Volkswagen Australia has just shared this image of a Mk7 Golf GTI to its Facebook page with the words, “Look at what’s just arrived!”
So we assume you’ll be able to set your eyes on the all-new GTI yourself in the next few weeks. We’re expecting pricing to be around the $40K mark and very much hope we see the “Performance” version offered for sale in Australia.
UPDATE: Thanks to Jim for sending in the pic below, showing a Mk7 Golf GTI on Sydney’s roads.
The Volkswagen Kombi has been rolling off production lines in Brazil since September 1957. That’s 56 years. That stat makes the Kombi is the most everlasting production model the world has known. And now, due to safety regulations, it’s all about to come to an end.
In honour of the Kombi, or T2 as it is known in various markets, Volkswagen Brazil has created the Kombi Last Edition. Only 600 will be made. All will come with a certificate of authenticity and all will be finished in the two-tone paint scheme you see here.
The Kombi LE is powered by a stonking EA111 1.4-litre engine, which delivers 78PS. That can be boosted to a staggering 80PS if petrol is replaced by ethanol. Power is sent to the driven wheels through a four-speed manual. Remember them!
Like the Beetle, many of us will have a Kombi memory of some sort. Personally, I’m lucky to be here after mum’s Kombi Campervan went up in flames thanks to a faulty gas bottle. We were holidaying and parked in a friends backyard. I was asleep in the Kombi and just five years of age. Apparently they got quite a shock while doing the dishes that night and saw our van on fire!
Riding in the Kombi is one of my earliest automotive memories, along with mum’s Alfa Romeo Spider, and whenever I see a VW bus I can’t help but smile.
This image has emerged from various French websites and it claims to be a teaser image of the new Mk7 Golf R. That’s pretty much all we can tell you for now, other than the suggestion the new R could be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
It’s a pretty safe bet to expect the Golf R will be an Audi S3 in Wolfsburg clothing. That means the R will benefit from the Haldex V all-wheel drive system and a new 2.0 litre four cylinder turbo producing 221kW/380Nm.
It’s also pretty safe to assume that Australian-bound Rs will fall in line with locally delivered S3s and be detuned to 206kW due to our “hot climate”.
We don’t expect to see the all-new Golf R in Australia until we’re well into 2014.
[Source: Le Blog Auto via WCF]
Daniel Ricciardo’s position at Red Bull Racing for 2014 is all but confirmed with Kimi Raikkonen’s manager declaring the 2007 world champion will not be switching to Red Bull next year.
Speaking to Finnish publication Turun Sanomat, Kimi’s manager, Steve Robertson, said: “It’s true, Kimi will not be driving for Red Bull in 2014. We held some talks, but a deal will not be happening.”
Although, it still appears as though Raikkonen has a choice regarding his future in F1. “We are pretty confident that Kimi will be in F1 next year,” Robertson added. “There are options—and that is plural—out there and I will continue to talk to teams. I am hopeful we will sort something out in the not too distant future.”
[Source: Autosport | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]
The McLaren F1 is one of the greatest cars ever made. This one, chassis 066, sold for a record price at the Pebble Beach auctions on the weekend. And that price was US$8.47 million. What global recession!
The auction was held by Gooding & Company and a quick glance over the online catalogue from the sale is truly mouth watering. Of the McLaren F1 they said:
The F1 is not the typical overweight hyper-car, nor is it a bare-bones, kidney-jarring track toy; rather it is a lithe, beautifully engineered jewel of a car that is just as capable on a closed circuit as it is on crowded city streets. Were it not for its unique center-seat layout and drop-jawed onlookers, one might easily forget that they are piloting one of the most extreme high-performance automobiles ever produced. Professional racing drivers have remarked that it is a true enthusiast’s car – lightweight, nimble, balanced, and refined.
It has been just over 20 years since the F1 was introduced to the public and more than a decade since the last example was produced. In that time there have been many attempts to overtake the McLaren. Some may have gone faster, been more audacious, had a more dramatic combination of letters and numbers in their title, yet none has ever come close to stealing the F1’s status as the king of the modern supercar.
Of chassis 066 Gooding & Company share a bit about car’s history, which started life as a daily driver for German businessman Thomas Groth. After 12 years of ownership he sold the car back to McLaren. In 2009 it was imported to a buyer in the United States and it has remained in the same hands since:
Today, 066 remains an outstandingly original example. Unlike many F1s, 066 is not known to have been damaged or repainted in its 16 years. With the exception of the factory-renewed interior and regular servicing, the major surfaces and components are believed to be original. Showing roughly 13,900 miles, the F1 has accumulated an average of 875 miles per year since new. Used as its designers had intended, 066 offers the mileage and maintenance in which one can find comfort of the car’s prowess without undue worry of enjoyment.
