Year: 2013

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

It won’t hippen overnight, but it will hippen

Daniel Riccardo

We don’t really know why Red Bull is playing silly buggers and not confirming Daniel Ricciardo’s promotion from Toro Rosso. But the whole world knows it’s going to hippen. Hippen?!

Ah yes, it seems one possible explanation for the delay could be the width of young Daniel’s hips. Yes, really.

It turns out that the 24-year-old Aussie’s hips are wider than Sebastian Vettel’s and Mark Webber’s. Adrian Newey likes a skinny car, you see, and there’s a slight problem of fitting Daniel into the 2104 RB10.

“I’ve got wide hips. It’s not my arse per se. I guess it’s genetic,” explained Daniel to Tom Cary from The Telegraph. “Even when I signed for Toro Rosso we had to do a few seat fits and they did some scans to make that particular part of the cockpit a bit wider, so that we’re not sitting on the actual carbon fibre.

“But yeah, I’ve heard that Adrian does like to build small race cars. I can’t do much about it. Even if I go on a massive diet my hip bones aren’t going to change.”

Another factor indicating Ricciardo is Red Bull bound is his confirmation that he has moved to sunny Monaco. While that takes him away from Milton Keynes where RBR is based, perhaps the young fella has just secured a pay rise that might make the tax-free confines of Monaco a little more attractive.

One thing is certain, Daniel isn’t going to let his hips stop him from getting a chance to be Sebastian’s bitch.

“No chance. I’d shave my hips if necessary. I might die of blood loss but it would be worth it,” he quipped.

[Source: The Telegraph | Thanks to Ryan for the tip]

 

Categories
Toyota

How’d you like a 309kW Yaris Hybrid?

Toyota Yaris Hybrid R concept

Finally, a Toyota Yaris worth lusting after. This, the 309kW (414hp) Yaris Hybrid-R concept, is just what space conscious city commuters have been asking for. Quite why it’s taken Toyota so long to come to the party we’re not sure!

Toyota starts with a 1.6 litre turbocharged petrol engine from TMG to drive the front whels, then whacks on a couple of 45kW electric motors at each rear wheel and there you have it, all that power and all-wheel drive to boot.

While they were stealing ideas from motorsport they’ve photocopied the plans for the supercapacitor on their TS030 LMP1 racer and rejigged it to suit the Yaris. Energy is harvested when braking and when the supercapacitor’s fully charged and you have it set to the saucy sounding race mode you can please yourself with an extra 88kW for up to five seconds. Enough to pass that pesky Porsche we suspect.

But there’s still more! To ensure the motors at the rear wheels can go about their business more efficiently there’s a third 45kW electric motor mounted  between the engine and the 6-speed sequential ‘box. It acts as a generator and helps feed power into the supercapacitor when braking, and if front wheel traction is lost when accelerating then this motor will help boost the power sent to the rear wheels, acting as kind of traction control system.

The rear engines can also help to feed the power to each wheel individually acting as a torque vectoring system. Which pretty much means you can go around corners faster. And who doesn’t want to do that!

We look forward to seeing more of this Yaris Hybrid-R concept when the Frankfurt Motor Show rolls around.

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Categories
Opel Vauxhall

This is what we’re missing out on

Vauxhall VXR Insignia SuperSport

Opel is bringing a refreshed line up of Insignia models to Frankfurt and Vauxhall UK brings us up to speed on the VXR SuperSport. In short, it’s their go fast version of the mid-size Insignia, available as Hatch or Sports Tourer (pictured).

Of course, it’s the estate layout that’s the pick of the bunch. The warmed over Insignia packs a 325PS (240kW) punch and it can reach 100km/h in 5.9 seconds (6.1 seconds for the estate). And if Opel had the balls to stick it out in Australia for a bit longer, well, they probably wouldn’t have offered this model here anyway.

So join us for an all purpose whinge at the cool cars we sometimes miss out on in Australia. For this VXR SuperSport Sports Tourer is very, very cool.

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Categories
Motorsports Volkswagen

VIDEO: Old skool Mk1 Golf rally car

1982 Volkswagen Golf rally car

Volkswagen’s media team brings us a snapshot of this very cool Mk1 Golf rally car. It’s owner is 53-year-old Dietrich Kissel and he looks very happy with his back to basics machine. And who can blame him, having 160hp (120kw) to play with in a car that would be lucky to weigh 900kg would be a lot of fun.

[Source: World Rally Blog]

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Categories
BMW Toyota

BMW’s plans for the Z1, Z3 and Z5

BMW Z5 rendering

Noted BMW insider and well traveled forum user Scott26 has come to light with some info on Munich’s plans for two-seater sportscars. Scott’s info came in response to feedback from a Z4 owner lamenting the fact there’s been no V8 powered Z4 M on the cards; an E92 M3 in sportscar clothing:

Many within the company wishes for an M Z4 but unfortunately the market is small.

