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Formula 1 Infiniti

VIDEO: Sebastian does Sochi

Sebastian Vettel drives a lap of Sochi F1 circuit

Infiniti’s Director of Performance, aka Sebastian Vettel, has become the first Formula 1 driver to complete a flying lap of the Sochi Autodrom Grand Prix circuit.

Forget, for a moment, the debate over whether F1 should be going to Russia; the race will go on. So you may as well jump in the car with Seb and have a look around before the lights go out on 12 October.

Fellow Red Bull ambassador David Coulthard was with Sebastian in Sochi and had this to say: “There are several corners where you could do yourself some serious damage—they’re fast and it’s a street circuit with walls.”

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Formula 1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Some people are never happy

2013 Indian Grand Prix

The dominance of Sebastian Vettel in Formula 1 has had many people suggesting the sport has become boring. That it’s turning fans away from the category. The fact Vettel and his team have won the two biggest prizes in the sport for four consecutive years helps to support this claim.

As bad as that might be for the average F1 punter, if it is bad at all, you’d reckon team sponsors would be loving all the attention. Apparently not. Arriving late to the Red Bull gravy train—first as ordinary sponsor in 2011, then as title sponsor at the end of last year—Infiniti has always been an odd and slightly misleading fit with F1’s premier team, given Renault builds the engines. And now they’re actually having a whinge that Vettel’s success is bad for their sponsorship.

Yes, really. Here, look:

“It’s a fact that we are in F1 to gain awareness of our brand, and that’s all about getting eyeballs on screens.

“From that point of view you could say Sebastian has been too successful. Wrapping up the championship with four races to run is maybe not good news for us from that perspective.”

They’re the words of Andy Palmer, Infiniti’s Executive Vice President, and he may as well add moron to his otherwise impressive job title. Perhaps he’d prefer INFINITI Red Bull Racing to be fighting with Williams as the best former high achievers in the field scrapping over tenth place and whatever dignity that might offer.

A sponsor complaining that the team they back is too successful? Really, get a grip Andy. Proving his own flaws Palmer adds they will be leeching off Red Bull and Renault successes further by creating more special editions carrying Vettel’s name. Authentically, too he insists.

“The beauty of Seb is that he won’t get involved in any project that isn’t utterly authentic,” said Palmer. “So he turns up at our test days and puts in the hard work. It’s a genuine benefit, and we have plans to use his expertise on more models bearing his name. But the point is we want to do them properly, and that means they are inevitably a couple of years down the line in the product cycle.”

“Utterly authentic.” Do you reckon he had a straight face when he said that?

[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in pictures

2013 Frankfurt Motor Show

The lights have been turned off at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show and the mammoth task of dismantling the huge displays has begun. To recap what you may have missed here’s a selection of 120+ pics reminding you what was on show.

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Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bugatti Chevrolet Ferrari GM Gumpert Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Motor Shows

2013 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 1

2013 Geneva Motor Show

The Geneva Motor Show is still underway over in Europe and while we’re sure almost all of our readers would love to be there we’re doing the best we can to bring you a little closer to the action. Here is the first installment of over 250 pictures from the show, from Alfa Romeo to Lamborghini, which includes some of the great and not so great models on display.

That Lamborghini’s not getting any prettier is it.

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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 Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Infiniti becomes title partner of Red Bull Racing

Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Car manufacturer Infiniti has extended its sponsorship deal with Red Bull Racing for another four years. The new arrangement will see Infiniti become the title partner for the team, which will now be officially called Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

As a result the partnership will move from basic sponsorship to a more involved technological arrangement.

Leaving Infiniti president, Johan de Nysschen, and Red Bull’s Team Principal Christian Horner to rabbit on largely about marketing benefits, Red Bull Racing’s Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey says: “Formula One presents immense design and engineering challenges on a daily basis. Having a committed technical partner like Infiniti gives us a great platform for working together on technical projects, such as the Energy Recovery Systems for the 2014 season.”

The team’s full statement can be read after the break.

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Audi Bentley BMW Ferrari Ford Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Kia Lamborghini Lexus Motor Shows

2012 Paris Motor Show in pictures – part 1

2012 Paris Motor Show

The 2012 Paris Motor Show is well underway and for those of us who can’t make it we’ve assembled a photo gallery, which highlights what a blue collar show this has turned out to be. There’s no real theme of haute coutoure motoring here. It’s mostly off the rack bread and butter models.

Thankfully, the Jaguar F-Type brings some style and class. Conversely, when you stop and think about it, someone must have actually signed off an be responsible for the Honda CR-V. They should be fired. It is just horrible.

