Year: 2011

Audi BMW

Get ready for an Audi Q3 S v BMW X1 M rumble

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 June, 2011
7 Comments on Get ready for an Audi Q3 S v BMW X1 M rumble

German publication Auto Motor und Sport is telling the world Audi has signed off on an ‘S’ version of its small Q3 SUV. But instead of being powered by a 2.0 litre turbo like the S3, they reckon the Q3 S will get the 2.5 litre five cylinder TT RS engine. Although, it is expected to lose around 40PS from the RS spec, with peak power down to 300PS for the hot Q3.

With expectations already that BMW will stick an ‘M’ badge on the X1 we will have a nice little fight on our hands to see who’s SUV has the biggest, ahem. It’s been suggested the X1 M will steal the 1M engine and manage to lose some power in the process; 320PS is the number being spoken.

So, what do we think out there in the real world, isolated from slick marketing presentations; ‘S’ and ‘M’ badges on entry level SUVs. Too far?

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport & World Car Fans]

BMW

Before ordering your BMW M5 read this brochure

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 June, 2011

BMW M5 brochure

If you think the F10 BMW M5 is something you’d like to see in your garage, then use the presence of inner strength to download this brochure (3.2mb PDF) and peruse all the options. You’ll soon learn this executive saloon speaks the language of a sports carâ€”fluently.

Although not English, apparently, as the following statement attests: ‘Always a compelling argumentâ€”pulling power’. Which is closely followed by: ‘The hard facts’. Lucky the car is sure to speak a language we all understand: horsepower!

[Source: 5post]

BMW

BMW 1M tries its hand as a helicopter

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 June, 2011
2 Comments on BMW 1M tries its hand as a helicopter

BMW Canada is back with more visual trickery to promote the 1 Series M CoupÃ©. First it was powder puff concrete walls, this time it’s the world’s highest helipad. Looks like fun, don’t you think.

Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador arrives in Melbourne

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 June, 2011
2 Comments on Lamborghini Aventador arrives in Melbourne

Lamborghini Aventador

The Lamborghini Aventador will be on show at the motor show in Melbourne later this week. But, if you’re quick you might be able to get a sneak peek at the 515kW 6.5 litre V12 beast while on display at the Lamborghini Melbourne dealership. Press your nose up against the dealership window, or even walk in and see if your kid can reach the pedals. Either way, it’s sure to be an impressive sight. We can’t wait to see it for ourselves on Friday.

Meanwhile, back at Gotham City word on the street says that Bruce Wayne will be taking delivery of a new Aventador. Expect to see him prowling the roads in it when Batman: The Dark Knight Rises hits the silver screen.

[Thanks to Wayne for the pics]

Tags Aventador

F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 European Grand Prix in pictures

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 June, 2011
1 Comment on 2011 European Grand Prix in pictures

Perhaps the most exciting stat to emerge from the 2011 European Grand Prix is that all 24 starters finished the race. That’s only the fourth time in history this has happened. Indeed, Narain Karthikeyan has his name etched into the record books for being the first ever F1 driver to finish 24th. To help relive this rare occurrence here’s 88 pics, featuring all 24 cars, for you to enjoy.

Skoda

Let’s break that speed record

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 June, 2011
3 Comments on Let’s break that speed record

Skoda UK is building a one-off ‘Bonneville Special’ Octavia vRS to celebrate 10 years of the vRS brand. As its name suggests the heavily tuned speed racer will hit the salt flats at Bonneville during Speed Week in August.

The car will be entered in the 2.0 litre production category, which is odd, considering it will have a GTFO Garret turbo fitted, be high as a kite on 120 RON fuel and have its brain fried by REVO Technik. After all that it will be pumping out as much as 440kW. That’s well over double the usual power found in an Octavia vRS.

Robert Hazelwood from Å koda UK says â€œThe 10-year relationship between the UK and the vRS badge has been extremely successful. This is a landmark anniversary and going to Bonneville is a fitting tribute. Itâ€™s also an ambitious project which might surprise a few people, but Å koda is all about engineering excellence and this car is pushing that to new limits.â€

Despite all that power, the aim is to break the 200mph barrier. A fairly modest goal for such a beast, you would think.

