Year: 2012

Categories
Formula 1

Guide to 2012 Pirelli F1 tyres

2012 Pirelli F1 tyres

Pirelli has updated its tyre range for the 2012 Formula One season. The most obvious changes are the markings on the side, which hark back to the old Bridgestone look with a bold stripe around the sidewall. Keen observers will also note that the colours used for the intermediate tyres (now green) and full wets (now blue) have changed from the blue and orange used last year.

Wet weather tyres now wear Cinturato branding, while the slicks continue to carry the P Zero name. All tyres use a squarer profile, which should offer greater grip during cornering. With the exception of the Supersofts (red) all compounds have received a series of upgrades from their 2011 specs. This has been done to try and narrow the performance gap between the compounds.

Pirelli tell us they have also worked hard to improve rear-end grip, which should compensate for the expected loss in traction at the rear axle now that blown floors have been banned.

More detail can be read in this PDF (150kb) or by watching the short intro video after the break. The first pic after the video can be viewed at 3000px sizing; simply click on the image to open the bigger size.

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Categories
BMW

BMW M Performance embraces diesel power

BMW M Performance Automobiles

Today BMW has announced the details of the M550d xDrive, the first example of its new M Performance Automobiles range. Joining the M550d is a Touring version as well as the X5 M50d and X6 M50d.

All are powered by an innovative 3.0 litre straight six diesel engine fitted with three turbochargers, sending power to all four wheels. Peak numbers are 280kW and a stonking 740Nm. It’s the most powerful diesel engine BMW has ever made and they’ve mated it to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

You need to look at the acceleration figures to give those numbers some perspective. The M550d sedan has a dry weight of 1895kg and it can reach 100km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds. Blimey! The Touring carries and extra 95kg and still reaches 100 in 4.9 seconds. The 2150kg X5 M50d needs 5.4 seconds, while the X6, at the same weight, takes only 5.3 seconds.

It looks as though Australia will only get the X5 M50d and the X6 M50d, which is a shame because the M550d Touring would be our pick by a long margin.

There’s more after the break and if you want to find out more about how those three turbos work make sure you download the detailed press kit, available at the end of the material below.

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Categories
BMW

Dial M for Performance

BMW M Performance

A couple of weeks back BMW announced they’d be introducing a new range of models called M Performance Automobiles. They’ll be placed in between regular BMW offerings and the fully fledged M models.

The benefit here of course is the ability to get an M-badged product without the full admission price. It’s also a very neat way for BMW to bring M Performance to models and drivetrains we wouldn’t normally consider for an M5, for example.

Suddenly that M550dx begins to make much more sense. Indeed, today, BMW has announced a series of M Performance diesels, which have already been previewed. We’ll bring you more detail later today.

So, how about another practical example of this M Performance line. BimmerFile reports of a rumoured M135i to sit between the very capable 135i and the awesome 1 Series M Coupé. It’s expected to have around 320hp, uprated sports suspension based on the 135i as well as enhanced steering and model-specific alloy wheels.

Sounds interesting, we think, and we look forward to seeing how the M Performance range pans out. We’ll be in line for much more when the Geneva Motor Show rolls around in March and BMW gives the M Performance Automobiles their official debut.

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Categories
Video Volkswagen

Chip Foose reminisces about his Mk2 Golf GTI

Chip Foose talks about his Golf GTI

Legendary hot rod designer and manufacturer Chip Foose is a Volkswagen fan. Well, so he says in this promo from Volkswagen US released to build some hot hatch hype for the Golf R.

The US market has only recently received the Golf R, which seems to be an odd decision to say the least. Why didn’t they get the model from launch?

Check out the video after the break and hear Foose reminisce about his 1985 Mk2 Golf GTI.

[Thanks to Adam for the tip]

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Categories
MINI

MINI Goodwood coming to Australia

MINI Goodwood

“Jeeves, bring the MINI round the front would you – there’s a good fellow!”

Believe it or not they are the words MINI Australia are using to open their press statement on the MINI inspired by Goodwood. Only 1000 MINI Goodwoods will be made and only 10 are coming to Australia.

The model was first revealed last year and is the result of a partnership between Rolls-Royce and MINI.

Don’t be fooled by the lack of bonnet scoop, the MINI Goodwood is based on the turbocharged 135kW Cooper S. Finished in Diamond Black metallic paint, the limited edition includes model specific ‘inspired by Goodwood’ badging along with polished 17″ alloys.

Inside Rolls-Royce inspired Cornsilk beige leather and cashmere is used. Walnut veneer also helps to complete the luxurious theme. There’s even plush lambswool floor mats lining the floor. Apparently, they were “taken from only the happiest and most handsome lambs.” What will those little lambs use on their floors now, we wonder.

Now, the price. Well, it’s a MINI and it’s a very limited run. It’s not going to be cheap. We think the price deserves a paragraph all of its own.

$74,500.

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Categories
Motorsports Toyota

Toyota TS030 Hybrid LMP1 racecar revealed

Toyota TS030 Hybrid LMP1

After last week’s brief twitter preview, Toyota Motorsport has officially revealed its new LMP1 racer, which is heading for Le Mans later this year. It’s called the Toyota TS030 Hybrid and it runs a conventional 3.4 litre V8 petrol engine. Final spec for the hybrid components will be finalised after more testing has taken place, but the plan at this stage is to run two electric motors, one at each axle.

