Year: 2013

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing RB9 v RB8

Red Bull Racing RB9 v RB8

We bring you another new versus old F1 comparison for you, this time it’s the 2013 RB9 shown alongside the dual championship winning RB8.

The only catch is Red Bull doesn’t really provide too many suitable images for side by side comparisons. The top image is quite good, even though the differences are virtually impossible to spot, paint scheme aside. However, the two images after the break aren’t from the same angle, so your mileage may vary on whether you get anything meaningful from those.

While Adrian Newey is renowned for being a wily old fox when it comes to interpreting F1 regulations, he’s trying to fool us that not a lot has really changed this year. “It was difficult trying to continue development of last year’s car while also doing research into the RB9.” Newey said. Obviously it worked for us, but it gave us a very tight timeframe to design and manufacture this car.

“RB9 is an evolutionary car,” he added. “Probably the most significant change is not the regulations, but the new Pirelli tyres. We had a quick test with those in practice ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix but in truth we didn’t learn a lot because of the conditions. Pirelli have supplied us data about how the new tyres behave but past experience tells us that it’s only when we go testing that we really find out.”

As always, the proof will be in the pudding, which we shall taste during pre-season testing later this week.

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Formula 1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Red Bull Racing unveils 2013 F1 car

Red Bull Racing RB9

Red Bull Racing has taken to YouTube to launch its RB9, via a three minute teaser video. More will be coming, they promise. Although, unfairly, I’ll be in bed and ready to hit the high-res pics in the morning. For now I leave you with the teaser clip which is quite funky it must be said.

Interesting to note the RB9 keeps the stepped nose from last year’s car, although it looks as though the slot has been covered over this time around.

And you’ll also notice the addition of purple paint, to reflect the increased presence of Infiniti in 2013.

UPDATE: Images from the launch event and official press text from Infiniti Red Bull Racing have been added below. Studio shots of the RB9 will follow soon.

It’s also interesting to note that Mark Webber will again be given the first two days in the new car. This is a recurring theme at Red Bull and tends to support the theory that one of Webber’s strengths is his ability to provide valuable feedback to the team’s engineers.

UPDATE #2: Studio shots of the RB9 in 4000px mega image sizing have been added at the end of this article.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1

Sauber unveils 2013 F1 car

Sauber C32-Ferrari

Sauber has released images of its new C32-Ferrari, the car it hopes will build on the highly encouraging results from last year’s C31.

Monisha Kaltenborn, Team Principal said, “Two thousand and twelve was a very successful year for us. We not only moved up from seventh to sixth place in the constructors’ standings, but also improved our points total from 44 in 2011 to 126 last season. We have a strong platform in place now, on which we are aiming to build and continue our upward curve.”

One of the key points of difference with the C32 is its slim sidepods. Matt Morris, Chief Designer, explains, “The C31 was an extremely competitive car with many strengths Our aim was to further improve these strengths and eliminate its few weaknesses.

“The airflow in this area [sidepods] has a major influence over everything that happens at the rear of the car.”

Sauber will have an all-new driver line up this year and will be lead by 25-year-old German driver Nico Hulkenberg. He’s joined by 21-year-old Mexican rookie Esteban Gutiérrez.

“We have had our eye on Nico Hülkenberg for some time and have been impressed by his performances,” said Monisha Kaltenborn. “He is very quick, but, most importantly, he’s also very efficient. He understands how to pick up as many points as possible from a particular race situation.

“Esteban Gutiérrez is a driver we know very well as a result of a relationship with the team going back several years, and he has already had a number of opportunities to test with our car. Plus, he has always stayed in close contact with our engineers, which has allowed him to learn a lot about Formula One. I’m in no doubt he is now ready to take the final step and put his outstanding talent on display.”

There’s more from Sauber after the break, although only two more pics, which are complemented by an official team video and a 43 page presskit.

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Formula 1

Force India unveils 2013 F1 car

Force India VJM06

Force India revealed their 2013 VJM06 F1 car at Silverstone overnight. As with the other teams to show their cars already this year, aside from the modesty panel hiding the ugly stepped nose, the new car looks a lot like last year’s VJM05.

