BMW brings our attention to the official release of the F22 2 Series coupé this Friday with a short teaser video. We expect that will confirm the leaked details of the M235i, and others, we saw a couple of weeks ago.
Categories
Young Russian driver Daniil Kvyat will replace our Daniel at Toro Rosso in 2014. The 19-year-old is part of the Red Bull Junior Driver Programme and has been spending 2013 racing in the GP3 and Formula 3 categories.
Kvyat drives for the Mark Webber–Christian Horner outfit, MW Arden, in the GP3 series and is currently seven points behind Facu Regalia in the chase for the drivers’ title. There’s one race meeting to go, in Abu Dhabi, and Kvyat will be hoping he can progress to Formula 1 with a championship in his kit bag.
Toro Rosso Team Principal, Franz Tost, says Kvyat is ready to graduate to the senior class. “He impressed our team with a strong performance and very informative technical feedback at the young driver test in Silverstone,” he said. “This suggests that the basic qualities from which he can progress are all in place. Daniil can be sure that we will use all our experience of training youngsters to give him the best possible start to his Formula 1 career.”
Like most youngsters Kvyat has harboured F1 ambitions throughout his career and is excited at the challenge ahead. “This is fantastic news, a dream come true and I want to thank Red Bull and Toro Rosso for giving me this priceless opportunity,” Kvyat said. “Ever since I began karting, I wanted to get to Formula 1 and now that wish will become reality next season.”
We’d like to think the fact the Russian Grand Prix is set to make its debut on the 2014 F1 calendar had nothing to do with this decision, but we’re too cynical for that.
GP3 is a relatively new series, its debut season was in 2010. Kvyat becomes the fourth driver to move from GP3 to F1 and follows the path of new teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, as well as Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber) and Valtteri Bottas (Williams).
Vergne will no doubt be pleased to learn that he has kept his F1 dream alive and will continue with Toro Rosso in 2014.
Following its DeltaWing project Nissan is coming back to Le Mans in 2014 with the Zeod RC. This time, though, Nissan is acting alone, and not with the cooperation of Don Panoz, who is pushing on with a DeltaWing Coupé project of his own.
Zeod stands for Zero Emissions On Demand and at its launch event at Fuji Raceway the car ran solely in electric mode. And not terribly far, either. But it’s early days in this innovative project.
For now details of the car’s internal combustion engine are under wraps. It’s planned that the petrol engine will first be tested in the Zeod RC early next year, with the goal of racing the car at next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Indeed, the Zeod RC represents a bigger aim of Nissan to race the Zeod, or a derivative thereof, in the LMP1 category in future years.
Nissan says the petrol engine should be good for 12 laps of the 13.6km Circuit de la Sarthe by which time the Zeod RC should have recharged its battery enough to allow for one complete lap at full race pace.
We’re currently in the genesis of an electric powered racing era, with Le Mans in Nissan’s sights and the FIA Formula E category due to start next year as well. We’re not sure how far electric-powered motorsport will take us, but it’ll be interesting finding out.
Categories
McLaren confirms P1 performance figures
The first McLaren P1 was driven away by its proud owner at the end of September. Now, McLaren figures it’s time to publish the claimed performance stats for its latest and greatest hybrid hypercar.
If they chose, instead of a heap of numbers, McLaren could have simply said, “It’s bloody fast!”
Try these numbers on for size: the standing quarter mile is done in just 9.8 seconds and the P1 crosses the line at a staggering 245km/h. The 100km/h dash is dispensed with in a paltry 2.8 seconds, 200km/h in 6.8 seconds and 300 clicks will whiz by in 16.5 seconds—that’s 5.5 seconds faster than the legendary McLaren F1 road car.
When you’ve got 903hp to play with you may as well use it!
Production of the P1 will eventually max out at one car per day and the last of the 375 brutal sounding hypercars is scheduled to depart the McLaren Technology Centre in the middle of 2015.
The P1 looks like it will redefine a whole bunch of numbers. Although, given the recent sightings, a Nürburgring lap time is conspicuous by its absence in the press release below. Saving it for later, or is it not quite as quick as the Porsche 918?
MINI is starting to get excited about the launch of its all-new F56 model. They’re calling it “The New Original” and you could win a ticket to one of three launch parties to be held in London (18 November), Los Angeles (19 November) or, a little bit closer to home, in Shanghai (21 November).
For your chance to win just head over to the NEW MINI web portal.
Categories
Lamborghini Veneno Roadster revealed
Back in March Lamborghini gave the world the Veneno. Well, actually they only gave it to three buyers in exchange for €3 million.
We didn’t like it much then and we don’t care for this Veneno Roadster either. Sorry, Lamborghini, but let’s cut to the chase, it’s just plain ugly.
Your Miura is beautiful. Even the evergreen Gallardo still cuts an impressive shape. And with the Sesto Elemento you were at the top of your game. That was crazy and sexy all at the same time.
So what on earth has gone wrong with this Veneno? In hardtop or roadster, it doesn’t matter, it’s just a mish-mash of ill-fitting proportions and from every angle it just looks wrong. We understand the 552kW 6.5 litre V12 has a lot of appeal, but couldn’t you dress it in something nicer than this?
Having said that, we know you won’t find any trouble finding up to nine people to part with a hefty €3.3 million to buy one. Good luck to you. But, please, don’t do this to our eyes ever again.
