Year: 2012

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Webber confirmed for first test of 2012 RB8

2011 Italian Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing has confirmed Mark Webber will be the first to test their new 2012-spec RB8 machine when pre-season winter testing commences next month.

There are three official pre-season testing windows scheduled prior to the Australian Grand Prix, with a four-day test in Jerez, on 7–10 February to open the 2012 season. Webber will drive on the first two days at Jerez, with Vettel to follow on the latter two days.

A shorter three day in-season test window between the Spanish and Monaco GPs will no doubt be welcomed by the teams.

Official 2012 F1 testing schedule

7–10 February: Circuito Permanente de Jerez, Spain
21–24 February: Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
1–4 March: Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
1–3 May: Mugello Circuit, Italy

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb wins 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo

Sebastien Loeb, Citroen DS3 WRC, 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo

Sebastien Loeb has opened the defence of his eighth world title in grand style with a comfortable win in the Rallye Monte Carlo. The French maestro, who turns 38 next month, and his co-driver Daniel Elena showed no signs of slowing down winning the rally by almost three minutes from Dani Sordo (MINI).

The tricky conditions, with a mixture of dry and icy roads, as well as regular snow, made tyre selection difficult. It took Loeb until SS4 to claim the lead, which he did not surrender for the remainder of the event.

Loeb explains it was tyre strategy that gave him such a comfortable winning margin, “It’s a big gap to second, but I wouldn’t say that this was an easy win. We had to deal with all sorts of conditions and my lead was largely built on better tyre choices, which were mainly down to the work of Citroën Racing’s technical team and our tyre partner Michelin.

“For the first time in a long time in WRC, we were able to choose between five types of tyres and we always managed to pick the right tyres for the circumstances.”

The 2003 world champion Petter Solberg (Ford) claimed the final podium step behind Loeb and Sordo. While Loeb’s new teammate Mikko Hirvonen finished his first rally for Citroën in fourth place.

More snow and ice will face the teams at Rally Sweden, which is the next event on the WRC calendar and starts in just under three weeks.

Continue reading “Sebastien Loeb wins 2012 Rallye Monte Carlo”
Categories
Porsche

2013 Porsche Cayman rendering

981 Porsche Cayman rendering

It’s nearly two weeks since official images of the 981 Boxster were revealed by Porsche. Like us, you have probably spent a fair bit of time wondering what the new Cayman would look like. Well wonder no more. Thanks to Wild Speed via Porsche Boost we bring you a couple of renderings of the next-gen Cayman.

It looks pretty good, too, don’t you reckon. On the Boxster its weakest point is the rear spoiler that intersects the tail lights. Perhaps over time the look will become more familiar, but for now it seems a little odd. On the Cayman, however, the same feature seems to work much better. That’s based on one rear three-quarter view, though, so perhaps our opinion may change on that.

Our desire for a Cayman hasn’t waned at all since we were lucky enough to get some quality time behind the wheel of a Cayman R last year. We think we’ll be lusting after the 981 just as much we already crave a 987.

If you follow the source link below you’ll find the 981 Cayman rendered in any number of colour you’d care to imagine.

[Source: Porsche Boost]

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Categories
Motorsports Porsche Video

The graphic design of racing cars

Go faster: The graphic design of racing cars

Graphic design and racing cars. They’re two things we very much like here at AUSmotive, so a book about both has to be a winner, surely. We think so.

Sven Voelker is the man we have to thank for the book Go faster: The graphic design of racing cars. He explains his thoughts and a little about the development of racecar livery in a short video after the break. The historic racing footage during his interview is a nice touch too.

Apparently the American entrepreneur and racer Briggs Cunningham was the first man to think a ‘go faster’ stripe was just what his racing car needed.

Continue reading “The graphic design of racing cars”
Categories
McLaren

2013 McLaren MP4 ‘P12’ rendered

McLaren MP4-P12 rendering

Car magazine brings word of the 2013 McLaren MP4-P12, including this rendering showing how they reckon it will look. The MP4-12C was just a warm up; it’s the P12 that is the true sequel to the awesome F1.

Featuring a strictly two seat layout, an even greater use of carbon fibre in its body and a KERS-equipped 3.8 litre twin turbo V8 from the 12C with the wick turned up to around 800hp, you’re going to need a lot of money to get this car to flutter its eyelids for you. Something around the €750K mark is the tip. That’s a lazy AU$930K if you don’t mind.

[Source: Car | Rendering: Radovan Varicak]

Categories
Porsche

VIDEO: Porsche 911 identity

Porsche 911 identity

The new 991 Porsche 911 is going to be an absolute cracker. Everyone knows it. If we had our way we’d have put our money down, signed off on the order and be counting dow the days until our new 911 Carrera S arrived.

Sadly we have to make do with official videos from Porsche. Even when heavily laced with marketing saccharine, we still end up wanting a 911 even more!

