Year: 2011

AIMS 2011 gallery: BMW

Well, we can say we’ve covered every car on the BMW stand for you with this image gallery. That’s because there is only one car on show: the Vision EfficientDynamics. It’s a clear case of quality over quantity, though, and we acknowledge the lengths BMW has gone to in bringing out their undeniably spectacular concept car, even if it is a bit long in the tooth now (as far as concept models go).

It really is the world’s sexiest three cylinder diesel and it will make the move from concept to production when the i8 is revealed in 2013.

The EfficientDynamics is a mish-mash of finicky folds and coarse angles that shouldn’t really work. And, in truth, in some pictures it just doesn’t. But in reality, when the car is there before you, it’s hard to resist its charms and do anything but marvel at how fantastic it really is.

We still would have liked to have seen a new M5 or a Valenica Orange 1 Series M CoupÃ© on the floor.

Audi Motor Shows

AIMS 2011 gallery: Audi

With the already mentioned e-tron and the desirable R8 GT on the stand it may seem a bit odd to start this feature with the new Audi A6. However, the A6 is a car with a wider audience and with this new model Audi is slowly moving away from the staid designs of past mid-large size sedans. Indeed, we reckon the A6 looks pretty good and, of course, it’s well appointed inside too.

That said, the R8 GT is beautiful and the use of carbon fibre detailing is quite something. Sitting behind the wheel you get a fantastic sense of what this 560hp monster would be like. We wish we could call one of the 333 examples our own.

Other highlights include the TT RS S tronic, the nifty little A1 and the comparatively volume selling S3 Sportback.

Formula 1

Hispania Racing Team sold as expected, butâ€¦

Post author By Liam
Post date 5 July, 2011

As we reported yesterday Hispania Racing Team has been sold. But in typical F1-style twist not to who we thought. It had been reported by Spanish media that HRT would be sold to a Japanese investment firm. We now know that Spanish investment group, Thesan Capital, had the loot and used it to ink a deal in exchange for a majority shareholding in the team.

Thesan Capital will retain the current directors and team with a view to injecting a strong Spanish influence throughout, which will include new headquarters in Spain.

The full statement from HRT can be read after the break.

Formula 1 Renault

Williams F1 reunites with Renault

Post author By Liam
Post date 5 July, 2011
4 Comments on Williams F1 reunites with Renault

Williams-Renault engine deal

Williams F1 has reignited memories of its glory days by signing a new engine deal with Renault for the 2102 and 2013 seasons. The deal is being described as ‘long-term’ and both parties expect the relationship will continue into 2014 and beyond, following the switch to turbocharged V6 engines.

During the last Williams F1 deal with Renault Sport F1 (1989â€“1997) the partnership returned 63 race wins, four word drivers’ titles, five constructors titles.

Speaking at the announcement Sir Frank Williams said, â€œOur previous relationship with Renault was one of the most successful in Williamsâ€™ history but we will not allow ourselves to dwell too much on the past. We must look to the future and continue to re-build our on-track reputation, which I am hopeful that todayâ€™s announcement will help us to do.â€

The full statement from Williams F1 can be read after the break, including a Q&A interview with Adam Parr, Chairman.

Audi BMW Lamborghini Mazda Motor Shows Volkswagen

AIMS 2011: The stars

Updates from our visit to AIMS last Friday havenâ€™t progressed as well as we had hoped, so to give you a taste of whatâ€™s to come hereâ€™s a quick teaser of the five cars that stood out the most for us.

1. BMW Vision EfficientDynamics
Weâ€™ve covered this car before, when it was first revealed way back in 2009. But seeing it first hand has given us an altogether new appreciation for it. The EffeicientDynamics concept is a genuinely stunning design that we now know previews the forthcoming i8 model. Forget the mechanical aspects of the car for a moment, though, and just appreciate every crease, curve and detail. Itâ€™s an astonishingly well made concept and almost makes up for BMW not displaying any other cars. Thatâ€™s right, no 1M!

Formula 1

Hispania Racing Team expected to confirm sale

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 July, 2011
4 Comments on Hispania Racing Team expected to confirm sale

Hispania Racing Team has been sold, just days after signing Daniel Ricciardo, it is being reported . It’s understood current HRT owner JosÃ© RamÃ³n Carabante has agreed to terms for an AU$32 million sale to Japanese investment bank Nomura.

Confirmation of the sale is expected in the next 24 hours. Daily operation of HRT is unlikely to change in the short term and we can still look forward to Ricciardo’s F1 debut this weekend.

However, this could be a story to keep watching. Only a couple of days ago Autosport reported HRT Team Principal, Colin Kolles, was stepping aside to allow the Carabante family a more hands on role with the team.

Motorsports Porsche

Don’t stand so close to me

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 July, 2011
17 Comments on Don’t stand so close to me

A few weeks ago Audi racked up its 10th Le Mans victory. That put the German marque second on the all-time list of winning manufacturers; six behind Porsche.

Stuttgart, it would seem, is not impressed with the inroads being made by Ingolstadt and Porsche has announced they are coming back to Le Mans to race for outright victory in the LMP1 category.

