Year: 2011

Categories
BMW Green Machines

BMW embraces i-generation

BMW i3 and i8 concepts

BMW took a further step with its ‘i’ brand last Friday when it launched concept models of the i3 and i8. The smaller i3, to be released in 2013, is powered by an all-electric engine. The i8, based on the Vision EfficientDynamics, will follow in 2014 and is a hybrid performance car with a top speed of 250km/h. Both models follow a lighter is better principle, relying on the use of carbon fibre body panels and other innovative construction techniques.

The electric motor in the i3 is rated at 125kW/250Nm and can reach 100km/h in a tidy 7.9 seconds. Its ‘everyday range’ is quoted as being between 130–160km. The engine can be recharged to 80% in as little as one hour, while a full recharge will take up to six hours.

Pushing the performance envelope further the i8 has a combined total of 260kW/550Nm from its hybrid drivetrain. That’s enough to propel the car to 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds. Separating the power individually, a three cylinder petrol engine drives the rear wheel and produces 164kW/300Nm. The front wheels are powered by the 96kW/250Nm electric motor, which can achieve a 100% recharge in less than two hours. In all-electric mode the i8 has a 35km range.

After the break you can see a collection of videos published by BMWi. For more info you can download BMW’s media release (300kb PDF) or visit the BMWi website.

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Categories
Formula 1 Renault

VIDEO: Nick Heidfeld’s hot pants

Nick Heidfeld has been in the hot seat of late, coming under pressure at Renault for not performing to expectations. Last night at the Hungarian Grand Prix he found himself in a hot seat of a different kind.

As he was being released from his pit box Heidfeld’s car expelled smoke from its left sidepod and sparks were flying. It wasn’t long until the car had erupted into flames. He pulled over to the side of the track just after the pit exit and was able to safely leap out of his flaming Renault.

Fire marshals were quickly on hand to extinguish the blaze. Although one marshal got a rude shock when the affected sidepod exploded shooting debris into his leg.

Alan Permane, Lotus Renault GP Chief Race Engineer, explains, “Nick had a very poor start and struggled in the wet conditions. In his second pit stop we had a problem with one of the wheel nuts meaning that the car was sat at high revs for a long time. This meant a build-up of heat which caused a fire. Although it looked spectacular it was only a small part of bodywork which burnt on the left-hand sidepod.”

The video above shows footage of the incident from the TV cameras. After the break a fan video filmed at the track shows the sidepod explosion.

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Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Hungarian GP: Post-race press conference

2011 Hungarian Grand Prix

Jenson Button (McLaren) found the perfect way to celebrate his 200th F1 race overnight by winning a rain-affected Hungarian Grand Prix. In the early to middle stages of the race he and teammate Lewis Hamilton entertained with some great wheel-to-wheel racing in slippery conditions. Each of the drivers made mistakes with the other there to pounce.

In the end poor tyre strategy and a stop-go penalty for obstructing traffic while recovering from a spin cost Lewis Hamilton any chance of the win, and he did well to finish fourth.

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) made a good start from pole position, but ran wide later in the first stint to allow Hamilton to inherit the lead. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) also endured a tough race, including an uncharacteristic poor start, and was happy to finish in third place

Mark Webber (Red Bull) followed form by losing two places off the starting line, but was able to work his way back through the field with good tyre strategy. Unfortunately, late in the race, he was spooked by a quick rain shower and came in for intermediate tyres which he changed after just one flying lap. He was in a creditable fourth place after rejoining from his fifth pit stop. But Hamilton, who stopped six times, easily closed the gap and made the pass.

Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania Racing) enjoyed his highest finish in a Grand Prix so far. He placed eighteenth, two places ahead of his teammate Tonio Liuzzi.

Vettel managed to extend the lead over his closest rivals. His 234 points gives him a comfortable cushion over Webber (149pts), Hamilton (146pts) and Alonso (145pts). Red Bull, meanwhile, has an astonishing 103pt lead over its closest competitor in the manufacturers’ championship.

There’s a three week break now until the Belgian Grand Prix in late August.

[Pic: Ferrari]

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Categories
Formula 1

BBC reaches for Sky in new F1 TV deal

2011 German Grand Prix

In a shock move the BBC and pay TV network Sky Sports have announced a shared agreement that will change the way Formula One is televised in the UK as soon as next year.

