Month: March 2010

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Audi Motor Shows

Geneva: Audi Quattro celebrates 30th birthday

Audi Ur Quattro

It was 30 years ago today that Audi launched the Quattro. Dr Ferdinand Piëch, Development Director of the original Quattro, presented the car at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 1980. In his speech he stated, “This is the dawning of all-wheel drive in roadgoing passenger cars.”

Power for the Quattro came from a super sweet inline five cylinder engine that had a character all of its own. By today’s standards the 200bhp headline figure is quite modest. But, three decades ago, having a coupé derived from a family sedan that could accelerate to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds was big news.

So, too, was the addition of all-wheel drive to the world rallying scene where the Quattro left an everlasting legacy by winning the World Rally Championship in 1983 and 1984.

Memories of the Quattro have been revived with the recent launch of the TT RS, featuring a 2.5-litre inline five cylinder that sounds sublime.

For more on the original Quattro check out the AUSmotive past master feature. As well, you can read Audi’s extensive press release below which covers the both the history and future of its quattro technology.

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Categories
Formula 1

US F1 on the brink of collapse – looking ahead to 2011

US F1

According to Autosport.com the future of US F1 has already been sealed. While not officially confirmed, it has been reported that Production Manager Dave Skog has informed US F1 staff they will be placed on unpaid leave. So, they’re technically still employed, but failing new investment the team is unlikely to continue.

This news follows weeks of speculation suggesting US F1 were facing closure. Team bosses Ken Anderson and Peter Windsor were not present when Skog made his announcement, and at this stage, they have failed to comment on the team’s current plight. Such silence only heightens thoughts of an official withdrawal from Formula One being weeks, or even days, away.

Should US F1 plans be officially cast aside then Stefan GP, who bought much of Toyota’s F1 remnants, are ready to step in to fill the void.

UPDATE: Speaking to Autosport.com US F1 boss Ken Anderson has said, “We have applied to the FIA to hold our entry until 2011. It was supposed to be confidential, so I could not really comment on it. It seems to have leaked out though.

“We are waiting for a reply from the FIA and are working with them. In the mean time, there is nothing for the employees to do, so we have told them to stop working on the current car until we have a decision.”

[Source: Autosport.com | Thanks to Chris for the tip]

Categories
Ferrari Green Machines Motor Shows

Geneva: Ferrari ‘Vettura Laboratorio’ HY-KERS

Ferrari HY-KERS

It would appear that hybrid technology is the new black at the Geneva Motor Show this year, with even Ferrari getting in on the act with their HY-KERS model. Based on the 599 GTB Fiorano the ‘vettura laboratorio’ (experimental vehicle) has an electric engine coupled the a 7-speed F1 style transmission providing over 100hp to complement the car’s familiar V12.

As the name suggests the HY-KERS also employs brake regeneration technologies developed from Ferrari’s Formula One program. This helps to charge the batteries for the electric motor. Emissions for the HY-KERS have been cut by 35% over the regular 599’s urban cycle.

Ferrari are also pushing the greening of their Maranello production facilities and there’s very impressive photos of huge meccano sets included with the press guff.

Pics and video available after the jump.

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Audi

VIDEO: Audi RS5 teaser

Audi RS5 video teaser

Another brief video teaser from Audi now, this time featuring the new RS5 coupé. The sound of the 4.2 V8 FSI being driven around an empty racetrack is one well worth listening to. There’s also a cameo appearance from an original Ur Quattro. But more on that later.

Check out the clip after the break.

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Audi

VIDEO: Audi A1 teaser

Audi A1 video teaser

Audi have released some video footage of their new compact-class A1 (with S-line body trimmings) driving around the streets of Rome. Interesting to see what appear to be obvious signs of comparing the A1 to other cars of a similar ilk, such as the MINI and Smart. See how many other quasi-premium hatchbacks you can see in the clip. There’s quite a few!

The short video is available after the break.

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Green Machines Porsche

VIDEO: Porsche hybrid drive promo

Porsche Hybrid promo

Following today’s earlier news about the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid comes this 12 minute promo on Porsche’s hybrid technologies. Shown below, in two parts, the videos give a great introduction to the way Porsche is utilising a number of different theories to add hybrid systems to their cars via their Porsche Intelligent Performance initiative.

Also shown in the clip is the 911 GT3 R Hybrid and the Cayenne S Hybrid. Not sure about anyone else, but I am already counting down the days until the GT3 R Hybrid makes its race debut at the Nürburgring 24 hour race. Oh, there’s 74 sleeps to go, by the way.

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Categories
Audi Motor Shows

Geneva: Audi A1 e-tron

Audi A1 e-tron

Audi have given the motoring world a new acronym—MCV—Mega City Vehicle. It is used to described Ingolstadt’s third e-tron concept, this time built on the A1 platform.

