “I’m pleased about our team having managed to get this car off the ground in such a short time. And I’m very proud about the opportunity to present it to the public on the occasion of the IAA in Frankfurt.”

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Volkswagen

VW Scirocco R – Australian pricing & specs

Volkswagen at AIMS 2011

Volkswagen Australia has released pricing and full specification details for the long awaited Scirocco R. Available with a 6 speed manual for $47,490 or DSG for $49,990 the Scirocco R undercuts the launch pricing of the 3 door Golf R model it is replacing by $1000.

Powered by the same 188kW 2.0 litre turbo four cylinder from the Golf R, the front-wheel drive Scirocco R with DSG can reach 100km/h in 6.0 seconds (6.2s manual). If you behave yourself Volkswagen reckon you’ll use fuel at the rate of 8.2l/100km (8.1l/100km manual).

Options are limited to premium audio, sat nav and a panoramic sunroof. Although, you can also option the multispoke design of the 19″ Sagitta wheels over the standard 19″ Talladega alloys (pictured). Worth noting that no leather option is being offered at this stage and the standard tyre size for the Scirocco R is 235/35/19.

We advise you choose any of the following five colours over the Viper Green metallic paint you see here: Candy White, Rising Blue metallic (our choice), Reflex Silver metallic, Deep Black Pearl Effect or Iridium Grey metallic. Volkswagen is kindly throwing in the sparkles too, so there’s no extra charge for any of those colours.

The Scirocco R can be ordered at your local Volkswagen dealer now and a batch of demonstrator models will arrive in late December. The first batch of fresh orders is expected to arrive in Australia around February 2012.

Full details from Volkswagen can be read after the break.

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Lamborghini Motor Shows

Frankfurt 2011: Lamborghini presentation

Couldn’t make it to the Lamborghini presentation at the Frankfurt Motor Show overnight? Neither could we, but here’s the next best thing with video of CEO Stefan Winkelmann telling us all about his new toy: the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale. Helps if you can speak German, though.

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Lamborghini Motor Shows

Frankfurt 2011: Lamborghini Sesto Elemento confirmed for production

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

Lamborghini CEO Stefan Winkelmann has just confirmed at the Frankfurt Motor Show the company will be building a very limited run of Sesto Elemento models. Only 20 will be made and you’ll need a hefty €1.5 million to get your hands on one.

Speaking at the Lamborghini presentation overnight Winkelmann said, “The Sesto Elemento is a vehicle in the making, yes we will build it.

“Besides a few very small details it will look identical to the concept car. It will be priced at €1.5 milion and be purely for track use, although if a customer wanted to homologate it for the road I don’t see that being a problem.”

We first saw the Sesto Elemento at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and its specs are pure fantasy. It’s expected to weigh 999kg, and will be powered by the same 419kW 5.2 litre V10 found in the Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale.

[Source: Auto Express]

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F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 Italian Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Italian Grand Prix

Here’s your pictorial reminder of what went down at the 2011 Italian Grand Prix. Unusually, this includes a few pics of Mark driving around in his busted car as well. Seems most teams don’t like showing broken cars when the driver is mostly at fault. There’s been a few exceptions, though, and we’re always keen to share them when they arise.

Lotus, Mercedes GP and Renault didn’t come to play with many pics from Sunday’s action. We’ve used a few Saturday fillers for you, which we prefer not to do. However, we can’t have you miss out on your fair share of pics.

There’s 80 pics in all this time around, all waiting for you after the break. Knock yourselves out!

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Lamborghini Motor Shows

Frankfurt 2011: Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale

Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo Stradale

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo Stradale; it’s the most extreme Gallardo ever, according to Lamborghini and, with that long name, it’s a sub-editor’s nightmare. It’ll be a boy racer’s dream, of course, and the rear wing lifted straight from the racing version seals the deal.

Really, who can say no to the car’s dashing good looks and 5.2 litre V10 complete with 570hp (419kW) powering all four wheels? Not us. If you want one, you’d better be quick—only 150 Super Trofeo Stradales will be made—it’s the final swansong for the evergreen Gallardo.

The car weighs in at 1340kg, the same as previous Superleggerra models and a bit more than originally reported. It’s still 70kg lighter than a regular Gallardo and has only 2.35kg to shift for every horsepower on offer. A 100km/h dash takes just 3.4 seconds and you’ll need only 10.4 seconds to make it to 200km/h. Keep that foot planted and you’ll soon reach the 320km/h v-max.

In honour of Italy’s racing heritage the Super Trofeo Stradale is available in the special Rosso Mars paint you see in these pictures. Other colour options are Grigio Telesto (dark grey) and Bianco Monocerus (white). If you’re ready to part with even more cash you can keep the shiny black roof.

There’s more pics and more detail from Lamborghini after the break. Start saving!

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Audi Motor Shows Motorsports

Frankfurt 2011: Audi A5 DTM

Audi A5 DTM

Audi has just unveiled its new A5 DTM racecar. Pretty crazy looking thing it is, too. That’s the style in DTM, of course and this new ‘R17’ will hit the tracks in 2012.

The A5 DTM has around 340kW (460hp) thanks to its race-tuned V8 engine. Gear shifts are taken care of by a new 6-speed transmission, pneumatically operated with steering wheel paddles. In line with new cost reduction measures the gearboxes are expected to last 24,000kms.

You wouldn’t believe it by looking at them, but aero packages for the 2012 DTM machines are also less extreme than in the past.

There’s more images after the break, as well as Audi’s press release.

