Month: August 2011

Categories
Volkswagen

The only way is up!

Volkswagen up

Volkswagen has released info and images of its new city car, called the up!, ahead of its European sales debut in December. We first got an inkling of Volkswagen’s thinking with the E-Up! at Frankfurt in 2009.

At just 3.54m long and 1.64m wide the up! is quite small and comes in three different model designations: the entry-level take up!, the “comfort oriented” move up! and top-of-the-range high up!

Powering up! at launch will be a pair of 1.0 litre three-cylinder diesel petrol engines. Power is either 44kW or 55kW and fuel consumption on a combined cycle will be 4.2l/100km or 4.3l/100km respectively. A 50kW natural gas powered unit will also be available. The range will be complemented by an electric powered model in 2013.

Safety hasn’t been left out and the up! will feature Emergency Braking, which uses a laser sensor to try and avoid, or minimise, low-speed shunts at speeds below 30km/h.

You’ll find more on the up! from Volkswagen below, including a gallery of 24 images, all accessible at 2000px super sizing.

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Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Formula One is the pits in 2011

To help kill time during the mid-season break Mercedes GP has released this brief video showing the importance they place on pit stops.

There’s nothing earth shattering in here, but it’s still quite a good insight.

It’s also good to know Michael Schumacher can trust his boys. If only they could reciprocate the feeling.

Categories
Motorsports

Aussie Racing Cars’ false start at Ipswich

Phil Ward, Aussie Racing Cars

The second Aussie Racing Cars race at Queensland Raceway quickly developed into total farce amid concerns over track safety yesterday afternoon. The aftermath of the incident has cost the category organiser his job.

Phil Ward, category founder, organiser and competitor, qualified eighteenth for the race. However, as the cars formed up on the grid Ward sped to the head of the pack, stopped his car and got out to demand the race be cancelled.

On Turn 2 of the racetrack oil had been spilled in an earlier event and Ward felt it was too dangerous to race. What followed was unimaginable chaos for a professional category with almost a decade of competition under its belt.

Unfortunately for Ward and the Aussie Racing Cars series this shambles was being broadcast live around Australia by Channel 7. Watch the video below and, regardless of Ward’s good intentions, you’ll soon see why this melodrama has captured attention for all the wrong reasons.

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider images leaked

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

Ferrari will be officially unveiling the 458 Italia Spider at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a few weeks. As is the norm these days the interwebz has rather spoiled the surprise following the appearance of three images of the 570hp roadster.

Mostly this will simply be a regular 458 Italia with its roof cut out; engine and spec is expected to be the same. Of course, there will be extra strenghtening for the chassis which will add some extra weight.

[Source: Cheers & Gears]

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Categories
BMW

BMW F31 3 Series Touring spied

BMW F31 3 Series Touring

Just days after an undisguised F30 saloon was spotted the next-gen BMW 3 Series Touring (F31) has been spied in familiar swirly camouflage. Due to go on sale in Europe a bit over 12 months from now the new 3 Series wagon promises to be the largest and most spacious iteration yet.

Styling will obviously follow on from the sedan and these spy shots, showing a longer roofline and larger rear doors, indicate BMW has placed a higher priority on cargo space. Ensuring access to the rear storage area is nice and convenient the split rear tailgate will carry over from the E90 Touring.

[Source: Car]

Categories
Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb to stay with Citroën until 2013

Sebastien Loeb, 2011 Rally Finland

Sebastien Loeb has agreed terms with Citroën to drive for them in the World Rally Championship until the end of the 2013 season. He is currently celebrating that news by holding a comfortable lead in Rally Deutschland.

Talking about his contract extension Loeb says he’s looking forward to a new era in the WRC, “With the arrival of other manufacturers in the championship, the competition is going to get tougher in the years to come.

“All the more so with the rule changes concerning the starting order coming in 2012 as all the drivers will be fighting on a level playing field,” he said.

“To take the fight to them I’m putting my trust in Citroën, a team I know inside out and the DS3 WRC, the car that I helped set up with Citroën Racing.”

If Loeb completes the win in Germany he will make Citroën the most successful manufacturer of all time. Currently Citroën and Ford are tied on 77 wins; incredibly, 66 of Citroën’s wins have been thanks to the seven-time champion from France. It’s no wonder the relationship will continue.

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Chris Harris in an SLS AMG at the Nürburgring

In our second video of the week to feature Chris Harris we take you the Eifel mountains in Germany. There, Harris was driving a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It was all part of the fun and games you can have at a dedicated Destination Nürburgring track day.