In case you missed it over the weekend, Alfa Romeo is claiming a new Nürburgring lap record for its mid-engined 4C sportscar. No it hasn’t broken the 7-minute barrier; it hasn’t even broken the 8-minute barrier.
The 4C set a lap time of 8 minutes 4 seconds and according to Alfa, that’s the fastest time set at the Green Hell by a car with less than 250hp (186kW). To be fair it’s a pretty handy time, mixing it with the likes of the Audi R8 V8, BMW M3 (E92) and the Porsche Cayman S.
You can watch the full lap at AUSringers and Alfa Romeo’s press release championing their record claim can be read below.
Categories
Drive Thru: Porsche Boxster
When the Porsche Boxster was first released in the mid-90s it was often dismissed with the claim it was only for people who couldn’t afford a 911. Now into its third-generation, the Boxster has had enough time to establish itself as a bona fide sportscar worthy of attention.
In truth, the Boxster has always been a very fine car, even if it did take some time for the wider motoring world to catch on. And, as I recently discovered, the new-ish 981 Boxster is a genuinely rewarding drive.
The test car was an entry level model powered by a 2.7 litre flat-six cylinder engine coupled to a 6-speed manual gearbox. It certainly looked the part on its optional 20″ rims too. Of the three examples Porsche has provided this latest Boxster is clearly the best looking, inside and out. Indeed the interior has a quality feel to it befitting its price tag and is reasonably well apppointed too.
On paper the outright performance of the Boxster looks capable enough, with 195kW on tap and just a shade over 1300kg to move. So, you might expect a quicker 0–100km/h time than 5.8 seconds. I can remember a time when a sub-6 second car was bordering on supercar territory, but these days it just doesn’t feel that fast.
If you’re looking for blistering straight line speed then the 2.7 litre Boxster isn’t for you. Yet, to judge this car solely on its raw pace is to completely miss the point and would deny yourself of something really quite special.
The Alfa Romeo 4C recently had its turn to set a lap time on the Nürburgring. The result was a not too shabby 8 minutes 4 seconds. Although, keep in mind, that’s only four seconds faster than a Renault Megane RS 265 Trophy.
Pirelli didn’t want to miss its chance to join in the fun, either, and you’ll be pleased to know the 4C set this time on PZero Trofeo tyres. This clip gives us a quick look at the 4C on the Nordschleife—head over to AUSringers to watch the full lap.
[Thanks to Craig for the tip]
The inclusion of Mount Panorama, Bathurst, as an official Gran Turismo track is only a few weeks away. The release of Gran Turismo 6 is scheduled for 6 December and if this preview is anything to go by the gamers among you are going to be happy.
And if you don’t want to wait until December, well get yourself an Xbox One on 22 November, along with Forza Motorsport 5, and get cracking!
There’s a preview of both waiting for you after the break. For now, though, Xbox is only giving us an interview with Andy Priaulx and Mattias Ekstrom, who both raced at Bathurst last weekend.
MINI has announced the arrival of a new Frozen Black metallic, a limited edition paint finish which will be available on high-end Paceman and Countryman models.
They say the “shimmering” finish is weather and car wash resistant. Although, care has to be taken when polishing and waxing so as not to result in an “unwanted gloss effect”. Naturally, BMW has a range of official care products available to ensure your not so shiny black paint stays as good as new.
Frozen Black can be optioned on Cooper S Countryman, Cooper SD Countryman, Cooper S Paceman, Cooper SD Paceman, John Cooper Works Countryman and John Cooper Works Paceman models. At this stage it’s not clear how limited the option will be, or if it will be available to Australian buyers. However, MINI states: “Due to the labour intensive process used to apply this exclusive body colour during production it is limited to a restricted number of cars.”
Let’s also assume you’ll need to pay for the privilege of that labour intensive process, but again, no word yet as to the expected cost of this paint finish.
We know there’s a lot of discontent out there about the Paceman and Countryman models. But we don’t car what anybody says, this looks cool! More after the break.
Romain Grosjean’s late season form has impressed team bosses in the Lotus garage. It’s expected the team will take up its option to keep him on their roster for 2014, with the ongoing speculation about Lotus’ financial security the only barrier at this time.
Lotus Team Principal and head of Grosjean’s management team, Eric Boullier, says confirmation should come soon. “Romain already has a contract with us for next year, but it is not a fixed contract—Lotus has to take the option or not. We have to do it in a few days’ time, so we will see,” he said.
Boullier is also pleased with the development of the 27-year-old Frenchman, adding: “We first wanted him to establish himself like the driver he is now, but on top of this, since Kimi announced he is leaving, it was up to him to step up—and he is doing it.”
Alan Permane, Trackside Operations Director, is also impressed with what he’s seeing from Grosjean. “He has that belief in himself that he can do it, and the Japanese GP will have done him the power of good,” Permane said. “To lead a race and pull away from Red Bulls and even to be mixing it with them is brilliant, especially when you look the fourth placed person is 30 seconds down the road.”
Assuming Lotus can get their seemingly ever precarious finances sorted out it’s expected Nico Hulkenberg will race alongside Grosjean in 2014, after Kimi Raikkonen’s return to Ferrari.
[Source: Autosport | Pic: Lotus F1 Team/LAT Photographic]