Year: 2011

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Aston Martin Motorsports

2012 Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

Aston Martin previewed their new V12 Vantage GT3 back in April and now they’ve showing us the finished article, including a list of specs. Doesn’t it look absolutely superb!

Designed to replace the DBRS9, the V12 Vantage GT3 is suitable for multiple motorsport categories including including the FIA GT3 Championship, ADAC Masters, Nürburgring VLN, Blancpain Endurance Series, British GT and more.

And the price for sir’s 600hp/700Nm 1250kg track weapon? A mere £300K (AU$470K). Deliveries will be starting early next year.

There’s more from Aston Martin after the break.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

VIDEO: David Coulthard takes F1 off-road

David Coulthard, Red Bull Racing

David Coulthard has become the first person to drive a Formula One car on the new Circuit of The Americas track in Austin, Texas. Yes, that’s it there in all it’s dirty and bumpy glory.

The promotion has certainly proved to be a nice publicity stunt, gaining media attention around the world. But seeing as we’re still over 12 months away from the 2012 United States Grand Prix, it also gave us a nice preview of the new circuit.

The 5.47km track layout has been known for some time, however this is the first opportunity we’ve had at seeing the dramatic elevation changes in the course.

Tavo Hellmund, CoTA Chairman says, “We’re going to build the closest thing to a traditional old school Grand Prix track from the 1950s and 60s. With the elevation, with the fast corners [and] with the technical corners.”

Sounds promising. (Video after the break.)

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Porsche

2012 Porsche 911 – Australian pricing

2012 Porsche 911 (991)

Word has come through confirming local pricing for the new Porsche 911. The 991 is expected in Australia by March 2012 and list pricing will start at $229,900 for the Carrera (3.4 litre, 257kW) and $263,100 for the Carrera S (3.8 litre, 294kW).

Despite a strong Aussie dollar, the new pricing represents an increase of around 3–4% compared to the outgoing model.

For more detail on the new 911 click here.

Categories
Ferrari

Still the most expensive car in the world

Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa

This 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa, the first of just 22 made, was sold at auction on the weekend for the princely sum of US$16.4 million. The buyer of another stunning 250 Testa Rossa back in 2009 will be pleased to learn his/her asset is appreciating.

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BMW

BMW M5 tries to open a bottle of wine

BMW USA has released this video of the new BMW M5 on track around the Laguna Seca raceway in California. The video and audio rarely match and, given the location, it’s perhaps not the most exciting result you could think of. But, it’s an M5 on a track, so we think that makes it worth watching!

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

John Surtees & Fernando Alonso shoot the breeze

John Surtees and Fernando Alonso

In the build up to this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix we’re sure you’ll enjoy this video with John Surtees and Fernando Alonso sharing their thoughts about the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.

Surtees is the only man to win a world championship in Formula One (Ferrari: 1963) and 500cc Grand Prix racing (MV Augusta: 1956, 1958–1960). Alonso, of course, has two F1 championships to his name (Renault: 2005, 2006). He will be elevated into true hero status if he can reach the summit with Ferrari.

Getting a couple of world champions together, plus some on-track action, filming it all; the costs add up. See if you can work out who picked up the tab.

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Categories
Ferrari

OFFICIAL: Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

Ferrari 458 Italia Spider

Ferrari is another to release new info of their latest model following the recent appearance of leaked photos. So, here is the official news on the 458 Italia Spider, plus a handful of pics.

It is simply spectacular! The Spider may even look better than the hardtop. It’s certainly more dramatic and, with the roof off, it makes it easier to get away when your beautiful 458 catches on fire.

The Spider weighs in at 1430kg, some 50kg heavier than the regular 458 Italia. That means you’ll need to allow an extra few tenths of a second to get to 100km/h. But if you put all the electronic gadgets to the right setting you’ll still be launched to the highway limit in around 3.5 seconds, thanks largely to its 4.5 litre V8 spitting out prancing horses at the rate of 425kW.

The Ferrari 458 Spider will arrive in Australia at the end of 2012, when prices and specifications will be announced.

There’s more after the break, including a short video showing off the Spider’s folding metal roof.

