Month: November 2013

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Nissan

2014 Nissan GT-R update revealed

2014 Nissan GT-R

The R35 Nissan GT-R seems to have been around forever now. In reality it’s only five years old. But Nissan hasn’t rested on its laurels and the MY14 GT-R promises to be the best yet.

Although, there’s no mention of power gains from the car’s impressive 3.8 litre twin-turbo V6. But when you’ve already got 404kW on tap perhaps you might consider that enough.

This time around Nissan’s lab coats have messed about with suspension tuning, fooling themselves that the car has a premium interior and introducing the all important LED headlights. Nissan promises a smoother ride, better build quality and greater refinement. And there’s nothing wrong with that, either.

There’s also a super-dooper new Nismo version, which you’ll be reading about soon.

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Porsche

Porsche 918 under promises and over delivers

Porsche 918 Spyder Weissach Package

On paper the Porsche 918 Spyder is the least impressive of the three hybrid hypercars, which also includes the LaFerrari and McLaren P1. Yet, Porsche is playing it smart by making claims it can back up and letting the results do the talking.

The headline act for the 918 is its sub-7 minute Nürburgring lap time, which as a marketing exercise has worked wonders for Stuttgart. As opposed to the PR disaster witnessed by Woking.

Back in May we saw Porsche update the claimed performance numbers for the 918 Spyder fitted with the go-faster Wiessach Package. They did it again when the car was officially revealed in Frankfurt. And now, once more, Porsche is dropping us a quick presser to let us know the 918 is even faster than first thought.

0–100km/h: 2.6s (down from 2.8s)
0–200km/h: 7.5s (down from 7.7s)
0–300km/h: 19.9s (down from 22.0s)

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MINI

Four generations of MINI side by side

Four generations of MINI

Along with all of the other F56 material MINI released photos showing all four generations of MINI side by side. Well, that should probably three generations of MINI lined up next to the classic Mini (where the upper case letters indicate BMW’s ownership of the brand).

The four models aren’t quite the automotive equivalent of matryoshka dolls, but they’re not that far off.

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MINI

MINI Cooper S: F56 v R56

F56 MINI Cooper SMINI Cooper S

With the new MINI arriving, it’s timely to compare the new F56 Cooper S alongside the outgoing R56 model. Let’s start with the numbers:

2014 F562010 R56 LCI
Engine1998cc 4cyl turbo, 16 valves1598cc 4cyl turbo, 16 valves
Power141kW @ 4700–6000rpm135kW @ 5500rpm
Torque280Nm @ 1250–4750rpm (300Nm overboost)260Nm @ 1600–5000rpm (280Nm overboost)
Length / Width / Height3850 / 1727 / 1414 (mm)3729 / 1683 / 1407 (mm)
Wheelbase2495 (mm)2467 (mm)
Track (front/rear)1485 / 1485 (mm)1453 / 1461 (mm)
Unladen weight (auto)1160kg (1175kg)1140kg (1165kg)
Fuel tank44 litres50 litres
Drag co-efficient0.31Cd0.36Cd
0–100km/h (auto)6.8s (6.7s)7.0s (7.2s)
Max speed (auto)235km/h (233km/h)228km/h (223km/h)
Combined fuel consumption (auto)5.7–5.8l/100km (5.2–5.4l/100km)6.3l/100km (6.7l/100km)
CO2 emissions (auto)133–136g/km (122–125g/km)146g/km (155g/km)

As you can see the new car is a bit bigger, a bit heavier and a bit faster. A 6 litre drop in fuel tank capacity may not please some buyers, but at least consumption has improved. And can anyone come up with a theory as to why the filler cap has switched sides?

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Categories
MINI

New MINI launched at Plant Oxford

MINI F56 launch at Plant Oxford

The new MINI was launched overnight at Plant Oxford where production has already commenced. BMW Group is boasting about its £750 million investment across its UK production facilities. Naturally, UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, who was given a preview tour last month, didn’t miss the chance to wax lyrical.

