Month: August 2013

Categories
Audi

Audi TTS competition revealed

Audi TTS competition

Audi has now made 500,000 TTs and to celebrate it is releasing a strictly limited TTS competition model. At first we thought this was going to be pretty good because the press release said it had 220kW on tap. That wuld have given it 20kW more than a regular TTS and we were excited to learn what Audi had done to tweak the engine.

Alas it was a typo on Audi’s part and peak engine power remains at the standard TTS tune of 200kW. So, what we’re left with is a choice between Imola Yellow or Nimbus Gray paint and a snazzy Steel gray leather interior with special stitching and the like. Aside from that it’s pretty standard fare.

Limited to 500 models the TTS competition goes on sale in Europe this October. We just wish it had that extra 20kW!

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Categories
Formula 1 News Red Bull Racing

Rumour: Daniel Ricciardo gains promotion to Red Bull

2013 German Grand Prix

German media outlet Sport Bild is reporting that Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing in 2014. It’s believed confirmation will come prior to next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.

That would mean Red Bull has knocked back two world champions, Kimi Raikkonen and potentially Fernando Alonso, in favour of the 24-year-old Australian.

We expect current world champion Sebastian Vettel will be very pleased to have Ricciardo on the other side of the garage. Daniel will be a clear number two. It’s also a sign of faith in Red Bull’s own young driver program, with Ricciardo serving his apprenticeship at Toro Rosso, following the same pathway as Vettel.

It would appear that Ricciardo did enough to impress Red Bull Racing during his recent test with them at Silverstone. On Day 2 of the Silverstone test Ricicardo was fastest overall for Toro Rosso and backed that up with the third fastest time of the day driving for Red Bull.

In 2010 Ricciardo shared Red Bull’s reserve driver duties with Kiwi Brendon Hartley before becoming Toro Rosso’s sole reserve driver in 2011. Later that year Daniel made his Formula 1 debut with HRT at the British Grand Prix.

Since 2012 Ricciardo has partnered with Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne at Toro Rosso. Daniel has made 41 race starts in F1 collecting a total of 21 championship points, with a best finish of seventh (2013 Chinese Grand Prix).

We’ll bring your more news on this story as soon as we can.

[Source: sportbild.de (translated) | Thanks to Tom for the tip]

Categories
Honda

2015 Honda Civic Type R chasing Ring record

Honda Civic Type R

This is the next-generation Honda Civic Type R. It’s not due until 2015 but it’s got some lofty targets ahead of it. Honda says they want to own the front-wheel drive record lap time around the Nürburgring Nordschelife, currently held by the Renault Megane at 8 minutes 7.97 seconds.

Honda has even released a Type R teaser video showing it has already made its mark on the famed 20.8km circuit.

To achieve its target lap time the Type R will lose its unique normally aspirated VTEC mofo approach in favour of a boring old 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder, much like everyone else. Mind, with a peak power target to be as high as 300hp (223kW) Honda isn’t going to have too many other options.

On the positive side at least Honda can learn from its WTCC experience where its Civic is racing with a 1.6 litre turbo.

[Source: Autocar]

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Categories
BMW

BMW Concept M4 at Pebble Beach

BMW Concept M4

BMW Blog brings a comprehensive gallery of the new Concept M4 on display at the Pebble Beach Concsours d’Elegance. We’ve got half a dozen pics here, but be sure to follow the source link for the full picture gallery, over 20 photos, in 1900px sizing.

[Source: BMW Blog | Thanks to Aaron for the tip]

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Categories
BMW

VIDEO: BMW Concept M4

BMW Concept M4

BMW has released a teaser video for the Concept M4. The supporting cast of M3 models reminds of the legacy the F82 has to draw upon.

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Categories
BMW

Official: BMW Concept M4 previewed

BMW Concept M4

BMW has previewed its all-new and highly anticipated F82 M4. Officially, you’re looking at the Concept M4 and we know it’s only a sneak peek because they’ve teased us with photos only. There’s no engine specs available just yet.

Indeed, the only specifications of any kind that have been revealed by BMW are that the Concept M4 runs on 20″M light alloy wheels and the roof, front and rear splitter are all made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic. Oh and that paint colour is called “Aurum Dust”, which is not quite the name we’d come up with, but there you go.

Overall the look of the new M4 is very pleasing to our eye. It’s got a great mix of aggression and purpose right from the front air intakes in the lower grille right through to its quad tail pipes at the rear. In a decent paint colour it will look amazing.

The Concept M4 will be on display this weekend at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. We hope there will more technical detail to follow, but we’re not so sure that will be the case.

[Thanks to Tiaan for the tip]

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Categories
MINI

A better look inside the new MINI

MINI F56 interior

This is probably the best look inside the new MINI you’re going to get until official pics are released. It’s over a year since we got our first peek inside the F56.

Unsurprisingly these photos show a more complete interior, and we can see already that buyers will need to order the Visual Boost package or satellite navigation in order to get the full size screen in the centre of the dash where the speedometer should be. If not the result is U-G-L-Y! Although the ham-fisted radio set up does complement the clichéd and poorly executed carbon fibre patter on the dash inserts.

There are still expected MINI styling cues, there’s no mistaking it for anything else. Yet, the gap between what you expect to see in MINI and a BMW is beginning to close. Fair enough, given the F56 will draw heavily on components to be used in the front-wheel drive BMW 1 Series. And they will both be built on the UKL1 platform.

