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Motor Shows Motorsports Seat

Wörthersee 2013: Seat Leon Cup Racer

Seat Leaon Cup Racer

How goddamn cool is this! It’s the Seat Leon Cup Racer, packed with 243kW of race-prepped goodness ready for customer racers to hit the circuit.

In addition to the very tasty looking and no doubt functional aero package the front track has been increased by a healthy 400mm to aid handling. Because racecar, the interior has been stripped out to save weight with a specially created TFT digital display to feed information to the driver.

Beneath the bonnet is a familiar Volkswagen Group 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder engine, strengthened to withstand the rigours of competition and tuned to produce 243kW/350Nm. It’s coupled to a 6-speed DSG transmission driving the front wheels using an electronically controlled diff.

And here’s the catch, if you want one it’ll set you back €70,000 plus taxes. If you want the endurance-spec, which comes with a sequential transmission and mechanical diff, you’ll need €95,000 plus taxes.

Also joining the Leon Cup Racer on display at Wörthersee is its baby brother the Ibiza SC Trophy. That’s powered by a 147kW 1.4 litre turbo four, with a 7-speed DSG and mechanical diff. It can be all yours for €31,500 plus taxes.

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Volkswagen

Who wants to be a millionaire?

Volkswagen Scirocco Million

I did.

But Volkswagen Australia saw fit to sit on their hands for a few years before they decided to bring the Scirocco down under. I’m not bitter about it though. Much.

Oh sorry, Volkswagen is celebrating the creation of its one millionth Scirocco by offering a special Scirocco Million model for sale. It comes in any colour you like so long as it’s Deep Black Metallic and it’s also fitted with an R-Line bodykit.

Galvanic Grey mirror caps help you spot the Scirocco Million in a crowd. That’s if you happened to miss the two stripes on the bonnet, roof and tailgate. It can be optioned with a choice of three lower spec engines, all with DSG if you choose. The leather interior is complemented by ‘Million’ badging and Snap Orange contrast stitching.

If you like the Scirocco you’ll probably appreciate what’s going on here.

Just don’t expect to see it in Australia, it’ll only be on sale in Germany and China.

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Audi Motorsports Toyota

Audi displays strength ahead of Le Mans

2013 6 Hours of Spa

Audi claimed a formation 1-2-3 finish at the 6 Hours of Spa on the weekend, in the last WEC race before the 24 Hours of Le Mans (22–23 June). However, the dominant result doesn’t give us the whole picture.

While the Audis appear to have greater one-lap pace, in race trim the updated 2013-spec #7 Toyota TS030 showed its hand by capitalising on a puncture to the #1 Audi to lead the race for quite some time. Unfortunately for Toyota the car was forced to retire in the fourth hour due to a failure with the energy recovery system, resulting in overheating brakes. The 2012-spec #8 TS030 finished fourth behind the three Audis.

It was the #1 R18 e-tron quattro of Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Treluyer which took the chequered flag with a lead of more than one minute over the #2 car. The #3 R18 with the ‘long-tail’ body finished third in its first competitive outing.

Full race reports from Audi and Toyota can be viewed after the break.

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Nissan

The man with the golden GT-R

Usain Bolt's golden Nissan GT-R

When you’re the world’s fastest human being it’s fitting that you drive one of the world’s fastest cars. Usain Bolt has been representing Nissan as a brand ambassador for some time and in appreciation of his role Nissan has furnished Mr Bolt with a tailored MY14 GT-R in Bolt Gold paint.

Following a test drive of a GT-R at Nissan headquarters in October last year engineers customised the car to suit Bolt’s driving style. Also added to the special creation are 10-spoke Rays alloys and a “flamboyant white interior”.

It’s only the second gold GT-R in existence. The first, also created in Bolt’s honour, was provided as first prize in an online charity. That car will be on its way to its new owner in the coming weeks.

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Jaguar

Jaguar F-Type coupé drawings leaked

Jaguar F-Type coupe patent drawing

As Australia readies itself for the arrival of the Jaguar F-Type soft top, leaked patent drawings have given us a look ahead to the F-Type coupé. Well, actually, they’ve taken us back to the 2011 C-X16 concept. Which is no bad thing at all, by the way.

This F-Type is one of the few cars that nails its design with or without a roof. It’s a very nice looking car and nothing has been lost in translation here. The long bonnet works, to svelte roofline works, the chiselled rear flanks work and even the large rear window, which some say has been inspired by the E-Type coupé, looks the business. Although it doesn’t look much like the rear window on the overrated E-Type to us.

Overall, though, the tintop F-Type just works!

The F-Type coupé is scheduled for sales release in 2014 so if we’re lucky we could see an official reveal later this year, at Frankfurt in September perhaps.

[Source: Autocar]

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News WRC

From Argentina to Australia, no bull

Volkswagen service park, 2013 Rally Argentina

As the setting sun brought a close to Rally Argentina a meticulous process of cleaning and packing began. And with that comes an insight into the logistics of the WRC.

This year’s calendar sees the teams globetrotting from race to race. Already they’ve been to Europe, Scandinavia, North America, Europe and now, South America. The next few rallies keep the teams in Europe until September when they head down under for Rally Australia.