The TS030 has already completed a few hundred kilometres of testing at Paul Ricard, as these photos suggest. For now Toyota has only committed the TS030 to racing in the Six hours of Spa (5 May) and Le Mans 24 hour race (16–17 June). Participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship has not been confirmed, but is clearly on the team’s radar.

Toyota will run two cars at Spa and Le Mans, but only three drivers have been announced to date. Former F1 driver Alexander Wurz will be joined by Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima.

While they would clearly like to win Le Mans, Yoshiaki Kinoshita, Team President, has set achieveable goals: “Of course we would love to win Le Mans; that is the dream for all competitors in this race. But we are realistic and we know we need to develop and to learn in order to compete with some very strong competition. Our target this year is to show the performance level of our car and particularly the THS-R powertrain. Hybrid is a core technology of Toyota so it is important to demonstrate this in a motorsport arena and we want to prove it can bring a performance advantage, both in terms of lap time and fuel efficiency.”

Speaking after his first drive of the TS030 Alexander Wurz said: “It was cool to drive the TS030 HYBRID car for the first time. Just leaving the garage on the electric power is very futuristic, then when you let the clutch go and the internal combustion engine kicks in it is like an old friend has returned! When we put on the slick tyre I could feel the car generates a very good amount of grip so I think we have a good base and I think we can turn this into a really fast car.”

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Rare Mercedes-Benz 300SL sells for $4.6m

Mercedes-Benz 300SL Alloy Gullwing

The Mercedes-Benz 300SL ‘Gullwing’ is one of the most beautiful cars ever made. Only 1400 300SL coupés were made and some are more equal than others. Like this 1955 model, for example, which is one of only 29 alloy-bodied Gullwings.

Prior to its auction Gooding & Company said it was expected to sell for around US$2.5-3 million. At the fall of the hammer the bidding stopped at US$4.2 million. Add another 10% or so for fees and the like and you arrive at the hefty US$4.62 million sale price.

If you could, would you?

[Source: Autoblog]

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Categories
MINI

London calling for new MINI special editions

MINI Bayswater

The MINI Baker Street and MINI Bayswater are the two latest special editions from the niche manufacturer. They will go on sale around the world for a limited time and will arrive in Australia from May.

BMW is the official automotive sponsor for the 2012 Olympic Games and these two London-inspired models have been announced to tie in with that deal. The Baker Street and Bayswater also follow in the path of Camden and Mayfair released in 2009.

For its limited production run the Baker Street is available in Cooper and Cooper D spec and will cost an extra $1950 over regular pricing for those models. Available in Rooftop Grey (as shown below), Pepper White and Midnight Black exterior paintwork, all with black roof, the Baker Street also features unique trim detailing.

The Bayswater can be ordered as a Cooper, Cooper D or Cooper S and features 17″ Sandblast alloys wheels. Pictured here in exclusive Kite Blue metallic paint, it is also available in Midnight Black or Eclipse Grey for the Cooper S Bayswater. As part of its trim detailing there are new bonnet stripes, too, which look quite good. It’ll set you back an extra $3400 for the Cooper and Cooper D, and $2700 in the Cooper S.

Both the Baker Street and Bayswater can be tailored to suit individual desires from the regular and extensive list of MINI options.

There’s more pics and detail from MINI after the break.

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Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

Kimi excited to be back in F1

Overnight Kimi Raikkonen got back in a Formula 1 car for the first time in over two years. Fittingly, and to get around F1’s strict testing policies, it was a two-year old Renault R30 chassis running old tyres. And, as you’d expect, Kimi was over the moon to be back in an F1 car.

You can almost see a smile.

[Thanks to Ryan for the tip]

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen up! opens new doors

Volkswagen up four-door

The Volkswagen up!, originally launched as a two-door only, has achieved strong market success in Germany. It’s little surprise then that a four-door up! will be launched in May.

Volkswagen expects the four-door will represent over half of future sales for the up!. They’ll probably also be quite happy with reports suggesting the MINI Rocketman has been cancelled.

The four-door up! range will consist of the same modest and frugal engines from the two-door. Details from VW below.

UPDATE: The up!, in both two and four-door bodystyles, should be on sale in Australia by the end of the year.

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Categories
MINI

Has MINI shelved the Rocketman?

MINI Rocketman Concept

The pint-sized MINI Rocketman, which debuted in concept form at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, will not go into final production, Car reports.

At around 300mm shorter than the current R56 MINI hatch, the Rocketman would need to undergo a stringent program to offer stable handling, stability and crash performance.

It was previously understood to be on target for a launch around 2015, but reports now suggest the Rocketman has been scrapped because it will be too expensive to develop.

We reckon that’s a loss to the micro-car segment. The Rocketman could have offered a fun, stylish and premium product.

[Source: Car]

Categories
Audi

Audi R8 stretch limo

Audi R8 limo

Have you ever thought of getting yourself an Audi R8 V10, chopping it in half, inserting a few bits and pieces and turning it into a limousine able to carry eight passengers? Didn’t think so.

But the folks at Limo Broker in the UK have dreamt up such a crazy idea and they’re building it. The stretch R8 is currently being created by Carbonyte UK and is due to commence service before the middle of the year.

According to Limo Broker they are aiming to “create the world’s fastest limo.

“…once it’s complete, the Audi R8 Limo will be the perfect choice of luxury limo for petrol heads.”

We haven’t quite worked out if this is a really cool idea or the dumbest thing we’ve ever seen. To help you make up your mind, there’s a few more pics and a promo video after the break.

[Source: Limo Broker]

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