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Citroen Volkswagen WRC

“Shit happens!”

Sebastien Ogier crashes out of 2013 Rally Germany

This weekend’s Rally Germany was supposed to be Sebastien Ogier’s crowning glory. If things went his way he could have secured the 2013 World Rally Championship. At its home event, it would have been a perfect way for Volkswagen to announce its arrival on the world rally stage. Alas, as Ogier himself said, “Shit happens.”

Ogier crashed out on Day 1 with damaged suspension. He’ll now have to wait to secure his maiden world title. Teammate Jari-Matti Latvala now leads the charge in Germany, with Ford driver Thierry Neuville close behind.

Being a tarmac event, Rally Germany is one of our favourites. On asphalt the WRC cars look their best, with bigger wheels and lowered suspension.

For hot hatch fans it doesn’t get much better. That’s why we’ve included a couple of videos from Volkswagen and Citroën for you after the break.

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Ferrari Lamborghini McLaren Pagani Porsche Video

VIDEO: Evo’s highway to heaven

Evo's highway to heaven

Henry Catchpole from Evo takes us into a motoring fantasy land with this video:

This test brings together some of the greatest analogue super cars—the ones that make you work hard as a driver, but are hugely rewarding – where we discover what they are all about, and why we love them. The McLaren F1 goes up against the Ferrari F40 and F50, Porsche Carrera GT, Noble M600, Pagani Zonda F and Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV.

There’s nothing further we can add, except to ask. Can you imagine how special, how wonderful and how life changing it would have been to experience those seven cars back to back.

[via motorcentral]

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Categories
BMW

There will be a 6sp manual for the M3/M4 after all

BMW Concept M4

Thankfully, we can strike out yesterday’s article which suggested the forthcoming F80 M3 and F82 M4 would be available exclusively with a 7-speed DCT. Turns out an optional manual gearbox will be available in some markets, as BimmerFile explains:

We typically don’t answer rumors from other sites but today’s M3/M4 rumor on Autoblog was so out of left field and straight-up wrong that we have to mention it. Yes the M3 and M4 will have a six speed manual transmission option for certain markets. We’ve seen it in spy shots as well as VIN data leaked earlier this year.

While we welcome this correction as though our left foot and left hand depended on it, we’re not filled with confidence that the manual box will be available for Australian buyers, based on the lack of manual option for the M5.

[Source: BimmerFile]

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BMW

BMW M235i gets in some tourist laps

BMW 235i

After the success of the M135i we can’t wait for the much better looking, if less practical, M235i. Here you can see the M235i in action at the Ring. One tip for a release of the 2 Series is the Detroit Auto Show in January.

[Source: BimmerFile]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes A45 AMG Black Series spied

Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG Black Series

Are you sitting down? You really should sit down for this. Mercedes-Benz funsters AMG are turning the wick up even further on the A45 AMG hyper hatch. Not content with an obviously piss weak 265kW from their 2.0 four pot, they’re planning to stuff 300kW inside the donk before releasing it in an A45 AMG Black Series.

Three hundred kilowatts. Three-zero-zero. From a 2.0 litre four cylinder. Holy crap!

As well as the boost of 35kW over the standard A45 AMG, torque will be given a 50Nm nudge to a new max of 500Nm. This is a hatchback remember, with power to embarrass supercars of only a few years ago. Never mind that, a 911 Carrera S only has 294kW. This thing will be totally nuts. We love it!

To be fair it’s all speculation at this stage with nobody from the three-pointed star willing to offer any insight into this test mule. However, the flared guards do tend to indicate there’s more to this A45 that meets the eye.

[Source: Drive.com.au | Thanks to Richard for the tip]

Categories
BMW

No manual gearbox for new BMW M4?

BMW Concept M4

Word on the street is the new F82 BMW M4 will be sold exclusively with a double clutch transmission. That follows the path started by the F10 M5; although, in an odd turn of events, you can buy an M5 with a manual box in North America. Anyway, having no manual in the new M4 should not really be a surprise, but it’s still a shame to see the further demise of one of the simplest ways to involve man and machine.

After the Concept M4 debuted recently you might have thought we’d be seeing the car in Frankfurt next month, perhaps accompanied with more technical info, such as confirmation of the engine configuration. Unfortunately, it looks like we might have to wait until 2015 with reports suggesting the production M4 will debut at January’s Detroit Motor Show.

[Source: Autoblog]

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BMW Drive Thru

Drive Thru: BMW M5

F10 BMW M5

I was recently fortunate enough to be offered an entree sampling of the F10 BMW M5. It’s one of BMW’s most iconic models and I was eager to discover if hype and capability lived in harmonious existence.

Once behind the wheel I was immediately comfortable, the seating position is good and while the seats don’t hug you tight like a racing bucket they’re a pleasing compromise between sport and luxury.

I didn’t really get a chance to go through the many and varied iDrive settings, but if you’re a gadget freak I reckon you’d have a lot of fun customising the settings to your satisfaction.

When I began attacking my favoured stretch of black top the first thing I noticed was the M5’s head up display. It’s quite disconcerting at first, prominently in view well above the dash line, but I soon became used to it and with the level of configuration available it’s a very worthwhile feature.

For a heavy car—the M5 weighs 1870kg (unladen)—it turns in quite sharply on a tight mountain pass. You’re always conscious of its bulk, but never to the point of it seriously detracting from one’s driving pleasure.