The new rights deal will run from 2012–2018 and will see Sky offer live coverage for all races plus qualifying and practice sessions. The BBC will broadcast half the season (10 races) live on free-to-air television, with a 75 minute edited highlights package for the remaining races.

It’s not yet clear what effect this will have on One’s coverage here in Australia, but it is expected that the status quo will remain. That is, we should still get to see the majority of races live across the country.

The BBC and Sky will share production facilities at each race, a move that will save money for both parties. The BBC will record live commentary at all races and it’s currently being assumed One will have access to that for their coverage.

BBC’s current F1 rights deal was due to run until the end of the 2013 season, however a need to slash costs has seen them broker this new package. It’s fair to say it’s not gone down too well in ol’ Blighty. For the Beeb’s side of the story have a read of this article from Ben Gallop, BBC’s Head of F1.

[Source: BBC & JAF1]

Categories
BMW Drive Thru Porsche

Drive Thru: 1M v Cayman R v M3

BMW 1M v Porsche Cayman R v BMW M3

The BMW 1 Series M Coupé is the ‘it’ car of the moment. Everyone is talking about it and everyone, it seems, cannot praise it enough. We’ve already had one drive of the 1M and quickly learnt why it has been creating so much fuss. It really is a cracking car. Overseas, it’s even been compared against the Porsche Cayman R; a genuine sportscar with a sharpened focus.

We’re not sure why that comparison is being made, to be honest. They’re at different price points (especially here in Australia) and they don’t really sing from the same hymn sheet, either.

But when a long-time AUSmotive reader offered us a drive of these two cars who were we to say no. For good measure, the owner decided to throw us the keys to his 2008 BMW M3 as well. Lucky us!

All wearing black wheels with white paint, the trio were tailor made for a mini group-test. So, out to the favoured AUSmotive test route we headed. I drove the 1M on the outward journey and this provided a good chance to get reacquainted and develop a better sense for its daily capabilities.

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Categories
Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Hungarian GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 Hungarian Grand Prix

After a couple of poor races by his standards Sebastian Vettel has placed his Red Bull Racing machine on pole position for tonight’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 2010 world champion set a fastest time of 1:19.85 on his second timed run in Q3 and it was just enough to edge out Lewis Hamilton (McLaren, 1:19.978). The young Brit looks in good shape following his win in Germany last week, and he has a spare set of super-softs up his sleeve for the race.

In his 200th Grand Prix, Jenson Button (McLaren, 1:20.024) qualified third on the grid. With their mid-season fortunes on the improve Vettel will have a genuine fight on his hands to keep the McLarens at bay.

It was a disappointing result for Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing, 1:20.474), defending race winner in Budapest, who could only manage sixth place to follow his consecutive pole positions at Silverstone and the Nürburgring. Alongside him is the fast starting Fernando Alonso (Ferrari, 1:20.365) and in fourth is Felipe Massa (Ferrari, 1:20.350).

Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania Racing Team) looked set to out qualify his teammate Tonio Liuzzi for the first time in his brief career. However, Liuzzi saved his best for last, lapping 0.15 seconds faster. Good news for Ricciardo, though, in that he will start the race from P22, off the last row for the first time. He qualified ahead of Jerome D’Ambrosio (Virgin) and will inherit one place after Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso) receives his five-spot grid penalty following an incident with Nick Heidfeld (Lotus-Renault) at the German Grand Prix.

Comments from the top three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Categories
Audi

Audi settles advertising spat with Eminem

Audi A6 Avant

A recent advertisement for the Audi A6 Avant has raised the ire of Eminem. The rapper claims the Audi spot is too similar to the ‘Imported from Detroit’ ad he made for the Chrysler 200.

Possibly fearing some sort of violent retribution, a statement from the German automaker reads, “Audi has tremendous respect for Eminem and his works, and likewise for the ‘Imported From Detroit’ campaign which was created by Chrysler, and certainly Audi would never wish to insult or harm those parties or their fans and customers.”

Now everyone can live happily ever after following an agreement between Audi and Eminem’s company Eight Mile Style. Details of the settlement haven’t been made public, but Audi will “support the revitalisation of Detroit by contributing to selected social projects.”