We will shortly be presenting our collaboration with Toyota for a new interpretation of a new highly focused sports car first as a concept. The production car will be called the Z5 which allows us to align a new UKL (FWD) based Z1 with equivalent MINI sports car along with a mid sized Z3 (the name is coming back) which again could be aligned with Toyota. Although for some markets Toyota might use Lexus branding.

The Z5 Roadster will feature exterior and interior design from BMW, as well as BMW engines. Toyota will supply optional hybrid technology and BMW will supply CFRP in its construction. A coupe will follow.

Sounds good to us. Of course, Scott was referring to the formal collaboration signed between BMW and Toyota in January, which stated in part:

The companies agreed to set-up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle that is to be completed by the end of 2013. The two companies aim to combine each other’s technology and knowledge at a high level to maximise customer satisfaction. Both companies are to share the vision to further collaborate in the field of sports vehicle development.

[Source: F30post]

Categories
Formula 1 News

Coming soon: New F1 documentary ‘1’

1 the film, coming soon

Formula 1-related movies are almost the in thing these days. We’ve had Senna, we’re about to have Rush and on 1 October, via iTunes, we’ll have ‘1’.

A feature length documentary, ‘1’ takes a more sober look at the sport we know and love so much. The cast of interviewees is impressive and we think it will be compulsory viewing. You can see a trailer for the film after the break.

For background viewing, we recommend watching Grand Prix: The Killer Years if you can find yourself a copy.

[Via Facebook]

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Categories
Volvo

Volvo Concept Coupé revealed

Volvo Concept Coupe

Volvo has now released a full suite of images and an intro video for its Concept Coupé. It looks pretty sharp too, we’re sure you’ll agree.

They say it’s been inspired by the classic 1960 P1800 coupé and is designed to be built on the company’s Scalable Product Architecture. And the design language you see here will feature in Volvo’s future models, starting with the new XC90.

“The Volvo Concept Coupé is no futuristic dream car. It is designed to demonstrate the capability of our new architecture: the confident stance, the proportions and the most prominent design signatures. Even though the all-new XC90 is an entirely different type of car, you will recognise the connection instantly when it is revealed next year,” says Thomas Ingenlath, Senior Vice President of Design.

At this stage technical details for the Concept Coupé are scarce, but we do know it features a petrol-electric hybrid system good for 300kW (400hp) and 600Nm. So it promises to go as good as it looks.

We’ll bring you more on the Concept Coupé when Frankfurt rolls around.

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Categories
Volvo

Volvo teases the Concept C Coupé twice more

Volvo Concept C Coupe

Ahead of its debut later tonight Volvo has released two new teaser videos for its Concept C Coupé. It promises to look good and take the brand on a new design journey. Are you excited?

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Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Scirocco facelift coming soon

Volkswagen Scirocco prototype

It would seem we’re going to see a facelifted Scirocco before we get an all-new Mk4 model, if this spy shot is anything to go by. Interestingly, the Scirocco prototype was seen in the US, where the car isn’t currently sold.

The rear of the car is basically untouched, while only the headlights and lower grille are disguised. This tends to indicate any changes to the current Mk3 Scirocco are likely to minor cosmetic enhancements.

The fourth-gen Scirocco is not expected before 2015. It’s not clear why VW would test the facelifted car in the States where they say it “was not engineered for this market; it never was.” Although, they say will consider the model after it has been launched.

[Source: World Car Fans | Pic: Automedia]

Categories
Alfa Romeo

Fancy a gander at the Alfa Romeo 4C brochure?

Alfa Romeo 4C brochure

We know you all love the Alfa Romeo 4C, and why wouldn’t you. It has all the ingredients to make it special. Low weight, decent power sent to the rear wheels and, well, just look at it.

And did you know you can choose from four different alloy wheel styles, from 17″ through to 19″ in size? Or that you can spec the brake calipers in one of four colours? There’s four different seat/fabric options too. Indeed, you’d think everything was in fours until you see the six external paint colours on offer.

It’s all there in the leaked brochure info we have for you after the break.

[Source: autoedizione]

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Categories
Porsche

Evo at the top of its game in the 911 GT3

991 Porsche 911 GT3

Jethro Bovingdon from Evo takes us on a wonderful ride in the new 911 GT3. On both circuit and mountain road he shares the GT3 experience:

The all-new 991-generation Porsche 911 GT3 faces its toughest challengers on road and track. We compare the GT3 with the McLaren 12C on track and the mighty Nissan GT-R in the Austrian Alps.

We’re sure you’ll agree this is a fine review. It’s very well produced and we’re given just the right amount of detail and the reference points of the other cars highlighted serve to complement the review rather than define it.

[Thanks to Wayne & Dave for the tips]

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Categories
Toyota WEC

The ultimate endurance race

Toyota TS030 Hybrid

Toyota reflects on its second place at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans in this six minute short film. The #8 TS030 Hybrid driven by Anthony Davidson, Sébastien Buemi and Stéphane Sarrazin finished one lap behind the winning Audi crew and you sense that small taste of success has only enhanced Toyota’s thirst for victory.

Continue reading “The ultimate endurance race”