Month: February 2009

Categories
Audi

Audi TT RS – Return of the famous five

Audi TT RS

Images of the Audi TT RS have spread across the interweb overnight, and here’s a few for you to take a look at. The TT RS will be revealed, officially, in Geneva next month. That’s if Audi doesn’t counter this leak by releasing official images and specs beforehand.

In the meantime, what we “know” is that the TT RS will return to the UR Quattro‘s roots and be powered by an inline five cylinder. The 2.5 litre is good for 340hp (250kW) and a very tasty 450Nm of torque. With a six speed manual and, of course, an all-wheel drive system, one should be able to propel the TT RS from rest to 100km/h in under 5 seconds.

The bigger front air dam on the lower edges of the front grille are the biggest visual clue separating the TT RS from the regular S model. There’s also a more aggressive rear spoiler.

More details and wallpaper sized images as they come to hand. For now, there’s a few more pics below and a YouTube clip which is said to be the engine note of the TT RS. If that’s true, then … Schwing!

Source: CarScoop & TopGear.com

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Categories
Renault

Better late than never

Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27

The Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27 was first revealed over two years ago in January 2007. Now, finally, we will see this car in Australia at next week’s Melbourne International Motor Show, with sales beginning in April. Although, you may need to get in quick, as only 40 R27s are being imported.

Renault are asking a smidgen under $40K for their hottest of hot hatches, a $3500 premium over the regular Clio 197. If that tickles your fancy, you’ll be able to choose from a palette of three colours; Toro Red, Glacier White and, for an extra $1000, Victory Yellow.

Australia’s newest Clio is powered by the same 2.0 litre engine from the 197 model. So, you get a six-speed manual gearbox, 145kW at 7250rpm, with 215Nm of torque at 5550rpm.

The Clio R27 has the Cup chassis enhancements, which means with stiffer suspension and other tweaks, the more you throw at this little dynamo the more you will receive.

Brembo calipers (312mm front/300mm rear) are wrapped inside some curiously named BeBop anthracite rims. Making sure you can’t forget Renault’s F1 Constructor’s titles from 2005 and 2006 are a series of decals placed over the car, which complete the look.

Inside you get some tasty Recaro seats, saving six kilos over the regular seats. There is also climate control air conditioning and cruise control fitted. Renault’s ESP system helps keep you in check and a plaque individually numbering the car reminds you how special you are.

It’s great that the feisty little bugger is coming down under, but a shame that the feistiest of all Renaults, the Mégane R26.R, won’t be coming to Australia.

Full presser after the jump, plus more pics, including some cool cutaways proving, beyond doubt (haha), the car’s F1 links!

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Categories
BMW

BMW Z2 scheduled for 2011?

BMW Z2 - Auto Motor und Sport

German publication Auto Motor und Sport reckons BMW are on track to reveal a baby Z2 roadster by 2011. If this rendering, prepared by Mark Stehrenberger, is anything to go by it will be as stunning to look at as it will be to drive, no doubt.

Best guesses would indicate a mostly four cylinder engine line up, with the possibility of some type of hybrid engine in the range, as well. Although, if you’re anything like me, you’re already thinking how good it would be to have the 225kW twin turbo inline six cylinder from the 135i wrapped inside this gorgeous shell.

Here’s hoping this rumour grows in momentum and we see something concrete on the Z2 in 2010.

Source: Auto Motor und Sport via autoblog

Categories
Lamborghini Random wallpapers

Random wallpapers: Lamborghini Miura SV

Lamborghini Miura SV

They say a picture says a thousand words. The Lamborghini Miura is beautiful. Nothing more need be said. Best to let the images do the talking (click on each image to load the wallpaper sized 2000x1320px versions).

You can see a Miura for yourself on the Historic Tribute display at the Melbourne International Motor Show (27 February–9 March).

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Categories
Lamborghini Motor Shows

Gallardo LP560-4 drops its top down under

Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder

The Lamborghini stand at the 75th Melbourne International Motor Show, which starts next week, is going to be a good one. Making its Australian debut will be the Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. The Gallardo is one of the finest looking supercars money can currently buy, if not the finest. And in soft top form it is just divine. That being the case, then, the sound from its 5.2 litre V10 is like divine intervention. It truly is a message from God!

With a lighter transmission, a reworked V10 engine, new suspension and updated all-wheel-drive system the LP560-4 Spyder can sprint to 100km/h in just four seconds flat. It has a top speed of 324km/h, and to keep Bob Brown happy, has dropped its fuel consumption by 18 per cent and reduced its CO2 emissions to boot.

Joining the Spyder on the Lambo stand will be the Gallardo coupé and the Murcielago LP640. The motor show’s Historic Tribute display will show off supercar royalty in the form of a 1960s Miura. I’m not sure the profile of any supercar has bettered the classic lines of this work of absolute perfection.

If you’re heading to show, make sure you check out the best Sant’Agata has to offer. I doubt you will be disappointed.

More pics after the jump. To download the press document from the 2008 LA Auto Show, including full specs; right click, save as HERE (100kb PDF).

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Categories
Ford

1970s Ford GT stash uncovered in South Africa

Ford Fairmont GT stash in South Africa

Many readers will have great memories of the Australian muscle car era. The best years were the 1970s and one of the best examples of the age is the XW/XY Ford Falcon GT. Not as many of you will remember that during that era a whole bunch of Falcon GT parts were exported to South Africa where they were assembled into Fairmont GTs. Recently (or perhaps not), a large haul of Fairmont GTs was unearthed making Ford enthusiasts across the country go weak at the knees.