Motor Shows

Australian International Motor Show: FREE tickets

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 June, 2011
2 Comments on Australian International Motor Show: FREE tickets

AISM 2011 - Free tickets

The Australian International Motor Show returns to Melbourne this year. In fact, it starts this Friday at 6pm. AUSmotive will be on hand at the media day bright and early on Friday morning to catch the news that matters most. We’ll be keeping you up to date live from the floor via the AUSmotive twitter account.

If you don’t already follow us on twitter now might be a good time to start; we’ll be giving away 5 free double passes to AIMS during the week and you’ll need to be watching our tweets for details. While you’re at it, why not follow @themotorshow on twitter as well.

You wouldn’t want to miss out on a chance to see the awesome Lamborghini Aventador first hand, would you.

Formula 1 Skoda

VIDEO: Robert Kubica’s rally accident recreated

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 June, 2011
1 Comment on VIDEO: Robert Kubica’s rally accident recreated

Details are a bit scant on this story, but it seems Skoda has gone to the trouble of recreating a life-size simulation of Robert Kubica’s horrific rally accident. When seen like this, and assuming the impact captured in this video is accurate, then we must be thankful Kubica is alive to tell us the tale. It’s bloody nasty.

The clip appears to have been sourced from Polish website Onet, where you will also find various angles and slow-motion clips of the recreation.

We wish Kubica well in his continuing recovery and hope we see him back in Formula One next year.

[via Autoblog]

BMW

Is the BMW M5 really the fastest production sedan to lap the NÃ¼rburgring?

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 June, 2011
2 Comments on Is the BMW M5 really the fastest production sedan to lap the NÃ¼rburgring?

The interwebs brings word that the new F10 BMW M5 has set what is being claimed as a new lap record at the NÃ¼rburgring for a production model four-door sedan. The time has been set, apparently, by a BMW test driver. The time being bandied about is 7 minutes 55 seconds.

That’s pretty quick, but it’s actually no quicker than the time claimed by Subaru; former world rally champ Tommi MÃ¤kinen posted a 7:55 lap at the wheel of a WRX STI sedan around this time last year.

Let’s put that aside for a moment, then, and compare the F10 M5 against its older brothers:

F10 M5 7:55 (claimed)
E60 M5 8:13 (Sport Auto time)
E39 M5 8:28 (Sport Auto time)

Steady improvements there for each new generation. Either way, we’re certain the new M5 will be up to Ring-Taxi duties when it returns in 2012.

[Source: Bimmerboost via BimmerFile]

BMW Top Gear

BMW 1M reviewed by Top Gear

Post author By Liam
Post date 27 June, 2011
5 Comments on BMW 1M reviewed by Top Gear

It’s the review all fans and owners of the BMW 1M have been waiting for. And, expecting the BBC lawyers to shut down this YouTube link any moment now, you’d better make sure you watch it soon.

[Thanks to Matt for the tip]

Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2011 European GP: Post-race press release

Post author By Liam
Post date 27 June, 2011
3 Comments on 2011 European GP: Post-race press release

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) won the 2011 European Grand Prix in Valenica overnight. It was his sixth win of the year. He has quite a large lead on the championship leaderboard.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) finished second. It was his equal best finish for the year.

Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) finished third. He had problems with his gearbox.

Pretty exciting report so far? Well, it matches the lack of excitement in the race. If you didn’t, perhaps you should have watched the NÃ¼rburgring 24 hour race instead.

[Pic: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

Motorsports Porsche

Porsche wins the 2011 NÃ¼rburgring 24 hour race

Post author By Liam
Post date 27 June, 2011

Porsche wins 2011 Nurburgring 24 hour race

After qualifying below expectations and being considered by some to be too far behind the newer Audis, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz machines the #18 Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has won the 2011 NÃ¼rburgring 24 hour race.

The driving crew of Romain Dumas, Lucas Luhr, Marc Lieb and Timo Bernhard did it in style, too, leading for most of the day on Sunday. The distance covered of 156 laps is a new record as well. It’s the fifth N24 victory in six years for Manthey Racing. and the tenth win for Porsche overall.

Finishing second was the #1 BMW M3 GT with the #14 Audi R8 LMS claiming the final podium step. Due to the everyone-wins-a-prize categories at the N24 all three cars on the podium are class winners as well.

Official images and text from Porsche and the other leading manufacturers will be posted to AUSringers.com in the next 24-48 hours.