Year: 2011

Categories
Audi

Audi A1 quattro prototype testing in Canada

Audi A1 quattro prototype

Audi Canada is currently running a Fascination quattro training event for its customers at Mont Tremblant, near Montreal. One of the unexpected stars of the show is this one-off A1 quattro development car.

Despite months of rumours, quattro for the A1 was officially confirmed just a few days ago. No detail is given as to the engine used in this prototype, although the body kit is the same as the 136kW 1.4 TFSI announced last September.

That was the car everyone thought was going to be called the S1, only to have expectations scuppered by Audi at the last minute. Of course, the main reason for saving the “S” badge was due to that car being front-wheel drive only.

Now, though, Audi are saying that, for the A1 range, quattro will be fitted to “future high performance variants”. Not the use of plural for variants. Is that a preview that Audi is planning both an A1 and an RS1?

Making this a truly international affair, you can read the Audi UK press release after the break.

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche developing four-cylinder boxer engine

Porsche Boxster

The quest for lowering fuel consumption has taken a dramatic step with Porsche confirming it will be introducing a four-cylinder boxer engine to its Boxster and Cayman range. If that wasn’t dramatic enough, the four-pot hasn’t been ruled out for the 911 either.

It’s expected the engine would be turbocharged to meet performance targets and would use 8–12% less fuel than the current six-cylinder engines found in Porsche’s two entry level models. We won’t be seeing the thrifty engine in the short term future, but Euro markets could have a four-cylinder Porsche in their showrooms by the end of 2012.

The news has been confirmed by Wolfgang Durheimer, the current head of Porsche research and development, “We have a four-cylinder boxer (horizontally-opposed) engine under development. It can be applied to the Boxster and Cayman.

“I think four-cylinder boxer engine in a Porsche sports car is viable as long as the performance level does not suffer. If you are talking about performance you need a turbo.”

While Porsche has used four-cylinder engines in the past, it has, in modern times, forged an enviable reputation with its iconic flat six motors. Durheimer has given die-hard 911 fans reason to lose sleep by hinting the new four-cylinder could find its way into the company’s hero model, “It also could be applied if necessary to the 911. Our decision is, on the 911 side, we’ll stay with the 911 flat (six-cylinder engine), but there are opportunities for the future.”

[Source: Drive.com.au | Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

Categories
GM Holden Opel

Opel targets Australian launch in 2012

Opel Insignia

Some quite big news emerged from the Detroit Auto Show early this morning with Holden boss Mike Devereux announcing, “Opel will be sold as a stand-alone brand in Australia for the first time in 2012.

“Opel presents a new opportunity for GM in Australia with a growing demand for German design and technology at affordable prices.”

Previous Opel-sourced models to sell in Australia, re-badged as Holdens, include the Corsa (known locally as Barina), Astra and Vectra. It will be these three models, or their current replacements, that will find their way down under, as well.

The entry level Corsa, Astra and mid-size Insignia models have all undergone considerable upgrades in the last 18 months or so and the Insignia was voted the 2009 European Car of the Year. All three will be welcome additions to the local market.

Opel’s product plans for each model are unknown at this stage. However, they bring with them a broad range of options, including wagon versions of the Astra and Insignia, as well as performance variants of all three models.

Holden will assist its sister brand to gain a market presence, which will presumably take place in the form of utlising the local dealer network.

You can keep up to date with developments by registering at the new Opel Australia website.

Today’s official press release is available after the break. Although, one question does remain unanswered; do you think Australian Opel owners will rush out to modify their cars with Holden badges?

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Categories
MINI Motor Shows

Detroit 2011: MINI Paceman gets green light

MINI Paceman Concept

Speaking at the Detroit Auto Show overnight, Ian Robertson, BMW board member for Marketing, announced the MINI Paceman Concept will become a reality, “I’m thrilled to tell you now, for the very first time, that there will be a seventh member of the MINI family – and we will base it on this concept!”

The Paceman Concept, based on the Countryman platform, is fitted MINI’s top line 155kW John Cooper Works engine and features the All4 all-wheel drive system, as well. It’s a bit of an odd one, really; does the world actually need a crossover coupé? Probably not. But as MINI has shown, they sell cars to a market that wants in on the MINI brand experience, not because they need to, but because they want to.

You can read Robertson’s speech in full after the break.

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Categories
Caterham

Don’t forget, there’s a new Caterham coming this week too

Caterham Cars

A reminder, among all the action from Detroit, that Caterham will be unveiling a new car on Thursday at the Autosport International Show in the UK. Stay tuned as we will bring you all the details as soon as they are available (possibly late Thursday night Australian time, otherwise Friday morning).

If you really can’t wait, then keep an eye on Caterham’s official twitter feed.

Categories
Motor Shows Porsche

Detroit 2011: Porsche 918 RSR

Porsche 918 RSR

The Porsche 918 RSR has just been revealed at the Detroit Auto Show. Its body is based on the 918 Spyder, its power inspired by the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

Here’s some headline stats for the 918 RSR. It has a petrol powered V8 engine, which produces 560hp at a massive 10,300rpm. This is joined by a pair of electric motors powering the front wheels. Each engine offers 102hp each. Those quick with their sums will have already worked out that’s a combined total of 767hp.