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Categories
Porsche

OFFICIAL: 2012 Porsche 911 (991) revealed

2012 Porsche 911 (991)

Following last week’s leaked images Porsche has lifted the veil on its all-new 911. While many wags will joke that nothing has changed, Porsche appears to have done a great job in managing the balance between heritage and progress (see our 991 v 997 comparison for more).

Aside from minor gripes about the wheel design and front LED styling we think the 991 is a great looking 911. The shapes around the rear wheel arch are unmistakably 911 and the side profile leaves nothing to chance.

Porsche generally take a less is more approach to their official material and as a result only basic details and just 13 images have been revealed to date. That’s not much when you consider this is just the third genuinely ‘all-new’ 911 since the original model in 1963 and the 996 in 1998.

Of course, the 991 will make its public debut in Frankfurt Motor Show (15–25 September). But the order book opens before then on 1 September and deliveries will start in early December. We’re not sure how much longer Australian buyers will need to wait, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see new 911s in local dealerships before the end of Q1 2012.

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Categories
Subaru

Subaru ‘BRZ Prologue’ coming to Frankfurt

At the Geneva Motor Show in March this year Subaru showed off its ‘BOXER Sports Car Architecture’ (pictured above). But they didn’t really give much else away. Now, they tell us their new rear-wheel drive sportscar will be called the BRZ and a Version II concept will be revealed at Frankfurt next month.

Oh, if you’re wondering, those letters mean: B for Boxer, R for rear-wheel drive and Z for Zenith, of course.

For those playing at home this is the ‘Toybaru’ platform being developed in conjunction with Toyota, who have called their car the FT-86 and we’ve already seen concepts in Australia (Sydney 2010 and Melbourne 2011).

Production of the BRZ will start in the second half of 2012 and a decision on whether it will be sold in Australia will be made later this year. So, fans of all things Subaru, if you want to see this car down under get in touch with your local dealer now and tell them you want in!

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Categories
Formula 1 Renault

Eddie Jordan says: Heidfeld out, Senna in

Bruno Senna, Lotus Renault GP

Lotus Renault GP will replace F1 veteran Nick Heidfeld with reserve driver Bruno Senna for this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, according to BBC commentator Eddie Jordan. Although nothing has been confirmed by the team as yet.

Senna made an unspectacular debut in 2010 with the struggling Hispania Racing Team and crossed to LRGP in the off-season. He was hopeful of securing a drive following Robert Kubica’s rally accident, but missed out when the team opted for Heidfeld’s experience. However, Senna’s persistence and patience has paid off, it would seem, as we will once again see a Senna racing in the famous black and gold Lotus livery.

It’s also understood Senna will keep his seat for the rest of the season. That probably means the Hungarian GP was Heidfeld’s last race. He made his debut with the Prost team in 2000 and holds the unenviable record of being the driver with the most points and podium finishes without actually winning a race.

[Source: BBC]

UPDATE 25 August: Lotus Renault GP has confirmed Senna will drive at Spa.

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Categories
Skoda

Skoda Octavia vRS speeds ahead at Bonneville

Skoda Octavia vRS at Bonneville Speed Week

Back in June Skoda UK said their specially-prepared Octavia vRS was going to break the 200mph barrier when they sent it over to race at Bonneville Speed Week. In the hands of evo motoring journalist Richard Meaden, they were true to their word, and then some.

The official speed achieved by the 600hp (450kW) Octavia was 227mph (365km/h). Pretty damn fast for a Czech family car, albeit one that has been heavily modified.

In fact, 227mph means the Skoda Octavia vRS is the fastest 2.0 litre forced induction car ever recorded. Bravo Skoda UK! What a great way to celebrate 10 years of the vRS nameplate.

EVOTV has been documenting Meaden’s Bonneville Speed Week experience. It looks like there’s one more piece to be published, so for now, we’ve added a teaser for you after the break.

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Categories
Porsche

911 watch: Snow business

Porsche has released what we believe will be their last official teaser video of the new 911. That’s right, we have an inkling that the wraps will come off the 991 as soon as tomorrow. Well, after last week’s leaked images, we already know the basics about Stuttgart’s latest iconic sportscar looks. So, c’mon Porsche, go the whole nine yards and tell us all we want to know and more!