Giving themselves plenty of time to get things right, Porsche will be racing at La Sarthe again in 2014. Game on!

[Thanks to Charlie for the tip]

Formula 1 News

Daniel Ricciardo secures Formula One seat

Post author By Liam
Post date 1 July, 2011
6 Comments on Daniel Ricciardo secures Formula One seat

Fantastic news for Australian F1 fans with confirmation Daniel Ricciardo has landed an F1 race seat with Hispania Racing Team for the rest of 2011.

It’s expected Indian driver Narain Karthikeyan will make way for Ricciardo at HRT under a new agreement struck between the Spanish team and Red Bull. This will allow Red Bull to compare Ricciardo to Vitantonio Liuzzi who has driven for both Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing in the past.

So far in 2011 Ricciardo has experienced F1 seat time in all Friday practice sessions for Toro Rosso. In the eight events completed the young West Australian, and 2009 British Formula 3 champ, has impressed to the point recent speculation has been rife Ricciardo might have displaced current Toro Rosso drivers Sebatien Buemi or Jaime Algeusuari before the year was out. Those two can rest easy, for now.

Ricciardo, who turns 22 today (1 July), is expected to have 10 races with HRT, starting with next weekend’s British Grand Prix, to establish his reputation in motorsport’s elite category. Assuming he performs well, it is thought he will get a drive with Toro Rosso or even Red Bull Racing in 2012.

Note: There are 11 F1 races remaining this year and it is understood Karthikeyan will be allowed to race in the inaugural Indian Grand Prix in late October.

The 2011 British Grand Prix is now shaping to be the first time two Australians have made an F1 starting grid since Alan Jones (Shadow-Ford) and Vern Schuppan (Surtees-Ford) started the 1977 Austrian GP. Incidentally, that race was Alan Jones’ maiden Grand Prix win.

The official announcement from HRT can be read below.

Audi

Audi TT RS now available in Australia with S tronic

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 June, 2011
8 Comments on Audi TT RS now available in Australia with S tronic

Audi will be revealing a new S tronic version of the TT RS at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne tomorrow. The new 7-speed double clutch transmission features a launch control function which Audi says can be used propel the TT RS to 100km/h in just 4.3 seconds.

To help kick off the S tronic Audi Australia will be offering 45 Limited Edition models with a few extra goodies thrown in for no extra charge. The freebies include a black exterior styling package (not pictured), Adaptive Headlights, 19″ Rotor five spoke alloys and more. In total the extras package thrown in amounts to $8,460 at regular retail prices.

Also of interest is the S tronic will offered at the same price as the 6-speed manual; $139,900 plus on roads etc. An increase of $6,200 on 2009 launch pricing.

Formula 1

Formula One to use V6 turbo engines from 2014

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 June, 2011
10 Comments on Formula One to use V6 turbo engines from 2014

From 2014 F1 cars will be powered by 1.6-litre V6 turbo engines with energy recovery systems. Confirmation of the news from the World Motor Sport Council follows protracted negotiations, hissy fits and threats of withdrawal from some F1 teams after an earlier four-cylinder engine proposal was presented. Ferrari were the most vocal opponents on that score.

It’s understood the new engine regulations will see revs capped at 12,000rpm. However, the teams are asking for that cap to be raised to 15,000rpm. They’re also hoping to defer changes to chassis regulations until 2014. At this stage those requests have not bee signed off.

[via Autosport]

Tags V6 power unit

Saab

Saab shareholder comes to rescue

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 June, 2011

The Gemini Investment Fund, already a Saab shareholder, has agreed to loan an extra â‚¬25 million to ensure Saab can remain solvent in the short term. This follows an earlier â‚¬30m loan from Gemini last month. The money has already been used to pay workers their wages for the month of June.

Saab’s production line is currently idle, although it is hoped they will resume manufacture in the next two weeks. However, it is likely ongoing negotiations with suppliers will need to be finalised before that can happen.

Further assisting Saab’s immediate fortunes is the order of 582 cars from an unnamed Chinese company who has agreed to pay the â‚¬13m invoice up front. Also, a â‚¬28m conditional property sale has been brokered.

You have to ask, though, will we be talking about Saab as an ongoing concern in 2021? Saab hasn’t made a profit for over 20 years and Swedish Automobile, nee Spyker, has never been in the black.

[Source: Reuters]

Motorsports Suzuki

Monster Tajima sets new Pikes Peak record

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 June, 2011
5 Comments on Monster Tajima sets new Pikes Peak record

Nobuhiro â€˜Monsterâ€™ Tajima has just powered his 680kW Suzuki SX4 and himself into the record books, becoming the first person to complete the famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb course in under 10 minutes.

Tajima covered the 19.9km journey, which starts at 2860m and finishes at 4300m, in 9 minutes 51.278 seconds. Not bad going for a bloke who is 60-years-old. Especially when you consider it is his sixth outright win in a row at Pikes Peak.

Okay, Pikes Peak may have lost a bit of its charm since Ari Vatanen’s Climb Dance days, with more tarmac paving the way. But ‘Monster’ should be given a pat on the back for setting the new mark, all the same.

More pics and, more importantly, video can be seen after the break.