The A1 e-tron is fitted with a transversely mounted synchronous electric motor. It can be found under the bonnet at the front and has a continuous power and torque rating of 45kW/150Nm. Although, in short bursts those numbers peak at 75kW/240Nm. A low mounted engine and below-floor battery storage ensures the A1 e-tron has a low centre of gravity.

Battery life offers a range of 50km for city chores, but a rotary engine, called a “range extender”, is capable of recharging the batteries for longer drives. It sounds like a pretty ingenious solution really.

Full details available after the break.

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Citroen Green Machines Motor Shows

Geneva: Citroën Survolt Concept

Citroen Survolt Concept

Citroën have gone all Batmobile-like with this crazy Survolt Concept. It’s a pretty wild looking machine and that’s about all I can tell you about it. There is a press release below, but the only real information it gives away is that the Survolt “is the continuation of Citroën’s exploration of distinctive and original electric vehicles”.

Oh, one more thing, the car’s measurements, of course, 3.85m long, 1.87m wide and 1.20m high. So, it’s small, electric and sporty looking. What more could you possibly need to know? More pics and pretty words after the break.

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Motor Shows Porsche

Geneva: Porsche 918 Spyder with hybrid drive

Porsche 918 Spyder

Just a couple of months after Porsche CEO Michael Macht declared they didn’t want hybrid technology in their sportscars comes this superb looking 918 Spyder concept model. Announced at the Geneva Motor Show, the 918 Spyder features a race-inspired 500hp V8 and is supplemented by 230hp of electric power.

The 918  joins the GT3 R Hybrid announced last month. Add in the Cayenne S Hybrid and you now have three Porsche model lines featuring hybrid technology.

Back to the 918 Spyder, though, and, well it is clearly the most stunning of the trio. All that power is said to propel the car to 100km/h in around 3.2 seconds. Proving further that hybrid doesn’t mean slow and steady wins the race, the 918 can (supposedly) lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 7 minutes 30 seconds. Faster than a Carrera GT, no less.

When you’re not exploiting all that power, Porsche reckon you can return a fuel consumption figure of 3l/100km with CO2 emissions of just 70g/km.

Pretty tidy numbers all round for a mid-engined two-seater with a very tasty 3.4-litre V8 from the RS Spyder racecar.

Check the pics and press release after the jump.

UPDATE 3 March: Two new “next spark” promo videos featuring the Porsche 918 Spyder have been added below.

UPDATE 29 July: Porsche have confirmed the 918 will go into limited series production.

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Categories
Audi

Audi UK confirms RS5 pricing & specs

Audi RS5

Audi UK have just released details confirming their local specs for the RS5 featuring a 450PS 4.2 FSI V8 which will go on sale there in October. It’s all as expected and pricing starts at £57,480 OTR (approx AU$96,000). Expect Australians to be paying significantly more than that. Sigh.

You can read the press release below.

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Categories
Lamborghini Video

Valentino Balboni talks about “his” Lamborghini

Lamborghini Gallardo Balboni video

After 40 years service for the one company the traditional gift at retirement, supposedly, is a gold watch. Lamborghini, though, do things a little bit differently. Valentino Blaboni, the company’s chief test driver for a total of four decades, was presented with his own Gallardo.

Cool, imagine getting a supercar given to you when you retire. Nice, huh. But, Lamborghini actually went one step further by making a special limited edition run of the Gallardo adorned with Balboni’s name. Just 250 have been made—its full title, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-2 Valentino Balboni.

Taking the honour further the Italian manufacturer did away with the Gallardo’s all-wheel drive system and decided to send every one of the car’s 550 horsepower to the rear wheels. Now, that is some retirement present!

The above still is taken from a brief YouTube clip produced by Danish car mag Bil Magasinet. You can see that after the jump, along with more images of Balboni and his car.

In the clip Balboni talks of trying to capture the spirit of the Miura and Countach in “his” Gallardo. He seems like a great guy, as well. The video is available in 1080p, so I suggest watching in full screen with the volume turned up to eleven.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip]

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Categories
Ferrari

Autocar drives the Ferrari 599XX

Ferrari 599XX autocar review

Steve Sutcliffe from UK mag Autocar gets some first class assignments sometimes, but not many could better this one. He was the first person outside of Ferrari to drive its working test laboratory—the 599XX.

Just 29 of these 540kW V12 powered machines will be made and, according to the YouTube clip below, none will be used for racing. As we know, none will be road legal.

Sutcliffe has also written a review of his experience behind the wheel of the 599XX, and here is a snippet of his thoughts on Ferrari’s €1.1 million hyper car:

“I drove the car at Vallelunga circuit, near Rome, and it was nowhere near long enough; you could drive this car all day, all week, and still want more. But it was sufficient time behind the wheel to realise that, for its audience, the 599XX has a very clear purpose in life. Not just as a development platform for future technology, some of which will appear on a new rumoured GTO version of the 599 later this year, but also as a means of providing unmatched thrills and driving dynamics for a front-engined GT car. For pretty much any car, come to think of it.”

[Source: Autocar]

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