UPDATE: Harris has blogged about the SLS over at the evo website.

Categories
News

World’s vehicle population tops 1 billion

Port Kembla

The world’s garage has passed one billion vehicles for the first time according research carried out by Wards Auto. The figures are based on 2010 data and tell us the United States heads the list when sorted by country, with a staggering 239.8 million motor vehicles.

The US numbers are put in perspective when compared against the emerging market of China, which has achieved its highest ranking, reaching second place but still a long way behind, with a bit over 78 million units. Japan sits third with just under 74 million vehicles.

Unsurprisingly the United States also tops the list when looking at each country’s vehicle-to-person ratio. With a ratio of 1:1.3, in theory, around 77% of Americans have a vehicle of some sort. In contrast, China’s ratio is 1:17.2 and India (20.8 million vehicles) sees just one in every 56.3 people with a vehicle.

Italy is ranked second behind the US for vehicle-to-person ratios (1:1.45) with France, Japan and the UK all roughly the same (1:1.7). Overall, the world population is 6.9 billion (1:6.75 vehicles to people).

[Source: WardsAuto]

UPDATE 20 August: Thanks to Jim Rutherford from the FCAI for pointing us in the direction of Australian figures from the ABS, which tell us there were 12.5 million passenger vehicles at last count. Based on the current population of 22.7 million Australia has a ratio of one vehicle for every 1.8 people.

Categories
Ford WRC

If in doubt, flat out!

Mark Webber thought it fit to share this video of Colin McRae in action at the 2001 British RAC Rally via his twitter feed. Who are we to argue?

Categories
Mazda Motorsports

VIDEO: Mazda MX-5 GT onboard at Spa

Mazda MX-5 GT

Formula One’s mid-season slumber will end in just over one week when the circus comes to the small Belgian village of Spa-Francorchamps. Home, of course, to one of the world’s most loved racetracks. Helping us to get back into the swing of things is this footage from Mazda UK filmed onboard an MX5-GT. Mark Ticehurst was at the wheel and he talks us through the lap as well.

Take the jump to watch the lap in full.

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche 911: 991 compared to 997 in pictures

Porsche 911_991 v 997

Here’s a pictorial comparison of the new 991 Porsche 911 against the well loved 997.2 model it replaces.

One of the first things you notice in profile view is how the 991 appears a bit sleeker and lower. The more dramatically raked front and rear glass is a small, but definite improvement.

At the front the 997 gets our tick for having less fussy LED daytime running lights. Even the headlights, while very similar, look nicer in the old car. Although, we reckon Porsche has done a good job in the lower spoiler area on the all-new 911.

When comparing the backsides of the two 911s we call it in favour of the 991. We like the sharper look of the new rear lights. The quad-tipped exhausts also look better, despite being a bit clichéd these days. The new model also has a more refined finish around the lower bumper area. Our only concern is how the rear cooling vents look in profile view; they stick up a bit too much. That’d be function ruling over form, of course, so we can happily accept that.

So there you have it, as expected the exterior of the new 911 doesn’t appear to have changed too much, but we’d still call it a successful progression. You can click on the image above for a larger version of the comparison grid, or check out the individual images below, including interior photos.

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Categories
Porsche

2012 Porsche 911 revealed in leaked images

2012 Porsche 911

BREAKING: A series of seven images revealing the all-new 991 Porsche 911 Carrera have been leaked. You can see more after the break.

Official information from Porsche was originally expected on 24 August, but we suspect we might see something meaningful from Stuttgart sooner, rather than later.

The entry level Carrera model now features a 3.4l flat-six, down from 3.6l. The engine is bespoke to the 911, however, and not simply lifted from the Cayman. It should be good for around 260kW (350hp). The Carrera S (pictured above) will keep its 3.8l capacity from the previous model with peak power at 300kW (400hp).

In a first for any sportscar we can think of the 911 will be offered with a 7-speed manual gearbox. An optional double-clutch ‘PDK’ transmission will also be available. Both gearboxes will have a launch control feature; yep, even the manual.

It’s no surprise the 991 911 is an evolution of previous generations. Despite its extended wheelbase (approx 100mm) to allow for more optimum engine placement, the 911 still maintains its traditional rear overhang. Inside the look has been very inspired by the Panamera and it does have a more upmarket feel. The front LEDs are perhaps the only controversial styling element on the new 911. Overall, we reckon it looks pretty good.

We’ll have more as soon it comes to hand.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

UPDATE: All seven pics have now been replaced with higher res files. Click on the images to load at 2000px super sizing.

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