Despite the relatively familiar looks Andy Green, Technical Director, says it’s a totally new car.

“It’s a brand new car from the ground-up—everything is new,” said Green. “We discussed carrying over big chunks of last year’s car, including the chassis, but decided not to. There were still some gains to be had with the chassis, so we elected to take the performance benefits. The biggest change that everybody is going to notice this year is the fairing on top of the nose to hide the ‘step’. It’s neutral as far as the car’s performance is concerned but tidies up the flow over the top of the chassis.”

Following the departure of Nico Hulkenberg to Sauber, Force India is yet to name its second driver. That meant Paul di Resta looked a bit lonely while posing with the VJM06 at the car’s launch. Although it did mean he got first drive of the car, completing some installation laps around Silverstone.

They may only have one driver for now, but Force India has provided heaps of pics and there’s another 20 for you after the break. There’s also the now mandatory Peter Windsor/Craig Scarborough video, which includes further discussion with Andy Green.

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Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari F138 v F2012

Ferrari F138 v F2012

Last year’s Ferrari was a bit of a mess. Awful to look at, even by the team’s own admission, and inconsistent on the track. Yet, somehow, Fernando Alonso very nearly won the major prize. No doubt Maranello is hoping for bigger and better things from their 2013 machine.

If nothing else, the F138 is much better to look at, even though it will never rank highly on the list of the most beautiful F1 cars ever made.

There’s four more images for you below, along with the expert analysis on the F138 from Craig Scarborough.

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Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari unveils 2013 F1 car

2013 Ferrari F138

Here’s the new Ferrari F138, the car they hope will propel Fernando Alonso to the 2013 world championship. Once you discount this year’s latest fad, the modesty panel hiding the god awful noses we saw last year, then this Ferrari is not terribly different to look at compared with the F2012.

Simone Resta, Deputy Chief Designer, explains they have made significant changes to the F138’s suspension. “There were very few changes to the regulations, but nevertheless we chose to work on and modify all aspects of the car, trying to move forward in every area, because we felt there was a significant amount of performance that could be gained with this new car,” he said.

“I would say the biggest changes relate to the front suspension, which has an improved layout, while at the rear, the suspension is completely new. We also have a revised sidepod design, aimed at improving the aerodynamics in this area, as well as a completely new layout for the exhaust system.”

You sense that Ferrari had a bit of a love hate relationship with last year’s car and they hope they have put things right, even if there’s still some changes to come before the season starts in Australia.

“The car we will race in Melbourne will be quite different to the one seen at the launch and the first test,” continues Resta. “In the past few weeks we have improved and indeed in those ahead of us now, we can improve further, the performance of the car, which guarantees that the F138 in Melbourne will be significantly different to the F138 at Test 1…and hopefully quicker.

“I am reasonably happy with the car so far as there was a significant performance gap to be closed, something which we cannot deny, but I think we have done a good job in all areas, trying to cover all the weak points of its predecessor.”

There’s more photos after the break, along with Ferrari’s full press blurb and more insightful commentary from Craig Scarborough.

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Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren MP4-28 v MP4-27

McLaren MP4-28 v MP4-27

Just like the title says, here is a comparison of the new McLaren MP4-28 and its predecessor the MP4-27. Side on profile and overhead images have been compared, with the 2013 car appearing first.

There are differences, but you do have to look closely!

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Formula 1 McLaren

VIDEO: McLaren unveils MP4-28

McLaren is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and to kick off the launch of their 2013 F1 car they dusted off some of their most significant racecars in their proud history to serve as a reminder of the great things the team has achieved in that time. Then, of course, it was time for Jenson Button and Sergio Perez to reveal the MP4-28 for the first time.

Here’s a list of the cars featured in the video:

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

McLaren unveils 2013 F1 car

McLaren MP4-28

McLaren has just taken the wraps off its new MP4-28. For the time being they’ve only published a selection of pics from the launch itself. With any luck there’ll be some clean studio images soon showing the car in a better light.

