Year: 2011

Mercedes GP mid-season review

Post author By Liam
Post date 20 July, 2011

Mercedes GP has taken a look back at the 2011 Formula One season so far. They’ve tallied up statistics on overtaking that make quite interesting reading.

For example, 623 overtaking moves have been completed so far this year. Of those, 180 have been assisted by the new Drag Reduction System.

The Canadian GP, with 136 passing moves, is the highest number we’ve seen in 2011. Unsurprisingly, Monaco, with just 22 moves is the fewest.

A total of 225 overtaking manoeuvres have been classified as ‘normal’. Of those, slightly more than 55% were made when the lap difference between the tyres on each car was less than five laps. The remaining 45% of moves were made when the lap difference was more than five laps.

The figures are as boring or as fascinating as you choose to interpret them. You can read them all after the break.

Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: Open to enthusiasts

Post author By Liam
Post date 20 July, 2011

Mercedes-Benz has just released this promo clip for its new SLS AMG Roadster. To be honest, the clip does a pretty good job and, if you ask us, they could have saved Jay Leno’s plane fare. We’d still prefer a Gullwing, though.

Check out the clip below and let us know what you think.

BMW

Inside look: How to build a BMW 3 Series

Post author By Liam
Post date 20 July, 2011

E90Post brings us a great video featuring the creation of a new BMW 3 Series. Starting off with individual body panels through to a short road test. It’s a great way to spend the next four minutes or so.

Follow the links below if you want see how to build a:

[Source: E90Post]

Porsche

VIDEO: 2012 Porsche 911 officially teased

Post author By Liam
Post date 20 July, 2011
12 Comments on VIDEO: 2012 Porsche 911 officially teased

Earlier this month Car and Driver reported on their journey to South Africa with the 2012 Porsche 911 development team. After the break you will see an official teaser showcasing video highlights from that test program.

Meanwhile, thanks to C&D, we can confirm a few technical highlights as fact that will be found in the 991 911:

wheelbase extended by 100mm compared to 997
bodywork increases by 55mm compared to 997
front track widened by 53mm compared to 997
25kg weight reduction compared to 997
12â€“15% better fuel economy compared to 997
hybrid Carrera S due after mid-cycle refresh (2016)
choice of 7-speed manual or 7-speed PDK transmissions
both transmissions to feature launch control
400hp (300kW) 3.8 litre for Carrera S
dynamic engine mounts introduced to base models (adapted from current GT3 and Turbo models)

Most importantly, though, are the following words from â€˜Mr 911â€™ August Achleitner: â€œWe sharpened the 911 by making it faster, more responsive, safer, and more environmentally friendly. But we didnâ€™t mess it up!â€

We’ll find out if Herr Achleitner is right when the new 911 is revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Make sure you check out the C&D article for some relatively revealing interior shots. The teaser vid can be seen below.

Audi

Audi A6 Avant photo gallery

Post author By Liam
Post date 20 July, 2011
5 Comments on Audi A6 Avant photo gallery

Last week we brought you word of the new Audi S6 Avant. It was a bit rude of us not to bring you up to speed with the regular A6 Avant first.

To remedy that we’ve assembled a 50-plus strong image gallery, a brief teaser video and some lengthy press release downloads that have more info and details than you can fit in your 1680 litres of cargo space.

Car geeks will be overjoyed by the number of cutaway graphics highlighting the various construction, options and safety equipment fitted to the A6 range.

The party piece of the A6 Avant is its new 230kW biturbo 3.0 litre TDI with a tractor pulling 650Nm of torque. In fact the engine is so new you can’t actually buy it yet. You’ll just have to make to do with a piddly 180kW in your 3.0 TDI until the new unit is released; later this year we expect.

Euro estate chic awaits after the break.

Jaguar Motorsports

Jaguar considering LMP1 Le Mans entry

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2011

Jaguar XJR 12

The chase for outright success in the LMP1 category at Le Mans has been a strictly Audi or Peugeot affair in recent years. But recent word from Porsche tells us that will change in 2014. Now, it seems Jaguar’s Indian ownersÂ Ratan Tata want in as well.

It’s understood Jaguar is keeping a watching brief on the motorsport world with a view to creating an all-new LMP1 car to fight for outright success.

Jaguar has seven wins at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the most recent came in 1990 with the XJR-12 (shown above). The British icon hasn’t competed in the top category at Le Mans since 1991.

