Year: 2011

Categories
Formula 1

Williams F1 confirms flotation on Frankfurt Stock Exchange

Williams F1

Williams Grand Prix Holdings has confirmed it will be launching an Initial Public Offering on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The IPO will consist of up to 27.39% or 2,739,383 existing shares.

Sir Frank Williams will retain his majority shareholder status and therefore his controlling interest of Williams F1.

In January Williams F1 released a statement from Sir Frank Williams which read, in part, “It is also my desire that the team is in good shape to go on racing long after I am gone. To that end, it is prudent and necessary to plan for an ownership structure that will enable Williams to be an independent Constructor, owned and staffed by people committed to Formula One and to the sound business practices which have supported us over three decades.

“I have concluded that the option which will best achieve this is to broaden our shareholder base with public shareholders, while having a stable core of long-term investors closely involved in the running of the team. This will ensure stability, good governance and will, I believe, enable us to attract and retain the best people and partners.”

Categories
Audi Bathurst 12 Hour

Audi R8 wins 2011 Bathurst 12 hour

2011 Bathurst 12 hour

The factory-backed Audi assault on the Bathurst 12 hour has borne fruit with the team crossing the line in first and second place. The only major drama faced by the Audi R8s was which car would cross the line first.

The #8 car, with Darryl O’Young at the wheel, was leading by just under a minute with around 10 minutes left to race when it needed to pit for a quick fuel stop. However, O’Young was able to maintain his winning position and rejoined the race with 15 second margin.

In the end, despite Craig Lowndes setting a new Bathurst 12 hour lap record (2:09.0861), the Australian crew in car #7 had to settle for second place and a dream finish for the Audi team.

Claiming the final podium place was the #29 VIP Petfoods Porsche GT3 R led by Tony Quinn. A cracking result from a local team that has solid European enduro experience.

A three hour highlights package of the race is scheduled for broadcast on OneHD at 7:30pm, Saturday 19 February (check your local guides).

Continue reading “Audi R8 wins 2011 Bathurst 12 hour”
Categories
Porsche

Will the 991 Porsche 911 GT3 be mid-engine?

2010 Porsche 911 GT3

The Rennlist forum is a great knowledge-base for all things Porsche. It can also be a great source for some accurate inside info. We can’t vouch for the accuracy of the following info, but if correct it appears the next Porsche 911 GT3 could change the game somewhat, insofar as the pure GT3 template is concerned.

Here’s a list of expected features of the 991 GT3 as posted by “rosenbergendo”, a current GT3 owner who claims to have secured the info from a senior Porsche motorsport employee at the recent Daytona 24 hour race:

  • 4.0 litre motor with 480hp (45hp more than 3.8 litre in current GT3).
  • Engine to be mounted further forward, improving chassis balance and essentially making this a mid-engine car in everything but name.
  • Double clutch PDK transmission available as an option, to be known as PDK-S.
  • Expected weight loss of 80-90kg over current model.
  • No hybrid technology will be sourced from GT3 R Hybrid.

The PDK and engine placement info will be sure to upset the purest of pure Porsche GT3 nuts. That’s if they have managed to overcome the loss of the GT1-based “Mezger” engine block.

[via GTspirit]

Categories
Formula 1

Force India to unveil VLJM04 via the internet

2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Word has come through that Force India will follow the Team Lotus approach and release details of its 2011 Formula One car online. Known as the VJM04, the car will be revealed on Tuesday and will make its real-world debut later in the week when F1 testing resumes at Jerez.

At the recent test window in Valencia the 2010 Force India machine regularly found itself at the pointy end of the field. They’ll be hoping the new car can take off where the old one left off.

[Source: PlanetF1]

Categories
Audi Video

Audi takes bizarre path against established rivals

Earlier in the year Audi of America took on the highly regarded Mercedes-Benz S Class to advertise its A8 saloon. It was an unconvincing effort at best.

Undeterred, though, Audi is back at it again continuing its esoteric attacks on Mercedes and BMW. There is moderate comedy value in this longer approach and it remains to be seen if the punch line, to be aired during Super Bowl XLV, will land a knock out blow.

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen releases official Tiguan pics

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen has released these new pics of their updated Tiguan following the “leaked” image published on the official VW website on Friday.

Almost 600,000 Tiguans have been sold around the world and we reckon the tweaked styling we see here will only increase demand. Full details of the “technically and visually refined” Tiguan will be released at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.

More pics after the break, all available as 2000px super images, and press releases from Volkswagen UK and Volkswagen AG can be seen below.

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Categories
Bathurst 12 Hour

LIVE STREAM: 2011 Bathurst 12 hour

2011 Bathurst 12 hour

The Bathurst 12 hour has been running for around three hours now and if you want to keep up to date with the live action you can do so right here on AUSmotive.

Currently the two Audi R8 LMS cars are leading the race, with the #8 car in front and the #7 polesitting car close behind.

Live timing for the event can be seen HERE and you can also follow the race via twitter using the #12hour hashtag.

