Year: 2011

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber’s drive across Bolte Bridge

Yesterday’s “Red Bull Run” across Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge came and went without much fanfare. Victoria’s over officious authorities ensured Mark Webber was unable to exceed the signposted speed limits for his short journey, despite closing all six lanes of traffic.

Webber only had to think of Lewis Hamilton’s troubles in Melbourne last year to know burning some rubber wouldn’t go down too well, either.

For his part, Webber was professional and played his role perfectly, signing autographs for the fans who watched on from Docklands. Speaking at the event Mark said, “It’s good to be back in Australia and in Melbourne in the sunshine.

“The city has gone to a lot of effort to make today’s event possible, so I’d like to thank them and Red Bull. It’s good to be able to say thanks for all the support the local people have offered me during the last few seasons.

“The Melbourne Grand Prix is a special event and one we should be very proud of. Of course, I’m a little biased as an Aussie but I know a lot of the drivers and fans love it too. It was a great way to start the Grand Prix week and hopefully we can finish it with a good result on Sunday.”

There’s more pics after the break. Also included are a pair of videos, the first is the news item from Sports Tonight on OneHD, the other is a fan video featuring snippets of Webber’s interview with Greg Rust.

[Pics: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

UPDATE: A new video has been added above.

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Categories
BMW Motorsports

Official: BMW 1M secures MotoGP Safety Car ride

BMW 1M Coupe Safety Car

BMW Motorsport has followed up the launch of the 1 Series M Coupé MotoGP Safety Car with a new press release and 40 studio images.

The engine and drivetrain from the 1M production car remain unchanged for the MotoGP Safety Car spec. However, a specially designed CFRP bonnet with large air vents, polycarbonate windows and an titanium exhaust help reduce weight. An adjustable rear wing has been added that will allow engineers to adapt the car’s downforce as required.

Inside, the rear seats have been removed, a roll cage bolted in and two Recaro racing buckets replace the standard front seats.

Further enhancements for Safety Car duties include adjustable suspension and staggered 19″ alloys, running 255/35 tyres at the front and 285/30 at the rear. The standard brakes have been swapped for six-pot racing set up.

Wouldn’t it be nice if, instead of looking at a regular old Safety Car, we were actually looking at a 1M CSL development prototype. Well, you just never know your luck these days!

There’s lots of nice details in the photos provided, so make sure you click on the pics to launch 2000px super images.

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Categories
Audi

Audi A7 Sportback – Australian pricing & specs

Audi A7 Sportback

Audi Australia has just launched the A7 Sportback down under. There’s two models on offer, both using V6 engines. The 180kW 3.0 TDI quattro is priced from $142,750, while the 220kW 3.0 TFSI quattro starts at $147,800.

Despite the size of the A7 Sportback—4969mm long and 1911mm wide—it’s strictly a four-seater. Although, looking at the rear bench seat, you could easily squeeze in another seat belt to accommodate five people. But that’s generally not the way these luxo four-door “coupés” work.

As far as that coupé styling goes, the A7 Sportback is one of the better executions out there. Its proportions are pleasing to the eye and there’s well executed details inside and out. We’re very much looking forward to driving an A7 to see if the tangible experience matches the visual.

The A7 Sportback is fitted standard with Audi’s familiar 7-speed S tronic transmission and the quattro all-wheel drive system uses the same crown-gear centre diff from the RS5.

It’s got promising pace too. Reaching 100km/h takes 6.5 seconds in the turbo diesel, while the supercharged petrol sipper takes just 5.6 seconds.

After the break you’ll have access to a few more pics as well as a full suite of press material from Audi Australia.

UPDATE: Over 40 new pics have now been added below.

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Categories
Formula 1 Holden Motorsports

TeamVodafone confirms Bathurst driver swap

The TeamVodafone V8 Supercar website has confirmed the planned promo event at Mount Panorama, Bathurst is all set to go ahead next Tuesday, 22 March. The event will start at 11am and features five time Bathurst winner Craig Lowndes and 2009 Formula One World Champion Jenson Button.

Both men will drive their own car around the legendary 6.2km circuit during the event. After a lunch break Lowndes will take to the track in a McLaren MP4-23 F1 car, while Button will do laps in the Holden Commodore V8 Supercar.

Entry is open to the public and a gold coin donation will be collected to go towards the Queensland and Victorian flood appeals. It’s sure to be a once in a lifetime, which is exactly why AUSmotive will be there to see all the action.

[Source: TeamVodafone]

Categories
Porsche

New Porsche 911 features free bird flipper

Porsche 911 spy video

After the break you can watch a new-ish spy video of the next-gen Porsche 911. The footage runs for 8 minutes, but you can probably get by just watching the first half. Firstly, it’s not terribly exciting, but mostly because the material is repeated.

Perhaps the greatest thrills from the footage, which seem to be a development on the snippets posted by InsideLine last week, come via the engineers who unsuccessfully try to divert the cameraman’s attention. You’ll see this happen when the prototypes stop to refuel. However, above you can just make out the Porsche engineer’s disapproval towards the cameraman through the use of a well-known hand gesture.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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Categories
Audi

Audi releases soft metal tribute

Is this love that I’m feeling
Is this the love that I’ve been searching for…

No, it’s not that sort of soft metal. However, a number of Audi workers do find themselves feeling the love for soft metal in this latest ad for the company’s new A6. It’s all done to promote the car’s “Aluminium hybrid body”.