“This £750 million investment is great news for both the local and wider economy, along with the 5,500 workers whose jobs are safeguarded by this launch,” said Mr Cameron. “Car manufacturing is a vital engine for growth. Production is back up to pre-recession levels and a car rolls off the line every 20 seconds in the UK.”

Plant Oxford currently builds the MINI Hatch, Convertible, Clubman, Clubvan, Roadster and Coupé. In 2012 a total of 207,789 new vehicles rolled off the line.

When BMW began building the new MINI at Plant Oxford in 2001 it had a staff of 2,400 and built 300 cars per day during a single shift. Today the employment numbers have grown to 4,000 and 900 cars are completed each day across two shifts. In all MINI has built 2.4 million cars since BMW took over production.

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MINI

Third-generation MINI revealed

F56 MINI Cooper S

After a very long gestation period MINI has finally revealed its third-generation Cooper and Cooper S models. Also along for the ride is a new Cooper D. The F56 is built on BMW’s UKL1 platform and this is the first model designed and built from the ground up by BMW.

There is a lot of information to take in and let’s first look at the key stats offered in the F56. All three models are turbocharged, but that’s where the similarity ends:

Cooper S
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.0 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology (turbo charging, direct injection, fully variable valve control, variable camshaft control)
Power: 141kW @ 4700–6000rpm
Torque: 280Nm @ 1250–4750rpm; 300Nm with overboost
0–100: 6.8s manual; (6.7s automatic)
Fuel consumption: 5.7–5.8l/100km; (5.2–5.4l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 133–136g/km; (122–125g/km)
Weight (unladen): 1160kg; (1175kg)

Cooper
Engine: Three-cylinder 1.5 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology (turbo charging, direct injection, fully variable valve control, variable camshaft control)
Power: 100kW @ 4500–6000rpm
Torque: 220Nm @ 1250–4000rpm; 230Nm with overboost
0–100: 7.9s manual; (7.8s automatic)
Fuel consumption: 4.5–4.6l/100km; (4.7–4.8l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 105–107g/km; (109–112g/km)
Weight (unladen): 1085kg; (1115kg)

Cooper D
Engine: Three-cylinder 1.5 litre MINI TwinPower Turbo Technology (turbocharger with variable turbine geometry, common rail direct injection)
Power: 85kW @ 4000rpm
Torque: 270Nm @ 1750rpm
0–100: 9.2s manual; (9.2s automatic)
Weight (unladen): 1160kg; (1175kg)
Fuel consumption: 3.5–3.6l/100km; (3.7–3.8l/100km)
CO2 emissions: 92–95g/km; (98–99g/km)
Weight (unladen): 1135kg; (1150kg)

As you would expect the new model brings with it a host of new technology and driver assistance packages. For the first time in a MINI there will be a head-up display, LED daytime running lights, a selection of switchable Driving Modes (Mid, Sport and Green), dynamic damper control and more.

The look of the new MINI is very much derivative from the R50/R53 and R56 predecessors. Although, the front-end of the F56 is the least visually pleasing we’ve seen to date. From side on and the rear the new MINI, to our eyes at least, looks quite good. It will be best to judge for certain when we see the car on Australian shores, which is expected to be early-ish next year.

A small selection of photos awaits after the break and we’ll be back to add more photos throughout the day. These are complemented by press material from MINI, including a full press kit PDF available for download.

UPDATE: New pics added showing the Cooper and Cooper S. When comparing the front-end of the Cooper to the Cooper S, the lower-spec model works best where the functional brake ducts from the higher-spec model are missing. It’s also interesting to note the designers have managed to fit an iDrive style controller in the centre console.

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari owner honours Niki Lauda with special 458

Farrari 458 Italia

A cashed-up Ferrari owner—is there any other kind—has used his own 458 Italia to create a personal tribute to Niki Lauda. Inspired by Rush and the livery of Niki Lauda’s F1 car from the era, the owner had his car prepared by Ferrari’s Tailor Made personalisation programme.

The white roof and gold wheels are the most obvious visual cues that this isn’t an ordinary 458, but the customisation continued to the interior as well. Special stitching on the seats and more Italian flag graphics on the centre console ensure that the owner will be reminded of his expenses at all times.