For Volkswagen, at least, the service park used in Argentina will be shipped to Australia. Sebastien Ogier’s website brings up to speed on that process:

While Sébastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala and Andreas Mikkelsen were out hunting best times on Saturday, the Service Park was being meticulously packed up. Under aggravated conditions, at that – observed by Australian Health Department officials, as a large portion of the equipment will be shipped directly Down Under, where the final flyaway rally of the season will be staged in September.

Australia imposes stringent quarantine conditions to prevent the influx of disease. At the top of the most-wanted list: strains of the deadly bovine foot-and-mouth disease. This is virtually omnipresent in Argentinean soil. Thus the Australian delegation insists upon absolute cleanliness. “All our equipment has to be clinically clean,” says Ralf Arneke, who is responsible for Volkswagen Motorsport’s mammoth logistics operation. “Only when the officials do not find a speck of dust or the tiniest stone do they affix their seal.”

Volkswagen Motorsport sends seven containers packed with equipment on tour. Using compressed air, vacuum cleaners, cleaning materials and even paint brushes the containers and their contents are painstakingly cleaned. “We go as far as partially stripping test cars to make cleaning easier,” explains Arneke. At times the Australians have even grabbed a steam cleaner themselves to ensure that clean is absolutely clean for safety’s sake.

[Source: sebastien-ogier.com]

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Porsche

2013 Porsche 911 Turbo revealed

991 Porsche 911 Turbo S

Porsche has revealed preliminary information for its new 911 Turbo and Turbo S models. While we greet this news with much excitement it is tempered by the fact the car is only available with 7-speed PDK transmission.

To help ease those fears Porsche has stuffed 383kW into the 3.8 litre biturbo flat-six lurking inside the 911 Turbo, while finding an extra 29kW for the 412kW Turbo S (pictured).

Part of the blame for the PDK-only transmission is fuel consumption and with careful driving Porsche claims you’ll sip fuel at only 9.7l/100kms. Not bad for a car that’s able to reach 100km/h in 3.2 seconds (when fitted with Sports Chrono Pack), 3.1 seconds for the Turbo S.

The body of the new 911 Turbo is the widest you can buy on the 991 platform and is 28mm wider than the Carrera 4. Check the photo from the rear, this car is phat! Running on model-specific 20″ alloys the Turbo does look good, even if that rear end is getting a bit fussy.

Porsche has tailored the rear axle steering from the new GT3 for the Turbo as well. And the all-wheel drive system can now send more power to the front wheels as required thanks to some new electro-hydraulic bits and pieces.

For the first time you get active aero on your 911 Turbo, including a three-stage front spoiler and an adjustable pop-up rear wing.

All very tricky, all very cool and, for those that care, able to lap the Nürburgring in “well under 7:30 minutes”.

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Citroen WRC

Sebastien Loeb wins 2013 Rally Argentina

Sebastien Loeb wins 2013 Rally Argentina

Sebastien Loeb has popped back into his Citroën WRC overalls to put that Ogier upstart at Volkswagen back in his place. To do that he won the 2013 Rally Argentina by a comfortable 55 seconds. The Volkswagen duo of Sebastien Ogier and Jar-Matti Latvala filled the minor placings.

As always, Loeb’s victory adds to his impressive and surely unbeatable record. He’s raced in Argentina eight times for eight wins and this is his 78th career win.

“It’s pretty incredible to win Rally Argentina for the eighth time running, in front of so many passionate fans,” Loeb said after claiming his final WRC victory on gravel. “Winning wasn‘t essential for me, but I really got into it when I saw that I was on the pace. Ogier was also quick, but I was a bit more consistent before pulling clear at the end of the second leg. I am pleased to win here for the team; they really deserve it.”

Driver error was one of the reasons Ogier had to settle for second place, he held a 17 second lead over Loeb before losing 40 seconds after missing a braking point on SS7. With no title threat from Loeb possible Ogier decided discretion was the better part of valour.

“Second place is a brilliant result in terms of the world championship and our success was down to the whole team,” reasoned Ogier. “It was an incredibly challenging and difficult rally and my own performance wasn’t entirely flawless. It’s a shame that I couldn’t keep fighting it out against Sébastien Loeb right to the end.”

Meanwhile, Jari-Matti Latvala had to really fight hard with Ford driver Evgeny Novikov for third place. Latvala only grabbed P3 on the second last stage and it’s fair to say he was happy with his work.

“Today was the best day’s rallying since I joined Volkswagen. The team spirit, the car—verything reached a whole new level today, including the driver,” Latvala said. “I’m absolutely thrilled to be standing on the podium for the first time in Argentina. Things often haven’t gone that well here in the last few years, so I’m really pleased to have achieved my goal.”

The WRC field returns to Europe for the Acropolis Rally (2 June). Sebastien Loeb’s fourth race for 2013 and his last ever WRC event will be Rally France in October.

[Source: Citroën WRT & Volkswagen Motorsport]

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Categories
Formula 1

It’s F1 or bust says Robert Kubica

2010 Australian Grand Prix

Almost 1000 days have passed since Robert Kubica last stood on a Formula 1 podium (2010 Belgian Grand Prix), but success in the world’s premier open wheel category is what he craves the most.