There were a few cosmetic difference between the Fairmont and Ford GT models, but essentially they are the same car. Indeed, in the areas that matter, these were fair dinkum Falcon GTs.

There appear to be scant facts around about the way this collection was built, but interweb rumour suggests the cars were purchased individually in South Africa with the sole intention of exporting them back “home”. The idea being, of course, that the home grown collecter market would gobble these GTs up at some profit to the importer.

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Categories
Ford News

Eric Bana’s “Love the Beast” – Sydney premiere

Eric Bana’s feature length movie about his first car Love the Beast is due in cinemas on 12 March. Sydney residents, however, have the opportunity to see the movie next Thursday 26 February with a special screening at the Hayden Orpheum in Cremorne. This session will include a live presentation from Eric Bana, as well. Tickets are $20 and are now on sale through MCA-TIX.

You can see a preview of the flick above. For more information, check out the movie’s official website or YouTube channel.

(Thanks to Shaun for the tip.)

Categories
Motor Shows News

Geneva Motor Show to launch television channel – salon-auto.tv

Geneva Motor Show, 5-15 March 2009The 79th Geneva International Motor Show starts in under two weeks and if you can’t be there you needn’t miss a thing. Each day from 10am (8pm AEDT) an internet television channel will have footage of all the latest from the show. If you’re keen, you can bookmark the page now: www.salon-auto.tv.

The show runs from 5-15 March, however the web-TV channel will run for four extra days (2-16 March), covering events in the lead up and conclusion to the show.

As is to be expected, there are a host of manufacturers revealing new models in Geneva, including Aston Martin, Audi, BMW, Mazda, Renault and Porsche. There is also some speculation that a new hot Golf R20T could be revealed.

A full list of model premieres will be available soon on the show’s official website. The full press release announcing salon-auto.tv can be read after the jump.

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Categories
Formula 1 Honda News

Will Honda be saved by F1 virgin?

Will Honda still be f**ked if saved by Virgin?

With just six weeks to go until the 2009 F1 season begins in Melbourne time is fast running out for the former Honda Racing team to find a buyer. The BBC reports that there is hope with several buyers sniffing around the back of the Honda garage. One of those has been confirmed today as being Richard Branson. “We are negotiating with several buyers and one of these parties is the Virgin Group,” a Honda spokesman said.

While the team could be sold for as little as £1, the new buyer would have to stump tens of millions each year just to get to the grid each weekend. It is understood that Honda is willing to offer some cash if a buyer can be found, as this will be cheaper than paying out contracts of the 700-strong workforce.

The F1-Team-formerly-known-as-Honda has negotiated a deal to use Mercedes-Benz engines for the 2009 season, but the German giant has put a deadline in place for the deal to be finalised. According to the BBC report it is expected that deadline could end within a week.

Since Honda announced their withdrawal from Formula One speculation has been fairly constant that buyers are on the lookout for a deal. There was a strong rumour in late December that Mexican telco billionaire Carlos Slim Helú was prepared to be Honda’s saviour, but that proved false.

Also in BBC’s report is speculation that three Honda Racing executives could partner with current team bosses Nick Fry and Ross Brawn to form a consortium prepared to bail out the team.

With the season approaching fast, and the F1-Team-formerly-known-as-Honda still needing to undertake much needed track and crash testing before they get to Melbourne, I guess we will find the answer to this story sooner rather than later.

Source: BBC

Categories
News

Banana republic

Drivers Republic

Here’s a bit of a shout out to the more eminently resourced and thoroughly excellent online publication Drivers Republic. And, in some ways, this is a shout out to all the AUSmotives the world over. You see, the internet is here, and the internet is staying.

Drivers Republic claims their site traffic grew by as much as 200% in the period June–December 2008, while at the same time sales of leading UK print titles slipped between 4–14%.

The immediacy and flexibility of information offered by digital media is hard to compete with. Print media will always have a place, there’s no doubt about that, it just may no longer be at the top of the tree.

More after the jump.

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Categories
Fiat

Fiat Abarth 500

Fiat Abarth 500

The new Fiat Abarth 500 has recently been launched in the UK. The car was loved by Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear and the rekindling of the Abarth’s scorpion badge is sure to get a few pulses racing.

Powered by a 1.4-litre 16-valve turbo engine the Abarth 500 produces 100kW (135bhp) at 5500rpm. With the use of the, now apparently mandatory, Sport mode peak torque reaches 206Nm at 3000rpm. That’s enough to take the little Fiat from rest to 100km/h in 7.9 seconds, not earth shattering performance by any means, but spritely all the same.

However, if you want more power from your Abarth Fiat has you covered with the esseesse (SS) upgrade. For an extra £2500 the lads at the Fix It Again Tony garage will tweak your engine’s ECU to taking power up to 120kW (160bhp). To allow for better breathing a BMC air filter is also included. That’s not all, though, as uprated brakes and suspension are also included in the conversion which can be retro fiitted within the first 12 months or 20,000 kilometres of ownership. You even get to keep the box your esseesse kit is delivered in.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the Fiat 500 look. It’s cute enough, it’s city enough, but the awkward looking headlight treatment makes the car appear to have four funny eyes. Never mind that, though, getting some time behind the wheel of the esseesse model would no doubt be a barrel of laughs.

Full presser and more pics after the jump.

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Categories
BMW Fifth Gear

Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road – the best in the world?

Is the tight, twisty and ultra smooth Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road in Abu Dhabi the best in the world? In Series 15, Episode 7, Fifth Gear sent Tiff Needell to the middle east and gave him the keys to a BMW M3 to find out.

You can see the 11km stretch of tarmac on Google Maps, or read more about Jebel Hafeet on Wikipedia.