In addition to the beautiful shape and profile of this car, we can probably expect it to be earning its stripes at the Nürburgring 24 hour race in June this year. It will no doubt compete in other events, too, as more categories welcome hybrid powered entries. Perhaps, more excitingly, though, is the expectation that a road going 918 Coupé will be produced in the near future, as well.

The official press release is now available after the break, along with a selection of screen grabs captured during the live webcast. Also now available are 12 wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images and a couple of official promo clips.

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Categories
Motor Shows Volkswagen

Detroit 2011: Volkswagen Passat (US market)

Volkswagen Passat (US market)

Bigger is better. At least that’s what Volkswagen is telling its North American audience after creating a unique Passat just for them. To clear any confusion the European Passat is our Passat and should be in Australian showrooms sometime after March. Meanwhile, the ‘mericans will have to wait until August to get their hands on their Passat.

The Euro Passat, revealed last September, is too slim for the Yanks. This New Midsize Sedan, then, gets 91mm added to its wheelbase, an extra 13mm to its girth and a whole lot more bland added to its styling. And that’s saying something; the Passat is hardly the most exciting model Volkswagen has ever produced.

If anything their Passat looks like an upsized Jetta. And, let’s face it, if it has been upsized, it must be better. That said, their Passat has also been produced to a price. Starting from US$20,000 their Passat is several thousand bucks cheaper than the old model. Partly helped by the fact their Passat will be made in the US at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant.

Actually, when you consider the current market rates, maybe the joke is on us. We can’t imagine getting our Passat on the roads here for anything less than about AU$45K.

More after the break. Including a really weird video—that fireball is straight from the Jeremy Clarkson school of daft marketing.

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche prepares 918 racecar for Detroit debut

Porsche 918 racecar teaser

Following the release of this teaser video it appears certain the world debut Porsche has planned for the Detroit Auto Show is a racing version of the 918 Spyder, which was first shown in hybrid form at Geneva last year.

It could well be that this 918 racecar employs hybrid technology, too, given the 911 Hybrid almost won the 2010 Nürburgring 24 hour race at its first attempt.

Check out the video teaser after the break.

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip.]

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Categories
Volkswagen

Has Volkswagen pulled a New Mediocre Stunt?

It's just a Passat folks!

Last week Volkswagen released a new teaser to let us know they would be unveiling a New Midsize Sedan at Detroit. Word has come through today that this car will be badged as the, wait for it, Passat. Yeah, that’s right, the same name it’s called everywhere else in the world.

So, we went and found a profile pic of the European Passat and placed it over Volkswagen’s teaser image and guess what—it’s a perfect fit!

Until official details are known (possibly later today) let’s give VW the benefit of the doubt and let them think we’re expecting some new details. But, at this stage, it’s looking like any differences between the US Passat and the real Passat are likely to be cosmetic only.

[Source: Autoblog]

UPDATE: Check out Motor Authority for a gallery of leaked images. It’s a super-sized Passat in Jetta clothing.

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Categories
MINI Motorsports

MINI All4 crashes out of Dakar

MINI All4 Racing

Word has come through via twitter that the MINI Countryman All4 has crashed out of the 2011 Dakar Rally. Ironically the race-ending incident happened during a test run on the rest day.

Despite suffering technical problems on the first day of racing and dropping to 78th, the MINI had been making good progress since then and had consolidated a top ten outright position.

It’s understood that while driver Guerlain Chicherit was kept under observation following head trauma, he was not hospitalised and no major injury was suffered.

UPDATE: Picture of the crashed MINI added—look at the state of it—courtesy of the Stage 7 Dakar update (see below).

[via MotoringFile]

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Categories
Audi

Audi officially confirms quattro for A1

Audi A1 quattro teaser

Audi has sent out a few odds and ends discussing its future plans for its quattro technology. Much of it is actually old information. However, despite senior staff being quoted as such, this is the first time Audi has sent out a press release confirming quattro will be available on the A1 platform.

Looking at the image above, previewed in a brief promo video shown after the break, the A1 quattro has a meaty look to it, as well. It could be an S1, or even an RS1, perhaps. The question remains, then, to how many A1-based models will quattro be fitted?

AUSmotive learned some time ago that the A1 had been approved for quattro, but then the whole S1-that-we-can’t-call-an-S1-because-it-doesn’t-have-quattro debacle happened. It wasn’t long, though, until new rumours emerged about an all-wheel drive A1 and now it looks like it’s as good as done.

Based on the info available to date the A1 will use a Haldex quattro system similar to the set up employed in the A3 platform. This means a predominantly front-wheel drive scenario with a hydraulic multi-plate clutch distributing torque to the rear, up to 100%, as required.

Check out the press release below for more info.

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari 599XX lights up the track

Ferrari 599XX

How amazing is this shot of a Ferrari 599XX in maximum attack mode! There’s no special story with this pic, and we don’t even have a decent wallpaper sized version. But what an image; Thomas Quintin, sir, you have excelled yourself.

[Source: Flickr]