Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush doesn’t officially open in Australian cinemas until early October. But, if you can get yourself to Sydney on 30 September you could be in with a chance to beat the, erm, rush to see the film.
To do that head on over to MotorSportRetro.com and enter their comp to win one of 50 double passes to a preview screening at 7:30pm on Monday 30 September.
[Source: MotorSportRetro | Pic: Hopscotch Films]
Wow!
Here is the Audi Sport quattro concept. We knew it was coming, but it’s still amazing to see it in this handful of computer-generated pics.
Based on the 2010 quattro concept we loved so dearly and honouring the Ur-quattro, this 2013 concept model is powered by 4.0 litre twin turbo V8 and a single electric motor placed between engine and transmission. All up there’s 515kW (700hp) and 800Nm for you to play with.
Unusually for Audi in this day and age the concept features an 8-speed tiptronic transmission (ie. not double clutch). There is, of course, a quattro all-wheel drive system sending power to the road. Put it all together and mashing tour right foot will send you to 100km/h in only 3.7 seconds.
Drive like good citizen and you’ll sip fuel at the miserly rate of just 2.5l/100km and emit only 59g/km of nasty stuff from the exhaust. In full electric mode you have up to 100kW/400Nm at your disposal and can travel around 50km on a single charge.
We don’t care too much for the Energy Yellow paint colour, but we do love, absolutely love, the look of this Sport quattro concept. From the front, the back, the side, it doesn’t matter, we cannot get enough of this car. Even the inside looks fantastic.
Practically speaking you can expect to see more of the hexagonal single-frame grille, which Audi says “provides a first glimpse at the future design of the sporty production models”.
We just hope that this concept does become reality and we can’t wait to see more when the car makes an appearance at the Frankfurt show next week.
Porsche UK recently held a day out for a bunch of competition winners to show them how good the new Cayman really is. A day thrashing the Cayman about at Silverstone is something we’d very much like to do!
Volkswagen has belatedly confirmed its new Golf R will be on show in Frankfurt next week and with the announcement comes 24 new pictures of the car. Featuring a 221kW/380Nm 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo and Haldex V all-wheel drive system the Golf R can accelerate to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.
The Mk7 Golf R will go on sale in Australia in the first half of next year and we do expect it’s engine will be detuned to 206kW for our “hot climate” market, in line with the Audi S3. Like the S3, the Golf R will only be available in Australia in five-door configuration.
UPDATE: You can use Volkswagen’s Golf R visualizer to view the car in different colours etc (our tip: get the 19″ Pretoria alloys).
Now that we have the new 4 Series Coupe, with the convertible version to follow in Frankfurt next week, BMW can focus on extending the range further with the four-door Gran Coupe.
As you can see from this recent spy shot, the look is very much in line with the regular coupe version and so long as rear seat headroom isn’t completely pointless the Gran Coupe could end up being a fine option for those wanting to stand out from the 3 Series saloon crowd.
It’s expected the 4 Series Gran Coupe will debut later this year, possibly at the LA Auto Show in November.
[Source: World Car Fans | Pic: Automedia]
The i8 hybrid sportscar will be one of the stars on the BMW stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show. And at 11,000m2 it’s going to be some stand!
BMW has set up a dedicated blog to bring us closer to the creation of their mega display, including a number of pictures of the build. Construction of the stand began back in July and has involved over 350 people.
Wolfram Greiner, manager for BMW Group trade fair presentations, tells us more:
After the round track in 2009 and 2011, we decided to take the presentation to a new level with our the concept of “infinite driving pleasure†as a figure 8 or lemniscate. With this track form we create a direct experience of the products on the 70-meter long straight at the visitor’s platform. In doing so, two stages emerge. A large stage for emotional images and the so-called BMW i lounge in which innovations and functions of the BMW i vehicles will be presented in a moderated format. In addition, our new BMW product geniuses are a novel new way to present the vehicles in a completely new way, the focus this time being on our BMW i Series.
[Source: IAA blog]
It seems the Porsche 918 Spyder has had more announcements and reveals than a Hollywood wannabe, but it’s about to have its final and complete unveiling at Frankfurt next week.
We’ll bring you more then, but first here’s what Porsche has to say:
The 918 Spyder is the continuation of the traditional Porsche DNA in a ground-breaking sportscar concept. Designed from the start to be a high-performance hybrid, the 918 Spyder boasts an unprecedented combination of performance (offering the 887-bhp output of a super sportscar) and the virtually silent locomotion of an electric vehicle. The vehicle is able to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and offers an average standard fuel consumption of between 3.0 and 3.3 litres/100 km. The 918 Spyder concept also allows a combustion engine to be combined with an electric motor-based drive to further optimise the dynamic performance of the vehicle.