The Audi ad has never aired in the United States, but since its launch in mid-May a YouTube copy has registered more than 2.3 million views. You can check out both ads after the break and, yep, the riff in the Audi ad sure does sound like Eminem’s Lose Yourself.

[Source: Automotive News]

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Categories
Formula 1 News

F1 calendar reshuffle to put Australia first in 2012

2011 Australian Grand Prix

Revisions to the 2012 Formula One calendar will see the Australian Grand Prix host the opening race next year Autosport reports.

The expected changes follow news that Bernie has got his red pen out and started to fiddle with the dates due to lingering safety concerns in Bahrain. It’s now thought the Bahrain Grand Prix will be pushed back to November to go back-to-back with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Such a move would allow Melbourne to return to its debut role. It’s also possible the Australian GP will be held on 11 March, one week earlier than first advised, and the Malaysian Grand Prix will move to 18 March to allow consecutive fly-away races to open the season.

Other changes mentioned include Bernie’s red pen putting a line right through the Turkish Grand Prix, removing it from the 2012 calendar altogether. A three week gap prior to the Spanish Grand Prix could usher in a return for in-season testing as well.

Concerns over Texas’ hot temperatures in June are understood to see the United States Grand Prix move to the second last race of the year, where it will run back-to-back with the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Eccelstone’s proposed changes would need to be ratified by the World Motor Sport Council later this year. Assuming no major gripes from the teams over logistics a rubber stamp should be a formality.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf GTI ‘Edition 35’ – Australian pricing & specs

Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 35

Official word from Volkswagen Australia has come through confirming pricing and availability for the Golf GTI ‘Edition 35’.

As reported earlier today the ED35 will hit the market with a list price of $43,490 for the 6-speed manual and $45,990 for the 6-speed DSG. The special edition will only be available in Australia with a 5-door layout and buyers will have a choice of four colours: Tornado Red (pictured), Candy White, Carbon Steel metallic and Deep Black pearl effect.

Interestingly, there’s no word in the press release below to confirm a limited run of 200 models for the local market.

In addition to the more powerful 173kW engine the ‘Edition 35’ has bi-xenon dynamic cornering headlights with LED daytime running lights and tinted LED rear tail lights. Special ‘35’ badging adorns the front guards, front seats and door sills. A model specific front bumper (see if you can spot the difference) is complemented by gloss black wing mirrors.

Unique ‘Jacky’ trimmed seats are standard equipment. These can be changed via the optional Vienna leather upholstery package (see interior pictures below). The silver ‘Watkins Glen’ 18″ alloy wheels can be optioned in grey metallic as well.

For more detail read the official press release from VW Australia after the break.

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Categories
Porsche

‘The last action hero’

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT Cars, has described the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 as ‘the last action hero’. His description is as good as any, for the simple fact there just isn’t enough superlatives to throw around when describing the last of the widely-praised 997 model range.

After the break you’ll see a short clip filmed at the recent Goodwood Fesival of Speed where Preuninger talks about the what is probably the best 911 GT3 ever.

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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Categories
Ford News

Inside look: Ford Mustang photo shoot

Joel Strickland - Ford Mustang photo shoot

If you read any of the Aussie car mags you’ve probably come across the name of photographer Joel Strickland. After the break you’ll see a short video produced by Joel which gives us a behind the scenes look at the work and preparation that goes into a photo shoot.

A few years ago we were able to see Easton Chang at work for a shoot involving a trio of Peuegot GTi models which was published in Motor magazine. The time, attention to detail and effort that photographers put into their craft, before and after pressing the shutter release, is quite something.

So, next time you’re flicking through your favourite mag, don’t just skim past the photos, stop and take the time to appreciate the skill behind the image.

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Categories
BMW

VIDEO: New BMW M5 in detail

Here’s two new videos of the F10-based BMW M5 which total almost 16 minutes of footage. They’re not the world’s most exciting clips by any means, but they do provide heaps of visual detail for the new 412kW super saloon.

The first clip shows the car in motion, starting at the superb Ascari racetrack. The second clip features static imagery of the interior and exterior and if you are considering the M5 or are just a fan then you’ll get something from the time required.

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