Continue reading “VIDEO: Porsche 911 identity”
Categories
Motor Shows Toyota

Detroit 2012: Toyota virtual booth

With our Detroit Motor Show gallery we tried to bring you a bit closer to the action. Toyota has joined in by releasing a virtual booth of their stand. The video guide above shows you how it works and this link here takes you to the Toyota Global website where you can navigate your own way around their display.

It’s a nice use of some familiar tech. It would be very cool if all the manufacturers at the show made their stands available to view from the comfort of your lounge room like this.

[Thanks to Jake for the tip]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Australian pricing

Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG

The third-gen SLK was launched in Australia in August last year. It kicked off with just two models, the SLK 200 ($82,900*) and the SLK 350 ($118,900*). Mercedes-Benz Australia has just announced two more models will be added the the range.

At the lower end of the spectrum is the SLK 250 BlueEFFICIENCY ($91,900*) which offers 150kW/310Nm from its 1.8 litre four cylinder engine. Right at the top, though, is the very promising SLK 55 AMG ($155,000*). The fearsome M152 V8 engine gives you an enticing 310kW/540Nm to play with. Sounds like fun, huh!

If that tickles your fancy then check out the rest of the information from Mercedes after the break.

Continue reading “Mercedes-Benz SLK 55 AMG Australian pricing”
Categories
BMW

BMW add 318d and 320i to Australian range

2012 BMW F30 3 Series

BMW Australia today announced they have added a 318d and 320i to its new F30 3 Series range ahead of the official launch which takes place next month.

Positioned as entry-level models the 318d, featuring a 105kW/320Nm four cylinder turbo diesel, will be priced from $56,400*. The 320i is powered by a 135kW/270Nm four cylinder turbo petrol engine and comes standard with an 8-speed sports auto; pricing starts at $57,600*.

When the new 3 Series goes on sale in Australia the 320d, 328i and 335i, as previously announced, will be available immediately. The 318d and 320i will be available from March build dates onwards. Allow another 6–8 weeks shipping time before we start seeing them in local dealerships.

More detail from BMW Australia is available after the break.

Continue reading “BMW add 318d and 320i to Australian range”
Categories
Motorsports Toyota

Toyota PR tweet reveals 2012 LMP1 Hybrid racer

Toyota LMP1 Hybrid

While the world was discussing Peugeot’s sudden withdrawal from Le Mans racing, Scott Brownlee from Toyota PR cheekily revealed the first pics (above) of Toyota’s LMP1 Hybrid via twitter. “Sorry to see Peugeot pull out of Le Mans for 2012. Maybe the mere sight of our new car scared them,” he said.

Last October Toyota Motorsport GmbH, based in Cologne, announced they would be competing in the 2012 Le Mans 24 hour race, as well as the 2012 World Endurance Championship.

TMG Chairman, Tadashi Yamashina, said: “Toyota Motor Corporation has entered Le Mans before but by using our hybrid technology this time will be a completely new challenge. We want to write a new page in the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as in the FIA World Endurance Championship, through our use of hybrid technology.

“In addition, we aim to learn from the experience of competing in such a challenging motorsport environment to enhance our production car technology. Le Mans is a legendary race and I would like to thank the ACO and the FIA for their constructive and positive cooperation over the last few months.”

Brownlee added further info, and challenged Le Mans favourites Audi, this morning when he tweeted, “Next week first official test with our new car #dieselkiller can’t wait”

So, maybe Le Mans 2012 (16–17 June) won’t be the one horse race we think it will.

Categories
BMW

BMW F80 M3 still more than 12 months away

BMW F80 M3 prototype

According to an interview with BMW North America’s M Manager, Matt Russell, the next-gen M3 will not debut until next year. That’s because production of the current E92/E93 Coupé and Convertible will remain active for all of 2012. That makes it virtually impossible for the F80/F82 M3 Sedan and Coupé to be released for sale before mid-late 2013.

Russell also seemed to pour cold water over previous reports suggesting BMW would introduce an all-wheel drive F10 M5. “Some people have a concern that we’re going to run into traction problems as horsepower number continues to go up and up. But this car just did a 3.7 second 0-60mph for Car and Driver on dusty Spanish roads so clearly it doesn’t have much of a traction problem,” said Russell.

“I think once we get the car tested stateside, it’ll go even faster. So we’re running out of reasons to do AWD. We’re in no rush to put AWD on M cars.”

Other topics covered include discussion on the US allocation of the 1M, the introduction of an M6 and also a very brief comment on the introduction of diesel-powered M product going on sale in the US. Follow the source link to read the full interview.

[Source: Bimmerpost]

Categories
GM

GM rises from bankruptcy to number 1

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

General Motors has returned to the top of the worldwide automotive sales charts, the Detroit Free Press reports. Quite a turnaround for a giant that was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as recently as June 2009.

In 2011 GM sold 9.03 million vehicles globally compared to the Volkswagen Group which sold 8.16 million. Toyota is yet to release its official tally, but late last year said it was on track for around 7.9 million sales worldwide.

GM’s growth was in part on the back of Chevrolet which achieved sales of almost 1.8 million vehicles in the US alone.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]