Joining the 918 Spyder in Frankfurt will be the new Panamera, the 50 years 911, and the 911 Turbo.
After the inevitable became reality we’ve been interested to read the reaction via twitter from others to the confirmation that Daniel Ricciardo will join Sebastian Vettel at Red Bull Racing next year. We thought this photo taken back in 2006 when Daniel was racing in the Formula BMW Asia championship with Sebatsian, then a test driver for BMW Sauber, was a nice match.
The Autosport article “Ten reasons Red Bull signed Ricciardo” is also worth a read (subscription required).
Great stuff Daniel
You deserve it, some special days in the future I'm sure. Australian flag still flying too.. Little bonus.— Mark Webber (@AussieGrit) September 2, 2013
I can't imagine how big the smile is on @danielricciardo 's face tonight. Couldn't happen to a nicer kid.
— Martin Brundle (@MBrundleF1) September 2, 2013
Sp @danielricciardo finally confirmed as Red Bull driver for 2014 and beyond. Good for him. Nice guy.
— Tom Cary (@tomcary_tel) September 2, 2013
.@danielricciardo an engaging guy who has shown an impressive turn of speed. And has big, big shoes to fill http://t.co/vXpKteeDMH
— Andrew Benson (@andrewbensonf1) September 2, 2013
Porsche continues to work hard on its 2014 LMP1 program. It’s only just over two months since we got our first glimpse of Mark Webber’s new wheels and already Porsche says it’s “been completely redesigned”.
Webber’s new teammates, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Neel Jani have all enjoyed time behind the wheel of the LMP1, with Jani the latest to experience some track time.
Keen to push the racing to road philosophy Porsche says the new LMP1 rules for the 2014 season, which promote fuel efficiency through hybrid technology, will translate to their production models in the future.
Porsche board member Wolfgang Hatz is aware of the proud history the company has with Le Mans, and says they are ready to embrace the challenges ahead. “After 16 years, we once again want to be a works team in the top category with the LMP1 in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014. It is also our aim to contest the entire WEC season”, said Hatz.
“Porsche’s legacy of success in long-distances races really spurs us on, but also increases the level of expectation placed on us. However, we are happy to rise to this challenge.”
We’ve known it to be a virtual certainty for over two weeks, but now it’s official: Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing next year.
Team Principal Christian Horner is at pains to say both Daniel and new teammate Sebastian Vettel will get the same equipment and the same opportunity. Of course, the Formula 1 world will be very sceptical about that, expecting Daniel will play a clear number two role in support of Vettel.
Naturally, Daniel is very happy. “I feel very, very good at the moment and obviously there’s a lot of excitement running through me,: he said.
“Next year I’ll be with a Championship-winning team, arguably the best team, and will be expected to deliver. I’m ready for that. I’m not here to run around in tenth place, I want to get the best results for myself and the team.”
It seems clear that Daniel experiences with Red Bull Racing over the years has played a strong part in the team’s decision. “I would like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity to show what I can do,” Ricciardo added.
“I know the team quite well already since being its reserve driver in 2010, which should make the transition easier. It will be a great challenge to be up against Sebastian Vettel, I’m looking forward to that.”
We wish Daniel all the best and hope he’s able to match it with the world’s best. There’s more after the break, including extended video interviews with Danial, Christian Horner and Adrian Newey.
Volkswagen is wasting no time in using the promotional possibilities provided by runaway WRC star Sebastien Ogier. Here he teams up with a cleaner to bring us some rather awkward chemistry behind the wheel of the new Golf R.
[Thanks to Brandon for the tip]
Amid the speculation that Daniel Ricciardo will be driving a widebody RB10 for Red Bull Racing next year comes this obscure tweet from Fernando Alonso:
I have important news coming these days … Stay tuned here on Twitter and on the Web.. !!!
— Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) September 1, 2013
We wonder, is he trolling? His Ferrari contract ties him to Maranello until the end of the 2016 season, although we note contracts can be broken if both parties agree.
So, could Fernando really be heading to Red Bull or is he just announcing he’s got a new shampoo sponsor, or something?
[Pic: Ferrari]
UPDATE: Turns out Alonso has bought the licence of the failed pro cycling team Euskaltel. [Source | Thanks to Ryan for the tip]