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Volkswagen

Here’s the official word on the Mk7 Golf R

Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen has come good with official info for its new Mk7 Golf R hero model. As expected the headline stats from the EA888 2.0 litre turbo engine are 221kW/380Nm. And you can read more after the break. We’ve also got a 15 page press release for you which goes into further detail. For example, it says this about the new Haldex V all-wheel drive system:

The 4MOTION all-wheel drive system of the Golf R, further perfected by enhancements such as the Haldex 5 coupling, is activated even before any wheel starts to slip. This eliminates nearly all traction losses. The system achieves this by using an advanced control function based on specific driving conditions. When operating under a relatively low load or when coasting, forward propulsion comes primarily from the front axle, and the rear axle is decoupled. This basic drive layout saves fuel. However, the rear axle of the Golf R can be variably engaged in fractions of a second whenever necessary. This is done via a Haldex coupling, which is activated by an electro-hydraulic oil pump.

If you’re into this car we certainly recommend downloading the PDF to read at your leisure. We’ll bring you more as Volkswagen releases new information.

UPDATE: Volkswagen Australia says it expects to have the Golf R on sale locally in the first half of next year. Our question enquiring about the availability of a three door version was ignored.

UPDATE #2: We thank Volkswagen Australia for this answer, even if we don’t like it: “We are not planning on offering a 3 door.”

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari 458 Speciale revealed

Ferrari 458 Speciale

Ferrari has been mucking around with its already immensely capable 458 Italia and come up with this, the 458 Speciale. The car will make its public debut in Frankfurt next month.

There are a few things that make the Speicale special, but let’s start with the engine. Ferrari has managed to fiddle with the 4.5 litre V8 and found an extra 20kW over the Italia, for a new peak figure of 445kW (605cv).

Ferrari reckons the 458 Speciale will knock off 100km/h in 3.0 seconds, 200km/h in 9.1 seconds and can lap its Fiorano test track in 1:23.5. Mighty impressive really.

As you can see the body of the car has been massaged as well. It looks even more purposeful and aggressive than the Italia and Ferrari says the active aero package on the Speciale will be a feature of all new Ferraris.

The part we like the most, though, is the SSC acronym. It stands for Side Slip angle Control system. And in Ferrari’s own words SSC, which employs the car’s F1-Trac and E-Diff systems, “makes it easier to achieve car control on the limit, thereby greatly improving driving emotions.”

And who doesn’t love having their driving emotions improved!

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Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Kimi yearns for Ferrari return

2007 Brazilian Grand Prix

Now that Red Bull is no longer an option, Kimi Raikkonen’s desire for a return to Ferrari is growing. That’s the claim from BBC pundit Eddie Jordan in any case, who also says Daniel Ricciardo has already signed with Red Bull for 2014.

The Raikkonen to Ferrari rumour started in earnest last week, and Jordan says it is now Kimi’s first choice. When asked if Kimi was interested in returning to the Scuderia his manager, Steve Robertson, replied: “Until they confirm their seats, my job is to speak to all the teams and see what’s available.”

Dual world champion Fernando Alonso remains contracted at Ferrari until the end of the 2016 season, which leaves Felipe Massa as the most likely to depart Maranello if Kimi returns.

But, as we know in Formula 1, stranger things have happened. Indeed, a stalemate seeing Kimi, shown above after the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, could stay put with Lotus. Although their mooted and required funding would need to come through to secure his services for a third year.

[Source: BBC | Pic: Ferrari]

Categories
McLaren

VIDEO: McLaren P1 hypercar sounds brutal

McLaren P1

A McLaren P1 was seen circulating around the Nürburgring Nordschleife earlier this week. RSR Nürburg, among others, was on hand to capture some brief video. And, erm, yeah, this P1 sounds bloody good.

A film crew was also on site, hinting at a possible bold lap record claim to be announced soon.

[Source: Bridge to Gantry | Pic: Ring Bilder]

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VII R leaked

Volkswagen Golf VII R

It looks almost certain that we’ll see the all-new Volkswagen Golf R revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show after new details have been leaked.

Firstly, the two images show what you’d expect from R GmbH when finishing off the hottest Golf on the Mk7 platform. Like the car itself the bodywork is an evolution of what we saw in the Mk6 Golf R. Notable changes are to the alloys which look to be at least 19″ in diameter. The wing mirrors have gone from gloss black to a satin chrome finish. And at the back of the car centrally mounted twin exhaust tips have been replaced by a more conventional quad set up.

Power comes straight from the 8V Audi S3, so we’re talking 221kW/380Nm. Coupled with a 4motion all-wheel drive system and DSG transmission Volkswagen claims the R can sprint to 100km/h in 4.9 seconds, while manual drivers will need an extra 0.4 seconds to complete the same task. Top speed has been restricted to 250km/h.

Fuel consumption can be quite frugal if you desire, with the Euro combined cycle yielding results of 6.9l/100km.

The new R rides on suspension that’s 5mm lower than the Mk7 GTI and it appears as though Adaptive Chassis Control will remain an option. Although it is expected to have a Race setting added to its bag of tricks.

Officially, all we can find from Volkswagen is that the new R will have its market launch in the fourth quarter of this year, which is why we expect to see a full reveal from Volkswagen very soon.

[Source: Auto Wereld | Thanks to Stu for the tip]

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