It won’t be the last time we say this, but after doing such an excellent job of introducing the MINI brand to the 21st century we have grave fears BMW is about to cock it all up.

[Source: CarNewsChina]

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz GLA revealed

Mercedes-Benz GLA

Shortly after releasing a sketch of its GLA compact SUV, Mercedes-Benz has come good with pics and press material prior to its public debut in Frankfurt next month.

As far as pint-sized SUVs go we think this one looks pretty good. In fact we’d go so far as to say this is the best looking model in the A Class family, which already includes hatchback and saloon models.

As such most of the engine range and equipment is already familiar. Although, if you option your GLA with the 4matic all-wheel drive system you get the added bonus of Downhill Speed Regulation and an off-road transmission mode. The leaves on your front yard won’t know what hit them!

We’re not sure what pricing will be when it goes on sale in Australia next year, but we think it’s pretty safe to expect Mercedes will sell a crap load!

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Categories
Honda

Honda Civic Tourer wants to hang with the cool kids

Honda Civic Tourer

Honda has released information for its new Civic Tourer. Given the car is made in Britain it’s pretty much a Euro estate, which generally we love so much. Among others, the Civic Tourer will go head to head with the Volkswagen Golf Variant.

There’s no surprises with the Golf, it’s a perfect example of teutonic reservation. In contrast the Civic Tourer hits you right between the eyes with its dramatic creaselines and flowing curves.

When we first saw the pics of the Civic we thought it was very, very cool. But the more we look at it the more we begin to question our initial judgement.

Mind, if you’re going to buy a wagon based on a volume selling hatchback maybe you don’t really care what it looks like. On that basis the Civic Tourer has more cargo space compared with the Golf Variant.

With the seats up the Honda offers 624 litres against the VW’s 605 litres. Fold the seats down and you’ll have 1668 litres to fill in the Civic, 68 litres more than the Golf.

The question is, are these garden variety Euro estates worthy of cool status, or do they need to be a bit bigger and be stuffed with 400hp or more to be elevated to such lofty heights?

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Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus

Stuff Red Bull, how about a return to Ferrari?

2013 Spanish Grand Prix

The latest gossip on the Formula 1 rumour mill is a real doozy: Kimi Raikkonen to Ferrari in 2014?

Of course, Kimi won his 2007 world championship with the Scuderia so he knows what he can achieve with the Maranello posse. But it’s also the place he lost his passion for F1. We think a return is unlikely, but when you consider that former Lotus Technical Director, James Allison, has switched camps to Ferrari you do start to think, hmm, “Maybe.”

Then there’s the fact that Fernando Alonso’s manager was seen talking to Red Bull’s Christian Horner in Hungary, followed by Alonso’s wish for someone else’s car. Now you really start to think, “Well stranger things have happened.”

The latest Raikkonen rumour comes from Finnish publication Ilta-Sanomat. We’re not sure how solid their information is, but we do expect this will be a cracking off season, now that the recent stability of the top teams has been upset by Mark Webber’s looming departure from Red Bull.

[Source: F1 Pulse]

Categories
Ferrari News

Buy this Ferrari and help save Ferris

Ferris Bueller 1963 Moden Spyder California

This is the actual Ferrari California replica used in the much loved Hollywood hit Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and it’s up for auction this weekend. Well one of them, anyway. A total of three were made by Neil Glassmoyer from Modena Design and Development.

“They gave us four weeks to build the movie cars,” recalls Glassmoyer. “I always say we built two and a half cars; two were interchangeably used as hero and stunt cars and one was a rolling fiberglass shell that was used in the destruction scene. This car was actually intended for the stunt work, but both saw action, and both wound up with broken front suspension bolts because the big jump scene took nine takes between the two cars.”

The 1963 Modena Sypder California has been fully restored by Glassmoyer who is the current owner and will be on hand at the auction to answer any questions. It’s expected the car will fetch over US$250,000. Here’s some more detail about the car:

What started as a very good car has become a truly excellent Grand Tourer with a few key upgrades contribute to that assessment; the original 1963 260 CI Ford V-8 (which allowed the car to be officially titled as a 1963 Modena) has given way to a balanced and blueprinted 351 V-8 bored out to 427 CI and fitted with an Eagle forged steel crank, I-beam connecting rods, forged J&E pistons, Trick Flow twisted wedge aluminum heads and roller rockers. The resulting 500 horsepower launches the 2,650-lb Modena in exhilarating fashion while being kept under control by a refined suspension – comprising independent front A-arms, variable ratio power rack and pinion steering, a 4-link live rear with Panhard rod and Aldan nitrogen-charged adjustable coilovers – and Wilwood power ventilated disc brakes all around.

Oh, and if you want to collect the whole set, quite literally, you can buy Cameron’s house as well.

[Source: Mecum Auctions]

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Categories
BMW

This definitely is the new BMW M4

BMW M4 prototype

Following the leaked image of the BMW M4 Concept comes this spy photo of an M4 prototype. Just stop and look at it, take it in for a moment.

In that all black prototype get up it looks sensational, don’t you think. Thankfully, with minimal disguise, it’s now much easier to appreciate the shape and stance of the M4. Check out the rear guard. Maybe it’s the just the lighting and reflections of the photo, but it just looks phat!

While we hope the new M3/M4 will debut at Frankfurt in a few weeks, don’t be surprised if we have to wait until Detroit at the start of 2014.

[Source: WCF]