Take the jump to watch the live stream.

Continue reading “LIVE STREAM: 2011 Bathurst 12 hour”
Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren unveils 2011 F1 car

McLaren MP4-26

McLaren chose the Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin as the location for their reveal of the MP4-26. The team used the first test at Valencia earlier this week to focus on gathering tyre data and the real test for the 2011 will begin in earnest at Jerez next week.

More studio pics are available below including selected material from McLaren’s press releases.

Of note is the comment on the design of the MP4-26 from Tim Goss, Director or Engineering, “I think there are some novel features on the car—the long wheelbase and U-shaped sidepods are probably the most obvious examples.

“The thinking behind that is to feed as much good-quality air as possible to the rear-lower mainplane and the floor of the car. We want to get the rear-end working as well as possible following the loss of performance caused by the banning of the double-diffuser.”

[Source: McLaren]

UPDATE 6 February: HERE is an interesting take on McLaren’s launch from Peter Windsor.

Continue reading “McLaren unveils 2011 F1 car”
Categories
BMW

BMW Australia confirms 1M Coupé pricing

BMW 1M Coupe

Today BMW Australia has confirmed the manufacturer’s list pricing for the 1 Series M Coupé will be $99,900. This confirms our exclusive information brought to you back in mid January.

The level of specification has also been released by BMW Australia, and it also confirms the details previously posted on AUSmotive (see press release after the break).

BMW has also used terms like “strictly limited production” and “around 100 units” to further describe the 250kW 1M. It’s expected the 1M Coupé will be in local showrooms by June.

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Categories
Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C GTA coming in 2012

Alfa Romeo 4C GTA teaset

Cover your trousers Alfistas there’s about to be some very serious movement down there. The image above is a teaser of the upcoming 4C GTA which is due for release late next year apparently.

What will excite the pulses of Alfa Romeo fans, though, is news the 4C GTA will be a rear-engined rear-wheel drive sportscar which Alfa will use as its aspirational hero model. The target weight of just 850kg will also heighten anticipation for this car. And, unlike the expensive and limited 8C Competizione, the 4C GTA should be much more affordable with an expected European price of €40,000 (AU$54,000).

It’s understood the 4C GTA will source its power from the Giulietta line up with a 1750 TBi four-cylinder turbo tweaked to provide in excess of 250hp. That might not sound like much for a hero sportscar, but due to the car’s light weight it will have a power-to-weight ratio of around 3.5kg/hp. That’s better than a Porsche Cayman S.

Even more exciting is word the chassis used for the 4C GTA will be based on the bonkers two-seat track day special KTM X-Bow. As for how it will look, well check out the images of the 2uettottanta concept from last year’s Geneva show after the break. The 4C GTA probably won’t look exactly like that, but it will most likely inherit a few 2uettottanta styling cues.

We expect any Alfistas reading now will be blushing somewhat. This car sounds fantastic. Let’s hope it’s not some teasing fantasy and it comes to life.

[Source: Automotive News]

Continue reading “Alfa Romeo 4C GTA coming in 2012”
Categories
Volkswagen

Restyled VW Tiguan gets unexpected release

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen is expected to launch a restyled Tiguan at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Thanks to the above image being given an early release on Volkswagen’s German website we can get a sneak peek at what the new model will look like.

Of course, Volkswagen will claim the images being published on their site, which has since been removed, was an honest mistake made by an eager web developer, or the like. But there’s so many leaks in the automotive world that we expect such a strategy is a deliberate move to create discussion. As you can see, it usually works too.

Anyway, back to the Tiguan’s new look. It’s a far better design execution that the current model and draws heavily on the latest Touareg styling. Looking at the blue model in the background, too, it appears as though Volkswagen might have a more worthy off-road version in the works. Or it could be little more than an alternate styling pack.

[Source: Autoblog]

Categories
BMW

BMW 1 Series GT to lead Munich’s front-wheel drive assault

BMW 1 Series GT rendering

The image above is understood to be a rendering of a proposed BMW 1 Series Gran Turismo. This is an evolution of the 5 Series and 3 Series GT models. However, the crucial difference with the 1er GT is that it is expected to lead BMW’s charge into the world of front-wheel drive vehicles.

The benefits of FWD are immediately apparent from a packaging point of view, as well, with suggestions the 1 Series GT will have as much rear legroom as a 5 Series saloon. We should see the 1 Series GT on the roads in 2013 or 2014.

Following the 1er GT in BMW’s FWD assault will be a Z2 coupé model, kind of like an MX-5 sent from Munich. Another concept being spoken about is the FAST, which would compete with the Mercedes-Benz B Class. The next-gen X1 is also expected to send its power back-to-front and become FWD. And rounding out the front-wheel drive arsenal for BMW is a subcompact model known as “Joy”.

So, BMW is really prepared to break-free of its rear-wheel drive stranglehold and when you consider the plans to expand the MINI range to as many as nine models there’ll be a fair degree of platform and component sharing going on too.

[Source: InsideLine]