Volkswagen dealers across the country are just starting to fill their showrooms with the new Passat. Judging by reader comments on AUSmotive the car hasn’t made a great first impression. We wonder if this quirky TV commercial will help?
Motorsport Retro brings word of some very tasty archival pics of Ayrton Senna’s racing career. The collection has been sourced from the Cahier Archive and if you follow the source link below you can see more great pics like the one above. Better still, if you check out the Cahier Archive website, you can buy prints of the images you like.
[Source: Motorsport Retro | Pic: Cahier Archive]
Bimmerpost brings some good spy pics of the next-generation BMW 3 Series. With a wider track and lengthened wheelbase the F30 3 Series introduces design cues from the current F10 5 Series. Also to be introduced are slightly squared off “angel eye” LED daytime running lights, a move away from the current familiar circular shapes.
It’s expected a concept model or some official detail will be released towards the end of this year, before the F30 makes its full debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. The F32 coupé is expected to be introduced in 2013. Of course, the next 3 Series will also see the introduction of a GT “hatch”, which should also be on track for Geneva in 2012.
There’s more pics available by following the links below, so make sure you check them out as well.
[Source: Bimmerpost]
A couple of weeks ago we showed how the BMW 1 Series M Coupé was beginning to make its mark with owners. Since then the press reviews have started rolling in and it’s all good news for the baby M.
First, 1addicts brings news that German rag Sport Auto has run the 1M through one of its famous track tests at Hockenheim. The result? A best lap time of 1:14.1. That’s one tenth slower than a manual equipped Porsche Cayman S. Impressive, hey? Well, consider this; it’s one tenth faster than an E92 M3 with DCT.
Autocar said: “The longer you spend at the wheel of the M Coupé, the more you come to appreciate its overall ability. Its focus is perhaps a little broader than we’ve come to expect from BMW M… It’s not a junior M3, as many suggested it would be. No, it has its own distinct character and, in real-world terms, is a good deal faster than its more expensive sibling.”
Car said: “The 1-series M is a proper M car, no doubt… It’s definitely not a hotted-up 135i, and now we’re looking forward to the future of M.”
Inside Line said: “Let’s not extend the suspense any longer. The 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a fantastically compelling machine. It is fast… It has a truly brawny engine that sounds great at wide-open throttle, handles with all the precision expected of a car wearing the evocative M badge, and is super practical given its performance brief.”
Yeah, you’d like one too?
[Pic: Sport Auto]
Here’s a couple of videos featuring Karl Reindler and Steve Owen talking about their dramatic crash in the V8 Supercars event at Barbagallo Raceway on the weekend. Amazing that both drivers were able to escape relatively unharmed.
You’ll see the bandages on Riendler’s hands where he has suffered second degree burns, but he expects to be racing again at the next round at Winton three weeks from now.
Ferrari recently published this instructional video to YouTube for the 458 Italia which explains, “how to absolutely control the car with a maximum of driving pleasure on the track and on the road.” All you need is 3 minutes 42 seconds, some cheesy sound effects and some dramatic music. Hmm, no mention of how to activate the fire extinguisher.
This time next week we’ll be reflecting on the return of MINI to the world rally stage at Rally d’Italia. Can drivers Dani Sordo and Kris Meeke make an impression in the John Cooper Works WRC?
Dave Richards, Team Principal, seems quietly confident, “The MINI has performed better than we dared hope in testing and the S2000 car’s debut in Portugal was very encouraging. However, we are all too aware of the challenges ahead of us and take nothing for granted, but whatever the outcome, Sardinia will be an historic event for the entire team and everyone who has supported us to get this far.”
After the break you can see the team’s latest video and press release.
A few days ago Mark Webber used his twitter account to share a fascinating insight into his formative years. It was created back in 1995 and showed a three-pronged pathway to reach Formula One. The plan showed Webber could achieve his ultimate goal by basing himself in Asia, Europe or the United States. History tells us that Webber took the conventional European approach and that he did indeed reach his aim for an F1 career, albeit one year later than planned.
In the spirit of Webber’s “Aussie Grit” we’ve dug up a couple of YouTube clips featuring two of Mark’s standout F1 highlights. The first is from his debut race at the 2002 Australian Grand Prix, the second shows Webber talking us through the final lap of his maiden victory at the 2009 German Grand Prix.
Village Cinemas have confirmed with an AUSmotive reader that Senna is currently scheduled to premiere on their screens on Thursday 11 August. Previous word from Manish Pandey, the film’s writer, advised the documentary would debut in Australia on Thursday 21 July.
The note from Village indicates the dates are set by the distributor, and if we hear anything new we’ll share it with you as soon as we can.
[Thanks to David for the tip]
Chris Harris from Evo magazine has a strong relationship with Porsche which has enabled him great access to Andreas Preuninger, Head of GT Cars. Using that relationship Harris recorded this interview with Preuninger in which the pair discuss the finer points of the limited edition 911 GT3 RS 4.0. It’s a good insight and details some of the modifications that are likely to ensure the RS 4.0 takes its place among the more revered Porsche RS model ever made.
[Thanks to Tim for the tip]
V8 Supercar driver Karl Reindler has walked away from this astonishing crash with nothing more than second degree burns to his hands. The incident happened at Barbagallo Raceway this morning after Reindler stalled his car on the starting grid and was hit from behind by Steve Owen, who also escaped without serious injury.
Speaking after the accident Reindler said, “I loaded the clutch up and it stalled. I had my foot all the way down; I didn’t even release the clutch. I couldn’t get it going at all. There’s nothing I could do.
“Before I knew it I saw flames inside the car. I guess I panicked and tried to get out as quick as I could. My body’s fine, it’s just my hands.â€
[Source: Speedcafe]
UPDATE: New video has been added above which shows Channel 7 pitlane reporter Mark Larkham inspecting the burnt wreckage of Reindler’s car. Replays and subsequent commentary from Neil Crompton and Mark Skaife follows. After the break you can see footage of the incident as it happened.
The Nürburgring 24 hour race is one of motorsport’s toughest challenges. Earlier this year V8 Supercar drivers Craig Lowndes and Warren Luff got a small taste of what it might be like by driving a factory-backed Audi R8 LMS in the Bathurst 12 hour.
Many Australians have competed at the Nürburgring 24 hour race. Indeed, in days gone by it was as simple as coughing up the cash, packing your car into a container and rocking up to the track. You used to see well-prepped, but outclassed, decade-old Mitsubishi Mirages sharing the track with the latest factory-supported Porsche 911 RSRs.
Rule changes have put an end to such mechanical mismatches, and in further moves to usher the race to a more professional era, drivers now have to compete in at least one four-hour VLN enduro on the Nordschleife before being eligible for the more demanding 24 hour event.
As a result Lowndes and Luff will be heading to the Germany later this month to complete their qualification drive at the VLN race to be held on 28 May.
Scheduling will likely mean the lads will have to wait until 2012 before they can race in the Nürburgring 24 hour enduro. Lowndes hopes to race at the Ring next year, ahead of achieving a further goal to race at Le Mans.
[Source: Speedcafe]