“For me, now, the priority is to get as fit as I can,” Kubica told Autosport. “I’m not able to come back into single-seaters at the moment, and my vision is not to come back in saloon cars on the circuit at this stage.”

Kubica, of all people, knows life offers no guarantees and has already declined an offer to race for Mercedes in DTM. He doesn’t categorically rule out racing in tintops or other formulae in the future. Right now he thinks rallying is the best way forward as he continues to rebuild strength in the right arm he severely injured in 2011.

“Maybe one day in the future I will race in DTM or GT or whatever, because I will feel that it’s the right moment. I’m still young, I think I can still achieve something in motorsport, I will try my best.”

“There is not any guarantee, there is no percentage to say whether I will come back or not, but it’s also not 100 per cent that I will not be back in F1. I will try my best.

“I have been through a difficult period, and I’d say it’s an easier period now, I am enjoying myself, but it is still not a totally easy period for me, because I’d definitely prefer to be in F1 driving, 100 per cent fit. The reality is different.

“Now I need a little bit of everything—a little bit of luck and motivation, which I think I have, and to keep working so maybe I have the chance to get back to where I was before the accident.”

For now, the closest Kubica has come to reviving his F1 career is a test in the Mercedes simulator. We’re sure we speak on behalf of all AUSmotive’s readers by wishing Robert the best of luck in his F1 fightback.

[Source: Autosport]

Categories
Jaguar

Jaguar F-Type – Australian pricing & specs

2013 Jaguar F-Type

Jaguar has announced the pricing for its F-Type model range. If you have the cash burning a hole in your pocket we reckon you should buy one. It is the world’s best looking car, after all.

  • F-Type: 3.0 litre supercharged V6 (250kW) – $139,900*
  • F-Type S: 3.0 litre supercharged V6 (280kW) – $171,400*
  • F-Type V8 S: 5.0 litre supercharged V8 (364kW) – $202,000*
  • *list pricing only, excludes on road costs etc

Standard equipment is listed after the break.

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Audi

Audi SQ5 TDI – Australian pricing & specs

Audi SQ5 TDI

The world’s fastest diesel-powered SUV, that’s what Audi Australia is calling the new SQ5. And with a list price of $89,400 it won’t even break the bank. Relatively speaking, that is.

So let’s look at the performance of this SQ5, then. It’s powered by a 3.0 litre V6 biturbo, coupled to an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox and quattro all-wheel drive system. Peak power is 230kW and is achieved at 3900–4500rpm. Being a diesel torque is king, you’ve got 650Nm to play with in the SQ5 from 1450–2800rpm.

The 100km/h dash can be done in 5.1 seconds, which, these days, is not really that impressive for an SUV with “world’s fastest diesel” in front of its name. In the real world, it is fast enough, of course. So too is the electronically limited 250km/h top speed.

At 1995kg the SQ5 isn’t going to be the nimblest mode of transport in the village, but we expect, up to a point, it will be a very capable device, sure to meet the demands of the vast majority of it owners.

Audi Australia has ensured the SQ5 hits the market with a pretty good level of goodies included in the standard asking price. To start with the go-fast SUV sits 30mm lower than its lesser Q5 stablemates and rides on standard 20″ alloys. Satellite navigation, fully electric front seats, rear reversing camera, tyre pressure monitor and a model-specific flat bottom steering wheel are standard fare. Although, you are expected to pay an extra $1050 if you want an alarm on your flash new SUV.

Naturally, there is a raft of options which Audi would dearly love you to tick. So much so the first 60 SQ5s to land in the country have been loaded with goodies and called the Launch Edition. Don’t get carried away thinking this is a freebie, though, you’ll need to cough up an extra $14,720—bringing your new SQ5 comfortably into the six-figure price bracket.

Extras packed into the Launch Edition—available in Glacier White, Ice Silver Metallic, Monsoon Grey and Panther Black—include 21″ alloys, Bang & Olufsen stereo with digital radio, front and rear heated seats, dynamic steering, adaptive headlights, high beam assist, carbon atlas inlays and that alarm system, plus more.

We reckon SQ5 looks pretty good too, as the photos waiting for you after the break show. There’s more detail from Audi Australia as well.

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Categories
BMW Green Machines

BMW i8 seen charging round the ‘Ring

BMW i8 prototype

Almost four years after the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics first showed its face the i8 production model is nearing completion. The petrol-electric hybrid has been spied charging its way around the Nürburgring.

Based on the info from the i8 Concept we can expect it to boast a total of 260kW/550Nm from its hybrid drivetrain. Enough to propel the i8 to 100km/h in around 4.6 seconds. Separating the power individually, a 1.5 litre three cylinder petrol engine drives the rear wheels and produces 164kW/300Nm. The front wheels are powered by the 96kW/250Nm electric motor, which can achieve a 100% recharge in less than two hours. In all-electric mode the i8 has a 35km range.

An exact launch date for the i8 is unknown, but speculation suggests it will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

[Source: Pistonspy]