Categories
Porsche

Porsche Australia slashes prices, or does it?

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet

Drive.com.au brings word that Porsche Cars Australia has taken its red pen out and slashed prices across the board. For an entry level Boxster you will soon save $5500 off the old retail list price, while at the upper end, a rather large $36,300 has been trimmed from the 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet.

This action has been taken because, according to Bernhard Maier, board member responsible for sales and marketing, “We had an issue with the pricing strategy of Porsche in Australia.

“Our competitors, some of them have repositioned their brands or products and repositioned their prices accordingly.”

The thing is, the current range of Porsche models haven’t been selling at their list prices. Discounts have been given by Porsche dealers in order to secure sales. That’s business and pretty standard fare in the car game.

Now, though, the question remains, will Porsche continue to discount over and above the new pricing regime, which takes effect on 1 June, or have they merely made the former real world discounted pricing official?

Time will tell, and we suspect with over a month to go until the new pricing takes place that many Porsche dealers will have time to ponder that thought. Why would you buy a Porsche now, before the cheaper pricing kicks in? Unless the new officially cheaper prices are offered to customers now, unofficially, of course.

And let’s not really address the price disparity between the cost of a Porsche in Australia compared with many other markets. Especially the United States, where a base spec 911 can be had for almost $20,000 less than you’re expected to pay for a base spec Boxster in Australia.

This has been feebly defended by Maier who stated, “We have to deal with different currencies, we have to stabilise the currencies. This we can’t change day after day.”

[Source: Drive.com.au]

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VII GTI in detail

Volkswagen Mk7 Golf GTI

Following the international press launch of the all-new Volkswagen Golf GTI comes a raft of new information and details about the company’s much loved hot hatch.

To recap, the new Mk7 Golf GTI is lighter, faster, more efficient and better equipped than any previous GTI. It comes in two specifications, the regular 162kW/350Nm model and the 169kW/350Nm Performance Pack.

The Performance Pack brings with it a few extra goodies to go with its modest power increase, most notably larger brakes and an XDS+ electronic differential lock. And it’s that electronically controlled mechanical diff that’s grabbing many of the headlines.

You’ll find all the detail you want about the new Golf GTI after the break, but in Volkswagen’s own words here’s some more detail on the XDS+ diff to get you started:

A newly engineered electronic front differential lock is being used exclusively in the Golf GTI Performance. To date, Volkswagen is the only carmaker to utilise an electronically controlled differential lock in a front-wheel drive production model. Compared to purely mechanical locks, the front differential lock integrated in the Golf GTI Performance offers advantages such as a variable degree of locking and comprehensive interfaces to the ESC, EDS and XDS+ functions. This makes it possible to completely avoid negative effects on steering response and steering precision that otherwise occur with mechanical locks.

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Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Mk7 Golf GTI: The best ever?

Volkswagen Golf VII GTI

Ever since Volkswagen reignited the Golf GTI flame with the Mk5 version back in 2004 they have made it harder for themselves to improve the next iteration. And yet, they did. The Mk6 was a modest improvement over the Mk5, but an improvement nonetheless. So how about the new Golf VII GTI, will it have what it takes to extend the legend of Volkswagen’s most iconic model?

It looks like it might. Here’s what the UK media has said about the new GTI following its recent launch in France:

Autocar (Steve Sutcliffe): It is a quite phenomenally well-resolved car to drive. And by that, I don’t just mean that it’s unusually secure or stable near the limit (even though it is exactly that). It’s also razor sharp, dynamically.

Auto Express (Mat Watson): We’d go as far as to say the Mk7 is the best GTI ever. We knew VW could make it faster and more comfortable, but there was always a question mark over the fun factor. Not any more.
(Video review available below.)

Top Gear (Jason Barlow): The dice haven’t rolled as far as they should have. It’s a fine car, and you will never regret choosing one. The new GTI, then. The hot hatch equivalent of a good accountant.

Not quite universal praise, then, but very close to it. And all waxed lyrical about the VAQ tricky diff available in the Performance Pack model. Can’t wait until later in the year when the Mk7 GTI hits our shores.

[Thanks to Paul for the tip]

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Categories
Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

2013 Bahrain GP: Post-race press conference

2013 Bahrain Grand Prix

After the break you can read the full transcript from the first three drivers from the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Before you do here’s the Aussie update with words from Mark Webber (Red Bull) first and Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) second.