After the break you’ll see manufacturers listed alphabetically from A–L. Stay tuned for part 2 from Paris soon.

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Infiniti Lotus Renault

Lotus could build Renault Alpine A110-50

Renault Alpine A110-50

Autocar brings word that the future of the stunning Renault Alpine A110-50 and the Infiniti Emerg-E concept models could rest on their ability to be adapted to the Lotus Evora platform.

For the Emerg-E it’s a no brainer, as the concept model is already based on the Lotus archictecture, including its drivetrain. But modifcations may be required to the A110-50 if it is to have a future as a low-volume production model.

If the A110-50 is to have any credibility it needs to feature a mid or rear-engined layout, so the Evora seems a good place to start. Renault’s marketing head, Steve Norman, has suggested a third party would be required to get the project over the line and has been quoted as saying it “probably needs more than the Renault-Nissan Alliance on its own”.

On paper, at least, this arrangement could shape as a win-win scenario for all concerned. Let’s hope all this theory becomes reality.

[Source: Autocar]

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Formula 1 Infiniti

VIDEO: Sebastian Vettel lights up New York

Sebastien Vettel, Inifiti G37 Coupe

Here we bring you some video footage of Sebastian Vettel’s promotional visit to the site of next year’s Grand Prix of America in west New York. Unfortunately the audio is a bit whack and there’s not a complete lap shown from inside Vettel’s car. Mostly it’s a bit of hooliganism from Seb and David Coulthard in Infiniti coupés.

While in town Vettel was invited along to the David Letterman Show and once again he proved he’s not the villain us Australians often make him out to be. We quite like the bit where Sebastian offends Letterman when he suggested the New Jersey street course will be fast and will require “big balls” to do well. He also managed to drop the F-bomb without upsetting the easily-offended Yanks too.

You can see both videos after the break.

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Formula 1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing

Vettel: New Jersey track compares to Spa

Red Bull and Infiniti preview Grand Prix of America, NYC

Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard were on hand in Weehawken, New Jersey yesterday to preview the 5.14km street circuit which will be home to the 2013 Grand Prix of America.

So what’s this new track like then? After driving the course Sebastian Vettel gave it the thumbs up, saying: “The circuit is great. One section is a bit like Montreal with a long fast straight but it’s also quite up and down, which is a bit like Spa.

“New York is such a great city with a great energy. It will be great to have a Formula One race here—I think there will be some good bars to go to after the race!”

In an official statement Leo Hindery, GP of America promoter, said: “Sebastian got a very small taste of what racing around the Port Imperial course will be like but there’s no substitute for when he’ll be driving at just over 200 miles an hour.”

For now we only have a few still pictures and words, but hopefully a video of the course will be available soon.

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Formula 1 Infiniti

Vettel first to drive New Jersey F1 circuit

Sebastian Vettel

Next Monday Sebastian Vettel will be the first of the current F1 drivers to get a taste for the new Grand Prix of America street circuit. The dual world champ will be dropping by the New Jersey site on his way to home from the Canadian Grand Prix.

In the presence of race promoter Leo Hindery, Vettel will drive a lap of the 5.14km layout before holding a press conference with Infiniti representatives, as well as Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner and West New York Mayor Felix Roque.

The race is due to debut in June next year and construction plans are right on schedule. However, F1 supremo Bernie Eccelstone has raised concerns over late payments from race organisers.

“I don’t know if it is going to happen,” Eccelstone said. “I hope everything will be okay. They are sorting things out internally with some of their funds. If they are ready for 2013 we will have them.”

[Source: Planet F1 & The Telegraph]

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Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bugatti Chevrolet Citroen Ferrari Ford Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Koenigsegg Motor Shows

2012 Geneva Motor Show in pictures – part 1

2012 Geneva Motor Show

After a couple of days for press previews the doors to the 2012 Geneva Motor Show are about to be opened to the public. Figuring you probably can’t make it we’re bringing you our biggest photo gallery ever. That’s right, there’ll be over 200 images from the floor of Geneva for you to enjoy.

We’ve kept things varied and ensured there’s dream cars, like the Ferrari F12berlinetta and Lamborghini Aventador J, as well as everyday stuff like the new Audi A3 and the Subaru Impreza Hatch. Then there’s the Valmet Automotive Dawn. We’re not quite sure what that is and you’ll see it in part 2 of our gallery, to be added later today.

After the break you can enjoy the first installment where we’ve taken an alphabetical approach and presented manufacturers from A–K.