Categories
Formula 1 Renault

Ross Brawn expects big impact from Renault’s forward exit exhaust

Lotus Renault GP R31

Ross Brawn, Mercedes GP boss and one of the men behind the revolutionary blown double diffusers, says the forward exit exhaust found on the Lotus Renault GP R31 is a “clever idea”. Blown Double diffusers have now been banned, but their concept was relatively simple; direct the flow of the exhaust gasses inside the rear diffuser and, hey presto—bags of extra downforce! More downforce means more grip and that means higher corner speeds and, ultimately, a faster car.

So, with that aerodynamic aid now gone teams have been forced to come up with new ideas. In the end it turned out only Renault came up with a new, forward thinking, idea. Forward being the operative word, of course, whereby they have radically altered their exhaust design by bringing it forward of the engine to exit just ahead of the sidepods (highlighted area above). This means the gasses can then be directed to the car’s undertray forcing more air ahead of the rear diffuser.

Speaking to Autosport, Brawn claimed, “It is a significant area and maybe more significant than the double diffuser in terms of performance and of course the teams are all working with their engine partners to work out how to get the most out of the exhaust energy so that is the new interesting area of development.”

Follow the link below for more detail. Better still, check out this analysis on the ScarbsF1 website.

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Renault/LAT]

Categories
BMW

Next BMW M5 spied showing off 7-speed DCT

BMW F10M

A while back there was a minor scare that the F10-based BMW M5 would be made with an auto transmission only. Recent info suggests that won’t be the case and a 7-speed dual clutch transmission will be used instead. A theory supported by these latest spy shots. That won’t appease slaves to self-shifters completely, but it is a mildly better alternative.

We’re still expecting to see the new M5 debut in Shanghai in April, before hitting European showrooms around the time of the Frankfurt show.

There’s a few more spy shots after the break, or you can follow the source link below for more.

[Source: 5Post]

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Categories
BMW

VIDEO: BMW i3 takes up snow dancing

BMW i3 prototype

Last month BMW officially launched its “i” brand and since then development prototypes of the electric powered i3 and i8 have been seen around the place. After the break you can see the first vdeo of the little i3 in action.

The footage was filmed in Sweden and shows the car pirouetting around the place having a merry old time. All in the name of fine tuning the car’s handling, of course.

There’s a good chance the i3 will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

To enhance handling the lithium-ion battery will be mounted in the centre of the car and the motor it powers should be capable of producing a healthy 110kW (150hp)—about the same as your entry level hatchback. Top speed is expected to be around 150km/h and the range provided should be close the 200km mark. As you can clearly see from this footage the i3 will be powered by the rear wheels.

[Source: Gmotors]

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Categories
Formula 1

Bernie says Australian GP is as important as Monaco

Australian Grand Prix

Earlier in the year Melbourne’s Lord Mayor created headlines when he poured a liberal dose of hot water on the long-term future of the Australian Grand Prix being held in the Victorian capital.

At the time F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone seemed only too happy to talk about relieving Melbourne of its Grand Prix hosting responsibilities. However, it would appear the 80-year-old has had a change of tune, telling local media that, “Australia is as important to us as Monaco.

“It’s part of the world championship and has been for an awful long time. We’d hate to think that we’re going to lose Australia.”

With that said, Ecclestone still left the door wide open for the event departing Melbourne, at the very least, if not Australia, “In the case of Melbourne, if the product is too expensive for them, we understand that and when the contract comes to an end there’s no need to renew it.

Continue reading “Bernie says Australian GP is as important as Monaco”
Categories
Porsche

Porsche confirms Leipzig plant for Cajun

2010 Porsche Cayenne

Porsche has issued a press statement confirming its new SUV, the Cajun, will be built at their Leipzig factory. The plant first came to life in 2002 building the Cayenne. In 2009, following improvements to the facility, the Panamera was added to its roster.

A minimum of 1000 jobs are expected to be created by Porsche with the introduction of the Cajun. Upgrading of the Leipzig plant in anticipation of the “efficient and agile” SUV will commence later this year.

“During the production of the Cayenne and the Panamera, our Leipzig plant has impressively proved that it can produce premium vehicles of highest quality,” said Matthias Müller, chairman of the Porsche AG board of management. “The decision in favour of this location is proof of our trust in the skills and qualifications of our Leipzig associates, and at the same time another contribution to the economic advancement of the region.”

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Categories
BMW Motorsports

BMW 1M launched as MotoGP Safety Car

BMW 1M safety car

The 2011 MotoGP season kicks off this weekend and BMW has continued its association with the series by launching a new 1 Series M Coupé Safety Car.

It looks pretty special in it’s BMW Motorsport inspired war paint. And that Akrapovic aftermarket exhaust is sure to sound great at maximum revs too.

[Source: 1addicts]

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