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Porsche

Porsche confirms 918 Spyder for Frankfurt

Porsche 918 Spyder

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.

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BMW Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Reaction to Daniel Ricciardo’s promotion

Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel

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).

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Porsche WEC

Porsche continues LMP1 development

2014 Porsche LMP1

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.”

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

OFFICIAL: Ricciardo to drive for Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing

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.

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Categories
Volkswagen

VIDEO: Der neue Golf R

2014 Volkswagen Golf R

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]

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Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Is Fernando trolling Daniel?

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

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:

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]

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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