We wish!
[Source: Gooding & Company]
Harry Metcalfe from Evo gives us a very interesting look at the innovative BMW i8 hybrid sportscar with this early drive. Who knew a three cylinder turbo would sound so good inside the cabin!
[Thanks to Tiaan for the tip]
Here’s a couple of videos bringing you closer to the amazing Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG. You’ll hear a lot of statistics on the A45 AMG in these clips, but it’s still hard to go past the headline figures of 265kW and 450Nm. All that grunt comes from an otherwise modest 2.0 litre four pot remember!
In actual fact, looking at the pics above the engine appears rather bland. But as you’ll hear at the end of the first clip, when a CLA 45 AMG drives off, the engine’s bark certainly matches its bite!
The second clip takes a closer look at the A45 AMG Edition 1. And the third video was filmed from where many of us would like to be, behind the wheel!
[Thanks to John for the tip]
Audi has now made 500,000 TTs and to celebrate it is releasing a strictly limited TTS competition model. At first we thought this was going to be pretty good because the press release said it had 220kW on tap. That wuld have given it 20kW more than a regular TTS and we were excited to learn what Audi had done to tweak the engine.
Alas it was a typo on Audi’s part and peak engine power remains at the standard TTS tune of 200kW. So, what we’re left with is a choice between Imola Yellow or Nimbus Gray paint and a snazzy Steel gray leather interior with special stitching and the like. Aside from that it’s pretty standard fare.
Limited to 500 models the TTS competition goes on sale in Europe this October. We just wish it had that extra 20kW!
German media outlet Sport Bild is reporting that Daniel Ricciardo will replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing in 2014. It’s believed confirmation will come prior to next weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix.
That would mean Red Bull has knocked back two world champions, Kimi Raikkonen and potentially Fernando Alonso, in favour of the 24-year-old Australian.
We expect current world champion Sebastian Vettel will be very pleased to have Ricciardo on the other side of the garage. Daniel will be a clear number two. It’s also a sign of faith in Red Bull’s own young driver program, with Ricciardo serving his apprenticeship at Toro Rosso, following the same pathway as Vettel.
It would appear that Ricciardo did enough to impress Red Bull Racing during his recent test with them at Silverstone. On Day 2 of the Silverstone test Ricicardo was fastest overall for Toro Rosso and backed that up with the third fastest time of the day driving for Red Bull.
In 2010 Ricciardo shared Red Bull’s reserve driver duties with Kiwi Brendon Hartley before becoming Toro Rosso’s sole reserve driver in 2011. Later that year Daniel made his Formula 1 debut with HRT at the British Grand Prix.
Since 2012 Ricciardo has partnered with Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne at Toro Rosso. Daniel has made 41 race starts in F1 collecting a total of 21 championship points, with a best finish of seventh (2013 Chinese Grand Prix).
We’ll bring your more news on this story as soon as we can.
[Source: sportbild.de (translated) | Thanks to Tom for the tip]
This is the next-generation Honda Civic Type R. It’s not due until 2015 but it’s got some lofty targets ahead of it. Honda says they want to own the front-wheel drive record lap time around the Nürburgring Nordschelife, currently held by the Renault Megane at 8 minutes 7.97 seconds.
Honda has even released a Type R teaser video showing it has already made its mark on the famed 20.8km circuit.
To achieve its target lap time the Type R will lose its unique normally aspirated VTEC mofo approach in favour of a boring old 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder, much like everyone else. Mind, with a peak power target to be as high as 300hp (223kW) Honda isn’t going to have too many other options.
On the positive side at least Honda can learn from its WTCC experience where its Civic is racing with a 1.6 litre turbo.
[Source: Autocar]
BMW Blog brings a comprehensive gallery of the new Concept M4 on display at the Pebble Beach Concsours d’Elegance. We’ve got half a dozen pics here, but be sure to follow the source link for the full picture gallery, over 20 photos, in 1900px sizing.
[Source: BMW Blog | Thanks to Aaron for the tip]
BMW has released a teaser video for the Concept M4. The supporting cast of M3 models reminds of the legacy the F82 has to draw upon.