Last year’s runner-up in the F1 World Championship, Fernando Alonso, has taken out the team’s new F150 on Ferrari’s Fiorano test track. You can see more pics and a brief video after the break.
Year: 2011
Ferrari has published plenty of video highlights from the launch of its 2011 Formula One car, the F150, to its media portal and we’ve been adding them to the AUSmotive YouTube channel. To begin with you can see Team Principal, Stefano Domenicali, explain the thinking behind the F150 name, before expanding further on the team’s plans for the upcoming season.
Also interviewed are Chief Designer, Nikolas Tombazis; Technical Director, Aldo Costa and Engine and Electronics Director, Luca Marmorini. You can see those clips after the break.
There will be further video added to this post later in the day, so make sure you check back.
In the meantime, why not read this excellent analysis the F150 from well known F1 writer Craig Scarborough.
UPDATE: Three further clips have been added. The first is a general highlights clip from the launch. This is followed by a couple of clips featuring Luca de Montezemolo, then drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.
Ferrari has taken the lead in the 2011 Formula One season already by being the first team to launch its new car. Ferrari have labelled this one the F150; no, it’s not an old Ford pickup, but a 21st century racing machine.
Out go the blown diffuser and “F-duct” rear wings and back comes KERS along with the addition of adjustable rear wings. A ban on engine development means the 2.4 litre V8 fitted to this car is the same unit used in last year’s F10.
More photos and press material from Ferrari, including a video walk around of the F150, can be seen after the break. Remember, too, 2000px wallpaper-friendly images can be accesed by clicking on any of the pics.
First we were told Volkswagen’s new New Beetle was going to be radical. Then Oprah showed off its silhouette, after VW helped her promise a car to eleventy billion of her closest friends (okay, it’s only 275). Now, KGP Photography and Autoblog bring us photos of a completely unclothed new New Beetle (click source link below for more pics).
The new New Beetle uses the current Mk6 Golf platform and will be built in Mexico alongside the Jetta. While it can sometimes be folly to judge a car based solely on photographs, we think this new New Beetle looks okay, but perhaps the wheel arches are too over the top. It looks like it’s driving on kiddy wheels that are out of proportion with the rest of the car.
While we’re discussing proportions, what about the back arch and C-pillar? The chiselled edge around the window detail is very nice, we admit, but we think there might be a bit too much Quasimodo in this new New Beetle for us to declare it a loveable evolution/revolution, like the the old New Beetle was a decade ago.
[Source: Autoblog]
Categories
Aston Martin Rapide film: part 3
Here is the thrilling conclusion to the Aston Martin Rapide marketing gimmick film. Without giving too much away, it turns out we end the film film where we started. Which begs the question, was it all worth it?
The car above is the MINI Countryman WRC. It looks awesome, don’t you think. Wouldn’t it be cool if MINI made a road-going version of that car, complete with modified body panels. And, it would be even more complete with a high power engine; something like 300hp (220kW). Would that be enough to convince you to hand over your cash?
A few months ago we heard a rumour that suggests a road version of the WRC weapon could be in the works. The info that came our way mentioned a 300hp widebody Countryman, we’ve joined the dots for the rest. We understand a concept version of this car could be on show later this year, at Frankfurt in September, we hope.
As to the validity of this rumour, well it might end up being pie in the sky, but our source has come up trumps for us before, so let’s wait and see.
Categories
MINI Paceman due in 2012
MotoringFile brings word the MINI Paceman will be going in production in 2012. Plans to build the Paceman were confirmed by BMW board member Ian Robertson earlier this year, but no were dates given.
The Paceman will be built alongside the Countryman at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria. It’s expected the Paceman will be on sale in late 2012. Although the production model will wear a different badge, something starting with C most likely.
[Source: MotoringFile]
The Evo magazine YouTube channel brings us this video of the new Pagani Huayra. It’s only a short clip, but in it we get to see inside the car and its dash layout. We also get to see what effect a 700PS V12 has on the pooch you see above.
Categories
Porsche 911 Black Edition
We know the new 991 Porsche 911 isn’t too far away; we’re expecting to see it debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. That means it’s now almost run-out time for the current 997 911. On cue, then, Porsche has released details of the 911 Black Edition.
The Black Edition is based on a regular 3.6 litre Carrera model and has black paint, of course, some black detailing inside and a couple of badges to go with. There’s model specific 19″ alloy wheels and plain “911” badging on the back. Porsche say the Black Edition will cost the same as its Carrera counterparts and to help try and give this “run-out” model some cachet it has been limited to 1911 examples.
And, that’s pretty much that.
The oil-rich nation of Qatar; the perfect location for Volkswagen to launch the XL1 concept—a diesel-electric hybrid with a combined fuel consumption figure of just 0.9l/100km and a CO2 rating of only 24g/km.
The XL1 is the latest iteration of the “1 litre” car first premiered by Ferdinand Piech back in 2002. In 2009 we also saw the Volkswagen L1. Where the XL1 differs from those two is in its seating arrangement. The earlier concepts featured inline seating for two, whereas the XL1 uses a more traditional layout to seat two abreast.
Powering the XL1 is a mighty 35kW 800cc two cylinder TDI and a fearsome 20kW E-motor. The total range of the XL1 is around 550km, that’s pretty good from a 10 litre tank. In electric only mode the XL1 has a more modest range of 35km.
The use of carbon fibre and other advanced construction methods helps keep the kerb weight of the XL1 to 795kg. Performance is not blistering, but it’s not too shabby, either, with 100km/h able to be reached in 11.9 seconds. Top speed is limited at 160km/h.
More after the break, including pics and a basic press release. A more detailed release is available for download as well.
Categories
Official pics of the Pagani Huayra
These official pics of the Pagani Huayra have been published on the Pagani website. Like the Zonda before it the Huayra is not going to win any beauty contests. Yet, at the same time, it’s just as beautiful. In fact, probably more so.
Maybe it’s because this time around Pagani has little left to prove. We now know they are a cottage industry manufacturer that can take it right up to the icons of Ferrari and Lamborghini. And perhaps beyond.
As expected the Huayra is powered by a twin-turbo 6.0 litre V12. Mercedes has once again provided the engine, via its AMG factory. The Huayra has a peak power figure of over 700PS and maximum torque is beyond a massive 1000Nm. With a dry weight of just 1350kg—distributed 44% to front, 56% to the rear—the Huayra is sure to be both frighteningly quick and razor sharp.
[Source: Pagani]
UPDATE: The official Huayra press release can be downloaded at the end of this article.
Categories
Ferrari FF creates online hysteria
Well, Ferrari would have us believe the four-set, four-wheel drive FF created online hysteria when it was revealed a few days ago. Check out their presser after the break.
To celebrate they have released a few new pics. Sadly only the image shown above is of any use, the rest are a disguised development model shown during winter testing. However, in silver and with studio lighting, you begin to get a broader appreciation for the curves featured on the FF; some gentle, some not so.