Year: 2011

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

FOR SALE: One-off Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG ‘Concept 358’

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

You may recall this ‘Jaffa concept’ from last year’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Well, if you liked it, and we know a lot of people did, the car is now for sale and could be yours.

Correctly titled the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG ‘Concept 358’, it has been painted in special designo Pearl Orange paint. It’s the only one in Australia and one of just four in the world.

Mercedes has also fitted the AMG Performance Package Plus, adding an extra 22kW of power to the headline stat, which now sits at 358kW. Also included, for added peace of mind, are forged pistons nicked from the SLS AMG.

Currently advertised on carsales for $209,963 the ‘Jaffa’ is a fair step up from a standard C63, but exclusivity costs I guess. Thanks to Edward from Mercedes-Benz Berwick for bringing this to our attention. Give him a call, you know you want to!

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Categories
BMW

BMW Australia hopes to double 1M allocation

BMW 1M Coupe

First filed 9 June.

Car Advice brings some ripping news for fans of the BMW 1M Coupé. Like most markets, BMW Australia has been receiving high demand for the 1M and they have been working hard to secure more cars from the fatherland.

Piers Scott, BMW Australia representative told Car Advice, “BMW in Munich has been under constant pressure since we announced the car for the Australian market, and we’re confident that we’ll be able to offer more cars to our dealers, but we just need the green light from head office.”

While a final number has not been agreed, it’s hoped the new allocation could see as many as 200 1M Coupé find their way to Australia.

An official number wasn’t given when BMW Australia confirmed pricing for the $99,900 1M, but they did say it would be limited to “around 100 units”. Word on the street says those 100 cars have already been snapped up, so a potential doubling of the allocation is great news for those who may be on a waiting list hoping for cancelled orders.

[Source: Car Advice]

Categories
McLaren Mercedes-Benz

“Get ready for a shock!”

That’s the promise made by Car magazine as they bring word of a new supercar test to see just how good the new McLaren MP4-12C really is. The list of cars cars pitted against the fast Mac is impressive:

Ben Collins is the man at the wheel on the track. For an added bonus teaser you can see in-car footage from the SLS AMG Gullwing after the break, showing a hot lap around the Rockingham Speedway circuit. The full supertest video is due to be posted on 20 June.

[Source: Car]

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Categories
MINI

MINI JCW Challenge Edition spied

MINI JCW Challenge Edition

Early last year MINI Australia launched a parts bin special called the JCW Challenge Edition. It was pretty much a few options thrown together at a reduced price and it was only offered for sale down under. Now, though, it would appear MINI HQ is raising the bar considerably by testing out a new prototype at the Nürburgring. Could this be a purpose-built JCW Challenge Edition?

From the spy pics you can see there’s radically revised front and rear spoilers. Indeed, the rear diffuser look to have been heavily inspired by the MINI Challenge race cars.

It’s generally been considered the 155kW engine in the regular JCW is close to its maximum tuning potential. Let’s hope MINI has found a few new ponies in its back shed? Watch this space.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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Categories
MINI

MINI Coupé spied with undisguised “helmet roof”

MINI Coupe prototype

UK mag Car has snapped the first undisguised photos of the distinctive helmet roof on the MINI Coupé. Based on the image above it looks as though MINI has been true to the 2009 concept.

From what we know at the moment the Coupé will only be offered with a contrasting silver or black roof and mirror caps. With the exception of black, which can be ordered with same colour body and roof, all other colours will feature a contrasting roof colour.

MINI will also be offering “viper stripes” as a factory option with the Coupé. The stripes change colour as they go over the roof. You can just see the two blue stripes on the back of the rear spoiler above. On the bonnet (see pic below) the stripes are silver, matching the roof colour.

Expect official news from MINI in the very near future.

[Source: Car via MotoringFile]

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Categories
BMW Drive Thru

Drive Thru: BMW 1 Series M Coupé

BMW 1M

Regular readers will know Australian deliveries of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé have been taking place over the past week or two. One has even ended up in our hometown of Canberra. AUSmotive was lucky enough to be offered a brief drive thanks to owners John and Dianne.

First impressions? It’s a great looking car. You really do just want to get in and drive the thing as soon as you see it.

You either love or hate the design of the 1 Series range; there are rarely any middling opinions. We’ve always admired the way the 1 Series Coupé looks and with M division offering unique styling cues, like those almost comically beefed up guards and an aggressive body kit, we think the 1M has reached a new peak.

