Year: 2011

Categories
BMW

BMW 1M Coupé gets the drift

BMW 1M Coupe

The BMW 1M Coupé is currently doing the rounds with the US media and Axis of Oversteer were on hand to see what all the fuss is about. As you can see they soon discovered the 1M is good for power sliding (there’s more in the video after the break). However, it was their no-nonsense review of the car that is also worth reading. Here’s an extract below, make sure follow the source link for more:

  • Is it good? Yes, very.
  • Does it go? It’s got loads of thrust as turbos do.
  • Does it grip? Quite a lot and you can really feel the M Diff doing its thing.
  • Does it slide? Well, yes but it takes some firm provocation.
  • Does it stop? Better than the M3.

[Source: Axis of Overtseer]

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Top Gear

Top Gear Series 17 is going to be electric

Jeremy Clarkson & James May

UPDATE 9 June: Top Gear, Series 17 is due to start on 26 June.

Jeremy Clarkson and James May were recently spotted at the University of Lincoln chasing some free electricity. Filming a segment for the upcoming Season 17 of Top Gear the lads were caught out while driving across the UK using a Nissan Leaf and a Peuegot iOn.

It’s understood their all-electric cars had run out of battery power and laid idle in Lincoln for several hours while their lusty steeds regained charge. A brief video capturing Jeremy and James in their plight can be seen after the break.

There’s some debate as to the start date for Series 17. Some rumours are suggesting a possible premiere on Sunday 19 June. However, word straight from the source says, “No news of exactly when the new series will be on your screens, but it will be towards the end of this year.”

[Source: The Lincolnite]

 

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Categories
Ferrari Motorsports

P4/5 Competizione ready for Nürburgring 24 hour

Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

James Glickenhaus, wealthy American businessman, is not content with his own custom built Ferrari creation, the P4/5 by Pininfarina, so he’s making a racing version. Not just that, his new privately funded creation is designed to tackle the Nürburgring 24 hour race in June. The P4/5 Competizione, based on a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, has been under development for a while now and with the N24 not that far away the team’s preparations are almost complete.

Here’s a few pics of the car in its raw carbon fibre state and racing decals sourced from the team’s Facebook page. Also included below is some video of the car in action in at a recent VLN race at the Ring. The driver lineup is not too bad, either, and includes former F1 drivers Nicola Larini and Mika Salo.

We’ve never been too sure about the look of the P4/5, but we give Glickenhaus his dues for living the dream.

[Source: Facebook & YouTube | Thanks to Obi for the tip]

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Not content with eleventy billion iterations of its iconic 911 range Porsche has managed to eke one more model from Stuttgart. This one is called the Carrera 4 GTS. It’s the all-wheel drive version of the rear-wheel drive Carrera GTS released towards the end of last year.

On offer from the 3.8 litre flat six is a very tidy 300kW. With the wider track at the rear the two-wheel drive model already has oodles of grip, but this all-paw version raises grip levels further still.

We may mock Porsche for creating a new take on the 911 whenever a half-baked idea enters the brain of someone in their marketing department, but the truth is, they’re bloody good cars. And like a fine wine of the same vintage that may differ slightly from bottle to bottle, you want to sample them all!

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Categories
Formula 1 News

“Senna” tickets on sale via Sydney Film Festival

Ayrton Senna

A quick shout out to Sydney readers to let you know you can now buy tickets online for the screening of Senna at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday 19 June. Adult pricing is $17 and the movie will be screened at the State Theatre.

For those who cannot make it to this viewing, the general release of the film commences on 11 August, so you won’t have to wait too long.

[Source: Sydney Film Festival | Thanks to Ricky for the tip]

Categories
Aston Martin

Aston Martin and Zagato reunite

Aston Martin Zagato teaser

Back in 1961 Aston Martin combined forces with Italian coachbuilder Zagato to create the DB4GT Zagato. Now, to mark 50 years of that collaboration, history will repeat with the two companies working in partnership on a new model to be revealed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy on 21 May. Proving this new car will be true to its racing heritage it will race at the Nürburgring in a four hour VLN race on 28 May.

Assuming both the reveal and race bring encouraging feedback from the well-to-do-set there is a chance the new Aston-Zagato will be offered as a limited series production model.

Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman explains their new ownership structure has allowed the freedom to re-unite with Zagato, “Our designers are able to collaborate with a broad spectrum of organisations and individuals to seek new and exciting ideas and inspiration due to Aston Martin’s independency.

“Working with Zagato again in 2011 is inspirational for the team – certainly DB4GT Zagato is one of my favourite ever designs as it is with many of the designers in our studio. We can create a truly modern Aston Martin interpretation which stays true to the historical routes of the relationship with Zagato.”

Aston’s press release is available after the break along with a small gallery of images showcasing the DB4GT and the DB4GT Zagato.

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F1 in pictures Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 Turkish Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Turkish GP

A little later than usual, here’s your hit of Formula One images from the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix. It was a walk in Istanbul Park for Sebastian Vettel. It was also the origin for the latest, and to date, most fervent, rumours suggesting Michael Schumacher will retire at the end of this season. He is contracted with Mercedes GP until the end of next season. We’ll keep an eye on that one and see how it progresses.

For now, sit back and enjoy 82 of the best images from Turkey. The pics of Nico Rosberg in pit lane illustrating the seating position of an F1 driver is quite interesting.

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Categories
Lamborghini

How many people does it take to fit a Lamborghini Aventador through a doorway?

Lamborghini recently held an exhibition in Rome as part of its celebrations to honour the 150th anniversary of Italy’s unification. One of the items on display was a new Aventador LP 700-4. It’s a big car, right, so how on earth did they get the Aventador into the display area which had relatively poor access? Watch the video to find out.

Categories
Audi Porsche Volkswagen

Is the Audi R4 over B4 it begins?

Detroit showcar Audi e-tron

The Audi e-tron, which wowed Detroit back in January last year, was thought to be a preview of a mid-engined R4 model. It was expected to be part of a platform sharing program with stablemates Volkswagen and Porsche. However, according to Auto Motor und Sport any such plans have been shelved by Audi.

One of the reasons given are fears the cheaper R4 would cannibalise sales of Ingolstadt’s own TT model line, as well as eating into sales of the Porsche Boxster.

Also caught in the cross fire is the potential MX-5 rival from Volkswagen, the Concept BlueSport, meaning the planned Volkswagen Group MiMo platform is unlikely to become a production reality.

There’s also some speculation that this news may end the future of the Audi quattro concept. However, given an A5-based prototype has already been in circulation there’s still some hope.

[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via Motor Authority]

Categories
MINI WRC

MINI WRC Rally d’Italia debut in pictures

MINI WRC

After a long build up the MINI WRC made it’s full race debut at Rally d’Italia on the weekend. Dani Sordo achieved consistent results bringing his car home in sixth place. Kris Meeke had a few teething problems and did not finish the race. Dave Wilcox, Technical Director, has a debrief on the event where he details some of Meeke’s issues.

There’s quite a break now until the MINI WRC is back in competitive action at Rally Finland (28–30 July). Dani Sordo will be back in the car this weekend, though, fulfilling promo duties at the Cornbury Park Rally Show near Oxford.

Meanwhile, here’s a small gallery of images of the two MINI WRCs from Sardinia.

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Categories
Motor Shows Toyota

Toyota FT-86 II Concept aims for Melbourne

Toyota FT-86 II Concept

Recent word from Toyota confirms their FT-86 II Concept, first revealed at Geneva in March, will be on show at this year’s Australian International Motor Show. In its new rotating host arrangement the 2011 show will be held in Melbourne (1–10 July).

Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing David Buttner is excited by the ‘Toybaru’ FT-86 II Concept, stating, “It heralds a compact, rear-drive production car with the style, performance and handling demanded by those who regard driving as a passion rather than a necessity.”

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Categories
BMW

M5 watch: Do a skid!

BMW M5

The latest teaser video from BMW for the F10 M5 is a real cracker. The footage shows a number of development prototypes in testing at the BMW Autodrome de Miramas in France. There’s the usual wet weather slides and high speed oval runs you would expect; as you can see, the M5 is able to exceed 300km/h.

However, it is these words from the voiceover man that gladden our hearts the most, while simultaneously sending a shiver down the spine of the Victorian Government: “A smoky burnout like this might not play a role in everyday driving. But it has to be part of the testing. The spectacular start leaves behind a trail of black rubber on the pavement and smile on the face of the driver.”

Indeed it does. Take the jump to see the video in full.

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