[Source: Autosport]

Range Rover

Is Range Rover going to make an Evoque convertible?

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2011

While you’re still coming to grips with the world’s obsession for all things SUV here’s a new bit of motoring gossip to make you choke on your breakfast. Range Rover, apparently, wants to chop the roof off its new Evoque.

Worse, they want to do this to counter chop-top versions from their competitors, namely the Audi Q5 cabrio and Nissan Murano CrossCabrio.

What on earth is the world coming to?

[Source: Autoblog]

Audi Motorsports

Audi teases us with A5 DTM Concept

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2011
1 Comment on Audi teases us with A5 DTM Concept

After BMW revealed their M3 DTM teaser the other day Audi didn’t want to be outdone, so they’ve given us these concept sketches of their 2012 A5 DTM touring car. Audi Motorsport will present the A5 DTM at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

The Ingolstadt team currently use a four-door A4 platform and they’ve used it to great effect as well, winning four DTM titles since 2004. Like the A4 DTM the new â€˜R17â€™ A5 DTM will be powered by a 340kW 4.0 litre V8 coupled to a 6-speed transmission.

Using the sleeker, more dynamic A5 coupÃ© as a base means this new DTM racer is sure to look sensational when revealed in its full glory.

More from Audi Motorsport after the break.

BMW Motorsports

A closer look at the BMW M3 DTM Concept Car

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2011

BimmerFile gives us a closer look at the new and dramatic looking BMW M3 DTM Concept Car with a couple of videos. Above you’ll see the a shorter clip with no audio, just hulking matte black paint and lots of carbon fibre. After the break there’s a 13 minute clip featuring more detail from the reveal in Munich.

[Source: BimmerFile]

Formula 1 McLaren

Alain Prost F1 image archive

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2011
1 Comment on Alain Prost F1 image archive

Alain Prost

Motorsport Retro brings us another update from the Cahier Archive, this time featuring four-time world champion (and AUSmotive favourite) Alain Prost.

Cast your mind back to the 1988 Formula One season. That was the year McLaren won 15 out of the 16 races, obliging a home win for Ferrari at Monza. Under today’s scoring regime, where the driver with the most points from all races wins, Prost would have pipped Senna by 11 points.

While Senna won eight races to Prost’s seven, the little Frenchman retired twice and in the remaining 14 races finished no worse than second. That’s right, no worse than second. An amazing display of consistency by ‘The Professor’. History tells us that only the best 11 races counted towards the championship in that era and hence Senna won the title by three points.

We wonder how history would reflect the often hostile Prostâ€“Senna rivalry and the standings of both men if it was five world championships to two?

[Source: Motorsport Retro | Pic: Cahier Archive]

Tags Alain Prost, retro F1

Formula 1 News

Advance screenings of ‘Senna’ about to start

Post author By Liam
Post date 18 July, 2011
6 Comments on Advance screenings of ‘Senna’ about to start

Ayrton Senna

Advance screenings: Melbourne (20, 22 & 30 July) // Sydney (28 July & 4 August)

As most of you will know the general Australian release of the Senna documentary is 11 August. Not too far away. For those who can’t wait any longer there are a few advance screenings coming soon.

The award-winning movie has already screened at festivals in Adelaide and Sydney. Now Melbourne is getting ready for its premiere screening of Senna at an invitation only Australian Grand Prix Corporation event later this week.

However, Sydney movie goers will have two further chances to catch Senna before general release, with tickets for both still currently available. First is the Circuit Club charity event (28 July) before Alan Jones, 1980 F1 world champ, presents the movie at the Orpheum (4 August).

[Pic: Facebook | Thanks to Tom for the tip]

UPDATE: Senna will also be screening at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 22 and 30 July.

Porsche

Autocar reviews the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

Post author By Liam
Post date 18 July, 2011
5 Comments on Autocar reviews the Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

A few weeks ago Matt Prior from Autocar got his hands on the highly desirable Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0. And here is the resulting video review.

It’s not the most exciting review you’re ever likely to watch, but Prior offers plenty of detail and tells us why the 4.0 litre is different from the regular 3.8 litre GT3 RS. Even though he makes a bold claim while concluding his review, it’s interesting to note he makes use of the words “in the right conditions” more than once.

Whatever the conditions, we’d love the chance to file our own Drive Thru report.