Year: 2011

Categories
Renault

Renault Clio RS 200 Australian Grand Prix Limited Edition

Renault Clio RS 200

Last week Mark Webber took time out of his busy schedule to launch the Renault Clio RS 200 Australian Grand Prix Limited Edition. Bit of a mouthful, hey!

There’ll be just 30 of these little pocket rockets sold, all in the Liquid Yellow paint shown here. At $39,990 the Limited Edition model carryies a $1000 premium over the regular Trophée version.

For the asking price you get a black painted roof and spoiler, Renault Sport Recaro front seats, Renault Sport monitor (for the first time on Clio), black Speedline Cup wheels, and shiny black exterior details. Interior trim is “Carbone” spec, as found on the Trophée.

Engine spec from the peaky naturally aspirated 2.0 litre remains 147kW/215Nm. Enough to get you to the ton in 6.9 seconds.

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Categories
Audi

136kW Audi A1 nearing Australian shores

Audi A1 1.4 TFSI

Word filtering through to AUSmotive says the 136kW Audi A1 1.4 TFSI will be priced around the $45,000 mark. A local launch is not too far away, either. After our Drive Thru in the 90kW A1 we discovered it is a ripping little car, albeit, a little hamstrung by its expensive price. The hottest A1 to date looks like continuing the trend.

So, mid 40s for an A1; compared to a MINI Cooper S, maybe it makes some sense. Maybe? Compared to a Golf GTI and its slightly larger hot hatch ilk, well, that begins to paint a much tougher picture for the A1. It’s also a lot more costly than its keenly priced Volkswagen Polo GTI cousin. But then, we can’t see wait lists of over 12 months afflicting the A1.

Categories
Skoda Targa Tasmania

Skoda Octavia RS ready for Targa repeat

Skoda Octavia RS-P

Last year Skoda raced a parts bin special Octavia RS-P at Targa Tasmania. This year the same car has been given an orange coat to mark the company’s sponsorship of new AFL team GWS. The changes run deeper, too, with the car altered to make it eligible to run in the two-wheel drive Showroom class at Targa 2011.

This year is the 20th anniversary of Targa Tasmania and the rally runs from 5–10 April. Entry numbers have swelled to near 400 for the anniversary event.

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Porsche Panamera Turbo S

Here at AUSmotive we’re undecided on our opinion of the Porsche Panamera. But, we agree with the well-known phrase, “I’ve never met a horsepower I didn’t like.” So, on that basis, the case for approving of the Panamera has taken a step forward with the announcement of the Turbo S model.

With 410kW (550bhp) squeezed out of the 4.8 litre V8 biturbo, accompanied by a maximum torque figure of 800Nm, well, what’s not to like. It’s actually only a small increase over the “Powerkit” released last year. But, more is more and close hand reports tell us that the Panamera is an incredibly capable bit of kit, so we’ve no doubt it can handle this extra grunt.

Porsche’s boffins attribute the extra power to using titanium-aluminium turbine wheels and a tweaked ECU program. The uprated turbine wheels are lighter and can spin more readily, allowing the turbo magic to happen sooner.

That magic translates to a 0–100km/h time of just 3.8 seconds, going on to a top speed of 306km/h.

Further details from Porsche, along with more pics, can bee seen after the break.

UPDATE: Porsche Cars Australia has confirmed the Panamera Turbo S is now on sale locally, priced at $440,200 with customer deliveries beginning in October.

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Categories
Audi

Audi RS4 Avant back from the dead?

Audi RS4 prototype

At the end of last year we said Audi had no plans for a B8-based RS4. Well, thankfully, this pic, showing what appears to be an RS4 testing at the Nürburgring, indicates that info was incorrect.

If those wheels look familiar that’s because you’ve seen them on the RS5 coupé. Essentially, the test mule you see here will be the estate version of the RS5. It’s expected the same 4.2 litre V8 will be used, and of course, you can expect the same quattro running gear. There are reports around hinting at a blown 3.0 litre V6, adapted from the current S4, or even a new twin-turbo V8. However, we reckon the 331kW 4.2 is your best bet.

It will be interesting to see if the RS4 is offered with a traditional manual transmission, or if Audi will limit it to a 7-speed S tronic.

Dates are unclear for the possible launch of a new RS4, but we could see the car as soon as mid next year. All we know is, since there hasn’t been an RS4 built since 2008, the wait has been far too long.

[Source: Autoblog | Pic: CarPix]

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren MP4-26 steering wheel explained

2011 Australian Grand Prix

McLaren has just posted an overview of its 2011 Formula One steering wheel found on the MP4-26. Just what do all those buttons do?