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Ford WRC

Mikko Hirvonen wins Rally Australia

Mikko Hirvonen wins Rally Australia

Mikko Hirvonen has capped off a great trip down under by winning Rally Australia. The event was held over the weekend at Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast. Even better for Ford was the fact Jari-Matti Latvala competed strongly and came home in second place.

In fact, Latvala lead for much of the final day and team orders meant he handed the win to his teammate who is better placed in the drivers’ championship.

The Fiesta drivers were able to get through a tricky first day with only minor damage after slippery conditions ended the winning hopes of Citroën pair Sebastien Loeb and Sebastien Ogier. The two Sebastiens were able to get going again on day two, but time penalties put them well out of contention. In fact they finished the rally in tenth and eleventh.

That meant factory Fords clawed back some valuable points on the lead Citroëns in the manufacturers’ championship, bringing the gap back to 62 points.

Hirvonen was also able to displace Ogier from second in the title race and is now 15 points behind Loeb.

It was Hirvonen’s second race win for 2011 and follows his win at Rally Sweden to kick start his year.

With thanks to the Ford World Rally Team team you can watch a highlights clip below with coverage form all three days of competition.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing

2011 Italian GP: Post-race press conference

2011 Italian Grand Prix

The fat lady is  preparing her vocal chords and we expect she will be singing Sebastian Vettel’s tune at the next Grand Prix. That’s right, following yet another peerless drive from Vettel to win the 2011 Italian Grand Prix, he can formally wrap up the 2011 drivers’ title at Singapore in a couple of weeks if results go his way.

In Monza overnight Vettel’s only concerns came following a bullet-like start from Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) to steal the lead. The Safety Car quickly came out after Tonio Liuzzi’s (HRT) slip’n’slide move on the grass cleaned up a few midfield runners.

When the lights went green Vettel had the Ferrari in his sights and pulled a sterling move on the outside of Curva Grande to reclaim the lead. The 24-year-old is silencing the doubters who claim he cannot race wheel-to-wheel when the going gets tough. He may still have a bit to learn in that regard, but his last two races have shown he is head of the class.

In all of the chaos around him Jenson Button (McLaren), who had a poor start, quietly worked his way into second place with a mature drive. Again Alonso struggled on the harder tyres and held on for third, denying Lewis Hamilton’s (McLaren) late race charge for a podium place.

It was a bad day for the Australians, with Daniel Ricciardo (HRT) stalling on the start line. He was able to eventually get going again and complete a total of 39 laps but he was “not classified” so it was a data gathering exercise for the team and no more. Mark Webber (Red Bull) meanwhile put himself between a rock and Felipe Massa’s Ferrari and lost his front wing in the process. A few corners later, with parts of the wing lodged in his undertray, he lost steering and went off into a tyre barrier ending his race.

Webber’s DNF has relegated him from second to fourth in the drivers’ standings. He’s on 167 points, behind Button (167pts, ahead on wins), Alonso (172pts) and the 2011 champion-in-waiting Vettel (284pts).

More from the top three after the break.

[Pic: Ferrari]

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McLaren

Merdad messes with McLaren MP4-12C

Merdad MehRon GT

The Merdad Collection is better known for playing around with high-powered Porsche models and making them even more high-powered. Now, though, they’ve messed around with the newest supercar kid on the block; the McLaren MP4-12C.

The wilder Mac will be called the MehRon GT. We wonder if that’s just code for the reaction likely to be given by Ron Dennis. Merdad say there will be a GT3 version coming as well.

At the moment there’s no performance details, suffice to say we expect the Merdad Mac will go from damn fast to damn faster.

The bodykit won’t be to everyone’s liking, but as we’ve seen earlier today, it could be a lot worse. From some angles, the Merdad look has the aggression and purpose lacking from the donor car.

There’s more photos after the break and, as is usually the case, you can click on the pics to view as 2000px super images.

[Source: Merdad Collection]

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BMW

AC Schnitzer messes with 1M Coupé

ACS1 Sport Coupe

Renowned German tuning firm AC Schnitzer are bringing their version of the ultimate BMW 1 Series M Coupé to the Frankfurt Motor Show. They’ve called it the ACS1 Sport Coupé. Here’s a few pics that might make you think twice.

On the plus side they have upped power from 340hp to 400hp (250kW to 300kW). Brakes and suspension have been uprated, too, so you can be sure you’ll have the ability to better control that horsepower.

On the downside; well, just look at it. We reckon they’ve taken a great looking car from BMW and turned into a real shambles.

Just look at the interior. It’s horrible! What were they thinking with that iDrive controller cover. To us, it looks cheap and nasty.

What do you think? Have we got it wrong; is this ACS1 jobbie a fine example of performance and cosmetic perfection, or is it just butt ugly?

[Source: AC Schnitzer]

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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Italian GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 Italian GP

Sebastian Vettel has put his Red Bull machine on pole position for the tenth time in 2011 after setting the quickest time (1:22.275) in qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix overnight.

The 2010 world champion ended up with a comfortable lead over the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton (1:22.725) and Jenson Button (1:22.777). All of the top three made minor mistakes during Q3 and Vettel was the only one able to regroup and better his first flying lap in the final session.

Mark Webber qualified fifth (1:22.972) and really wasn’t that far off the pace, Sebastian Vettel aside; he remains in a class of his own.

Daniel Ricciardo (1:28.054) put his HRT on P23 ahead of teammate Tonio Liuzzi (1:28.231).

Sebastian Vettel is sitting pretty ahead of tonight’s race, but the McLaren duo won’t let him run away with the race without a fight. After the break you can read what the top three had to say.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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