We do have for you a copy of the car’s press pack, available below in PDF form.

We can tell you the MP4-28 is visually very similar to its predecessor, however we’re told it’s a very different car under the skin. Interestingly, the MP4-28 does feature a stepped nose, but it’s hidden beneath a “vanity panel”.

“The MP4-28 isn’t merely a refinement of last year’s seven-race-winning car, it’s a deep and sweeping re-design of an already successful chassis in several key areas—most notably around the nose and front suspension, the sidepod profiles and the rear bodywork,” the official team statement reads.

Of course, as well as a new car, McLaren has a new driver pairing for 2013, with 23-year-old Mexican Sergio Perez to race alongside Jenson Button.

UPDATE: Three new studio images added below.

UPDATE #2: Think the MP4-28 looks just like last year’s car, then watch the new video added below with some great analysis from Peter Winsdor and Craig Scarborough.

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Formula 1

Schedule for 2013 F1 pre-season testing

F1 Jerez pre-season testing, February 2012

The reason we’re about to see a rush of F1 launches is for the simple fact that pre-season testing is just around the corner. Indeed the first on-track action for the year kicks off early next week, on Tuesday 5 February.

2013 F1 pre-season testing

5–8 February – Jerez
19–22 February – Barcelona
28 February–3 March – Barcelona

[Pic: Ferrari]

Categories
Formula 1

Schedule for 2013 F1 car launches

2013 Lotus F1 Team E21

Lotus got in first with their E21 and McLaren has just taken the wraps off its brand new MP4-28 (we’re waiting on the official release of pics). And by this time next week all 2013 F1 cars, except Williams’ and Marussia’s, will be revealed.

Stay tuned to AUSmotive over the coming days as we’ll bring you the latest wallpaper sized pics and press material from the world of F1.

2013 F1 launches

Lotus – Monday 28 January
McLaren – Thursday 31 January
Ferrari – Friday 1 February
Force India – Friday 1 February
Sauber – Saturday 2 February
Red Bull Racing – Sunday 3 February
Mercedes – Monday 4 February
Toro Rosso – Monday 4 February
Caterham – Tuesday 5 February
Marussia – Tuesday 5 February
Williams – Tuesday 19 February

Categories
Kia

Would you ditch your GTI for a pro_cee’d GT?

Kia pro_cee'd GT

Let’s forget for a moment that this stupidly named Kia pro_cee’d GT is powered by a comparatively meek 150kW 1.6 litre turbo diesel, on looks alone, could you see yourself ditching your Golf GTI (or similar hot hatch) for this rather snazzy looking Kia?

The three-door pro_cee’d GT and its mate, the five-door cee’d GT, will be revealed in full at the Geneva Motor Show in early March. For Kia’s part they’re rather proud of them too, and rightly so. They’ve labelled the GT models as their “most performance-focused production cars ever”.

Although, that comment does put things into perspective. The 150kW/265Nm engine is driven through the front wheels and exclusively coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission (when a low revving diesel is probably better matched to a dual-clutch jobbie). They have a claimed 0–100 time of 7.9 seconds.

Judged purely on performance, they’re not great numbers. And without even knowing how well the cars handle, it’s hard to see the Kia GT winning over too many hearts and minds in the lucrative hot hatch segment.

But in the minds of budget conscious buyers the pro_cee’d GT presents a more compelling case. Assuming, of course, that the price is right. It looks fantastic! European-based Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer, deserves a pat on the back.

For some years now Kia has improved its styling no end. Indeed, they make some of the best looking cars on the market; see current Rio and Optima models. Even the Cerato Koup looks pretty good. And the Track’ster Concept was on the right side of quirky to be very damn cool.

On the one hand, then, we applaud Kia for making inroads into the hot hatch market. Yet, while acknowledging they’re now very serious about style, we bemoan the fact they bottled it when it came to performance. Perhaps in time they’ll catch up there as well, but just imagine if the pro_cee’d GT had an engine with 180kW/400Nm or so.

That might make GTI buyers think twice.

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