To help with the explanation make sure you click on the image above, which will give you a 1600px image to work with. Then, head on over to the McLaren website and all will be revealed.

The number of settings that can be changed the drivers is amazing. It’s no wonder they claim the addition of KERS and the moveable rear wing controls is starting to make things too complicated.

Categories
Formula 1 Motorsports

Behind the scenes at the Australian Grand Prix

2011 Australian Grand Prix

The Formula One circus has been and gone for another year. Albert Park can once again commence its return to a peaceful public playground. While the set up of the track affects Melbourne for months, the F1 teams, the main show, aren’t even here for a full week.

These images, photographed by Michael Daniel, were captured on Wednesday to Friday of Grand Prix week and give a brief insight into what happens behind the scenes. There’s a few shots of on-track action—make sure you check out the old 1906 model Bugatti, it’s a wonderful image—mostly, though, the images have been taken inside the F1 garages while teams set up and go through their routines.

Our thanks to Michael for sharing these images with AUSmotive, we’re sure you’ll enjoy them as much as we have.

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Categories
Tesla Top Gear

Tesla on the charge over Top Gear review

Top Gear 12x07

Cast your mind back to December 2008. That’s when Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the electric-powered Tesla Roadster on Top Gear. Generally speaking, he praised the Tesla for its rapid pace, but was very critical about the time it would take to re-charge the battery when it went flat.

And it is the subject of the battery going flat that has landed Clarkson and the BBC in hot water. In his review Jeremy claimed the battery could go flat after just 55 miles of travel on the Top Gear test track. The next shot showed the car being pushed into a hangar to be re-charged.

Clarkson also claimed the brakes failed on the test car. He concluded his review by saying, “What we have here, then, is an astonishing technical achievement. The first electric car that you might actually want to buy. It’s just a shame, that in the real world, it doesn’t seem to work.”

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Categories
Porsche

New Porsche 911 spied in natural habitat

991 Porsche 911

As each day passes we get closer to the launch of the next-gen Porsche 911. That debut is expected to take place at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. We can thank World Car Fans for these latest spy shots of a barely disguised prototype seen in its preferred environment, the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The new 911 will sport a longer body allowing for a more optimum engine placement ahead of the rear axle. While the overall length will grow by 56mm, it’s understood the wheelbase will increase by a more modest 10mm.

The interior, too, will utilise a Panamera-like centre console to further enhance the good progress made inside the current 997 interior.

[Source: World Car Fans | Pics: SB-Medien]

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Categories
BMW

M5 watch: Testing in the alps

BMW M5

A couple of weeks ago we brought you video of the next BMW M5 (F10) undergoing cold weather testing. Here is a new clip that runs for a long 29 minutes plus. It’s essentially the extended mix of our earlier post.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy seeing the F10M being put through some very icy paces. It’s expected the new M5 will get its first showing at a private event in Munich in a couple of days before making a full public debut at Auto Shanghai inside the next week.

All that means we should have some hard facts, official or leaked, within the next few days.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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Categories
Audi

Next Audi RS6 ready to jump the queue

Audi RS6

Good news for fans of Audi’s RS models with word coming through the next-gen RS6 will be here sooner, rather than later.

With BMW’s next M5 due for a debut showing next month, it’s understood Audi is itching to get the RS6 into showrooms late next year.

The previous RS6 may not have been the sharpest tool in the handling shed, but it made its point on power with the subtlety of a well handled sledgehammer. All thanks to a boosted 5.2 litre V10 good for a stonking 426kW.

We don’t expect Audi will go to the well twice with the V10 and, like BMW, it looks like the RS6 will force feed a smaller capacity V8 to provide the thrills. Amazingly, the 426kW figure from the old model is in real danger with reports of 447kW (600hp) floating about.

[Source: De Telegraaf via World Car Fans]

Categories
Green Machines MINI

All-wheel drive MINI hybrid spied

MINI Hybrid AWD

Autoblog brings us new pics of a very interesting prototype vehicle, it’s a regular looking R56 MINI Cooper S hatch; regular until you see the dangly bits at the rear of the car. It’s understood the front wheels will be driven by conventional petrol power, while the rears will be driven by electric power.

Sporting a “Hybrid test vehicle” sticker not much detail is known about the car in terms of power specs and the like. It’s expected the hybrid powered model will hit the market in 2013 with the launch of the next generation MINI.

[Source: Autoblog via MotoringFile]