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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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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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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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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.

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Caterham F1 in pictures Ferrari Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Toro Rosso

2013 Belgian Grand Prix in pictures

2013 Belgian Grand Prix

Here’s your lot, recapturing Vettel’s dominance, from the scenic Ardennes mountains. It’s a majestic circuit in a beautiful location. Everyone loves Spa-Francorchamps!

We loved Mark Webber’s scenic bike ride and we also loved the many views of Eau Rouge. It’s easy to dismiss the corner in these times when an F1 car can just nail it flat down the hill and over the blind crest of Radillon.

You probably need to see it with your own eyes to appreciate just how steep that climb is. How fearsome it would be, flat out in an F1 car, heading into the unknown searching for the relative safety of the Kemmel Straight. We can only imagine the feeling one’s body would experience with the fluctuation of G forces and messages being fired into your brain from your watering eyes.

Just amazing.

Knowing what we know now about the Greenpeace protest, it’s also interesting to see the evidence of the signs being installed as the cars were lining up on the grid to start the race.

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Porsche

Porsche 911 GT3: A feast for the senses?

991 Porsche 911 GT3

I’m not sure about anybody else reading this, but there’s nothing I’d love more than to have the ability to spec a 911 GT3 to my liking, place the order and wait with increasing anticipation for the day I was able to drive it off the showroom floor.

My own GT3. It would be a dream come true.

In this video Andreas Preuninger, Mr Porsche GT3, tells us a little about the development of the car. It’s a feast for the senses he reckons.

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Categories
Peugeot

Peugeot 308 R concept leaked

Peugeot 308 R concept

As far as leaks go this is a pretty good one. No dodgy blurry images, but the real deal, in all their multi-pixel glory. Now, what is this bordering on crazy contraption that we’re looking at? It’s a Peugeot 308 R concept.

Depsite the terribly shit paint job the car itself sounds rather promising. It’s got a 270hp (200kW) 1.6 litre turbo (and why can’t MINI get that much poke from the same engine?) and Torsen limited slip diff from the RCZ R—a car we’re so disinterested in we’ve not featured it here on AUSmotive. The 308, though, is not an awkwardly shaped blob that has proportions that would make John Merrick blush.

So, to start with we don’t mind this cooking 308 model. Presumably we’ll have all the finer details for you as Frankfurt draws closer. With any luck those details will outline a feasible plan of turning this concept into a car that hot hatch buyers can add to their ever growing shopping list.

[Source: Oppositelock via Caradisiac | Thanks to Richard for the tip]

UPDATE 28 August: Official press release added below.

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Porsche WEC

More birthday joy for Mark!

2014 Porsche LMP1 racecar

Porsche has used its dedicated Mission 2014 microsite to bring us more photos of its LMP1 racecar. And we’re sharing them with you to help celebrate Mark Webber’s birthday. We think he’ll quite like his new present, even if he has to wait a while yet to open its swirly camouflage wrapping.

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Categories
Volvo

Volvo Concept C Coupé teased ahead of Frankfurt

Volvo Concept C Coupé

Volvo wants to change the perception of its design. It’s too vanilla they reckon. So new design boss Thomas Ingenlath has claimed via a video teaser that he’s about to change all that.

Inside his video four teaser images are flashed at the 11 second mark. They show a new Concept C Coupé, which had already been previewed via an anonymous debut a few days ago (the image above).

Looks like we’ll be seeing more of the Concept C Coupé later this week, before the car stands proudly on Volvo’s stand at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of weeks. So far it looks like Mr Ingenlath is doing a good job of upholding his word.

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Jaguar

Jaguar F-Type R coupé looks the business

Jaguar F-Type R coupe

Jaguar has been enjoying the sun at the Nürburgring with its new F-Type R coupé. Even with the dramatic disguise wrapped around its body the F-Type coupé still looks fantastic. Based on the F-Type convertible that’s hardly a surprise as the roofless version looks ace too.

What we like most about this hardtop version is that it is expected to debut in R guise with a 540hp (400kW) 5.0 litre supercharged V8. Ceramic brakes should help keep all that power in check; look at the brakes on this test mule, they are serious!

It’s expected we’ll have all the answers on the F-Type coupé before the year is out.

[Source: Autocar]

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