The special order black wheels on John and Dianne’s car look superb as well. They complement the already gutsy presence the 1M has from factory.

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Categories
Audi

Audi R8 GT aims for Melbourne

Audi R8 GT

Audi has today confirmed the extremely rare R8 GT will be on show at the Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne this July. Only 333 examples of the 412kW supercar have been made and all are sold, including the five models which have been allocated to Australia.

The 5.2 litre V10 powered machine can reach 100km/h in a mere 3.6 seconds and 200km/h in only 10.8 seconds. It has a top speed of 320km/h and aside from it’s Lamborghini derived engine its pace can be put down to its relatively light 1525kg kerbweight. That’s around 100kg lighter than a regular R8.

This year’s motor show is shaping up to be a good one, so make sure you make time in your calendar.

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Categories
Formula 1 News

Melbourne premiere of Senna set for 20 July

Senna: The movie

The Australian opening dates for the Ayrton Senna movie-length documentary have been subject to change and confusion. The film has already had a short run in Adelaide, and Sydney gets its chance this weekend, too.

According to Asif Kapadia, writer/director, the Australian Grand Prix Corporation will host a premiere of Senna on Wednesday 20 July. At this stage no further details are known, but when we know more we’ll be sure to share it with you.

General national release of Senna is set for 11 August via Village Cinemas.

[Source: @asifkapadia]

UPDATE: Further details of this premiere event have been posted to grandprix.com.au

Categories
BMW

OFFICIAL: BMW M5 photos & specifications

BMW M5

Just hours after images of the new M5 were leaked, BMW has released a full suite of pics and specifications. A short press release along with a total of 40 pics can be seen after the break. Also available is the detailed 23 page press kit, including technical specs and measurements.

Briefly, the new F10 M5 features a 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 coupled to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. Key stats are:

  • Max power: 412kW (560hp) @ 6000–7000rpm
  • Max torque: 680Nm @ 1500–5750rpm
  • 0-100km/h: 4.4 seconds
  • 0-1000m: 21.9 seconds
  • Top speed: 250km/h (limited)
  • Weight: 1870kg unladen, 1945kg to DIN/EU
  • Tyres: 265/40/19 (front), 295/35/19 (rear)
  • Fuel consumption: 9.9l/100km (combined)

UPDATE: BMW Australia tells us their preference is to launch M5 late this year, otherwise lock in early 2012.

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Categories
BMW

M5 watch: Final production images leaked

BMW M5

German website Auto Zeitung seems to be the ones who have jumped the gun by publishing official images of the new F10-based BMW M5. Here’s a selection of smaller sized pics for you. Once BMW releases the full sized versions we’ll be back with a 2000px wallpaper-friendly gallery.

[Source: Auto Zeitung via BimmerFile]

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Categories
Audi Motorsports

Audi Sport Team Joest quotes from Le Mans

Audi R18 TDI

Following Audi’s tenth Le Mans victory, one described by team boss Dr Wolfgang Ullrich as “most difficult Le Mans race we’ve ever contested”, here is a list of quotes from all the drivers and team bosses.

Of particular note are the words from Allan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller, who both crashed out of the race in spectacular fashion. Thankfully, both are well and in good spirits.

The winning #2 Audi, driven by Benoît Tréluyer, Marcel Fässler and André Lotterer, featured the least experienced crew at the wheel of the new R18 TDI machine. A nice bit of trivia for the team to emerge from this victory is that all nine Audi drivers have now stood atop the winner’s podium at Le Mans.

We’ll be back soon with an more extensive image gallery from Le Mans 2011.

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Categories
MINI

Autoblog reviews the MINI JCW Coupé

Autoblog has followed yesterday’s review of the MINI JCW Coupé from MotoringFile. The Autoblog piece brings us this short video which shows the moveable rear wing in action. Sadly, we only see the wing while the car is stationary. Also included via the source link below are some new images showing the rear boot space. We’re also given a few teasers of the Coupé’s interior.

We thought this snippet from their review was interesting:

“…while fully 62.9 percent of the Mini JCW Coupe’s 2,735-pound curb weight sits over the hardworking front axle, we expected more egregious understeer than we actually experienced. That the car’s balance is mostly so neutral and adaptive under the highest stresses is commendable.”

A 63:37 weight distribution also gives a fairly clear indication why that rear wing was required to provide more rear downforce.

[Source: Autoblog]