As far as one-off creations go we reckon this one looks pretty good. What about you?

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Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2013 United States Grand Prix in pictures

2013 United States Grand Prix

So it’s eight straight for Sebastian Vettel and with the chance of a record-equaling thirteenth win for the season on the cards in Sao Paulo next weekend we can forget any hopes of a consolation race victory handed to Mark Webber in his final Formula 1 appearance. Indeed, with Mark’s sometimes loose run with good fortune in F1 we should probably take bets on which lap his car will expire.

For now, though, let’s relive the good times from Austin and enjoy seeing Mark on an F1 podium for what could be the last time ever.

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MINI

MINI F56 leaked ahead of official reveal

F56 MINI Cooper S

Officially, MINI will be releasing photos and information for its all-new F56 model. Unofficially, the Bangkok Post has jumped the gun and won itself a heap of clicks!

Until MINI pulls the trigger, here’s some stuff they’ve already released which you can read over to pass the time:

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Got a couple of seconds?

2013 United States Grand Prix

Red Bull is claiming a new pit stop record after the United States Grand Prix, saying they have bettered their previous best time of 2.05 seconds.

From the team’s post race press release:

Our car data showed Mark’s car was stationary for 1.923 seconds during his pit stop—breaking our previous record of 2.05 seconds (set at the 2013 Malaysia GP).

If true, that time beats the 2.02 second pit stop Mercedes AMG claims they recorded at the Japanese Grand Prix. We expect we might hear more about this from Red Bull in the next day or so.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

2013 United States GP: Post-race press conference

2013 United States Grand Prix

The post-race reflection from the 2013 United States Grand Prix gave Sebastian Vettel a chance to answer even more questions about his eighth win in a row. Romain Grosjean reckons being a dad is ace and Mark Webber rued his lost opportunity to grab pole position during qualifying.

Further down the field Daniel Ricciardo was bitterly disappointed to miss out on a world championship point.

“It was a tough end to the day, really tough,” Daniel said. “It looked as though we were going to hang on to the flag to get the point for tenth place, but then in the last five laps, I lost pretty much all the grip I had and I saw the guys closing in on me. I tried to hold them off but I didn’t have enough left in the tyres to do it.”

The full transcript of the post-race press conference featuring the first three drivers can be read after the break.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 United States GP

2013 United States Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel has just won the 2013 United States Grand Prix to wrap up his eighth grand prix victory in a row. Nobody else has ever done that in a single season before. It’s Vettel’s twelfth win of the year and if he can win next weekend’s race in Brazil he will equal Michael Schumacher’s record for the most wins in a season.

Off the line Vettel was okay, but Mark Webber and Romain Grosjean, especially, got away faster. Starting from P2 Webber was squeezed tight on the climb into Turn 1 and Gorsjean and Lewis Hamilton were able to pass him around the outside, leaving Vettel to scamper off into the distance.

Soon after Mark overtook Lewis and that’s pretty much your race, at least for the top three. In the closing stages Mark was fighting with Romain for P2, but he couldn’t quite get close enough to effect a move and had to settle for third place.

Hamilton finished fourth ahead of Fernando Alonso. Nico Hulkenberg performed well for Sauber coming home in P6 around four seconds ahead of Sergio Perez, who will be very happy to finish in the points and ahead of Jenson Button after being sacked by McLaren.

Valtteri Bottas collected his first world championship points by finishing in eighth place comfortably ahead of Nico Rosberg. Button claimed the last point on offer with a late move on Daniel Ricciardo, who finished in P11.

The only real excitement during the grand prix happened early on when Adrian Sutil and Pastor Maldonado squabbled on the first lap. Sutil lost the battle and crashed out of the race, bringing the Safety Car out until his car was safely out of harm’s way.

Hosting it’s second Formula 1 Grand Prix, Austin seems to be winning plenty of fans and all the drivers seem to like racing on the Circuit of the Americas. Maybe F1 has finally cracked the US market?

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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