Mark Webber: “The beginning wasn’t too bad, but we lost quite a bit of time in the second stint trying to clear people. We went aggressive on the first few out laps, which meant we jumped people, but the tyres didn’t like it. That meant the second stint was a disaster really in terms of pace at the end and that loaded the other two stints up.

“In the middle of the race I thought I could get on the podium, but then it was about pace management and it’s a fine line between racing and saving tyres. Others pitted a bit before me at the end, but it wasn’t enough for me to get home. If you race people hard then you run out of tyres, but if you don’t then they come through. In the end it was a pretty good battle with Lewis for both of us; neither of us had any tyres left, but we were trying to race as best we could.”

Daniel Ricciardo: “I got a reasonable start, better than some of the guys around me and I got ahead of Grosjean. Then at some point, I locked up the wheels and lost a position or two. All afternoon, we just struggled with speed: in the first stint, tyre warm-up was a problem and I was losing a lot of time on braking.

“We never really recovered, even though we tried to make a few changes to the balance of the car at the pit stops. We must look into what exactly was wrong with the car as we were really limited in terms of downforce.”

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Categories
Formula 1 Lotus Red Bull Racing

Sebastian Vettel wins 2013 Bahrain GP

2013 Bahrain Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) started the Bahrain Grand Prix from the front row and went on to pocket yet another easy F1 victory in last night’s race. He finished ahead of the Lotus pairing, with Kimi Raikkonen extending his sequence of race finishes to an impressive 31 by taking second place and Romain Grosjean enjoying his return to the podium in third.

Those paying attention at home will recognise these are the same podium placings we saw in Bahrain last year.

Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) raised a few eyebrows by claiming pole position and his subsequent race finish of ninth proved that surprise was justified. Rosberg just didn’t have the race pace and although he led from the start Vettel was able to overtake him without too much bother on the second lap. And for Vettel that was pretty much the end of his troubles. It is his 28th race win and puts him clear of Sir Jackie Stewart on the all-time winners list.

Perhaps Vettel may have been given a tougher test if the rear wing on Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari had a spine to match its driver. Twice Alonso was forced into the pits in the early stages to have his DRS flap closed, yet he was able to fight his way back into the top 10, finishing eighth and earning himself four very valuable points.

Paul di Resta (Force India) looked set to earn his first podium finish thanks to some good raw pace and a two-stop tyre strategy, the same as Raikkonen, alas for him Grosjean was able to reel him in and demote the Scot to fourth place, which is still a career best for him.

Speaking of being reeled in, Mark Webber’s year and perhaps his whole Red Bull career was encapsulated in the final lap, which he started in fifth place and ended in seventh, all while his teammate cruised to glory. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) first, then Sergio Perez (McLaren) got passed Mark and his rapidly deteriorating tyres on the last lap to claim fifth and six places. Not the best result for Mark in his 200th F1 start.

Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) had an almost anonymous race and after his previous high in China will have been disappointed to finish in P16. But, at least he finished, unlike teammate Jean-Eric Vergne, who got tangled up with backmarkers and was the only driver who failed to finish.

There’s a couple of weeks off before the F1 circus finds its way back to Europe and as is often the case the season is wonderfully placed with so much potential to surprise. Let’s just hope the season doesn’t mirror the result in Bahrain and sees Vettel race off into the sunset unopposed.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Categories
MINI Targa Tasmania

To finish first, first you have to finish

2013 Targa Tasmania

As many of you will know, especially those who follow AUSmotive on twitter and Facebook, I have been away for Targa Tasmania this past week. I was working as service crew for some friends of mine who were going really well. Indeed, they were flying, setting personal best times stage after stage.

Alas, as the photo above shows, seeing the team’s MINI John Cooper Works on a trailer rather than at the finish line in Hobart would tend to indicate that all didn’t end well.

So, while we were basking in the glow that Robbo and Tom were heading for a best ever finish—leading their category and racing towards a top 10 placing in the Modern outright classifications—fate dealt a cruel blow, with only two stages to go.

Robbo’s MINI broke a belt which meant a number of things went wrong, chief among them being no more alternator and the car was overheating. It couldn’t be driven through the final stages without causing terminal engine failure and there was no time to fix the car before the next stage.

And that, as they say, is motor racing.

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VII – Australian pricing & specs

2013 Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Australia has just launched the new Golf VII to the local market. The new and improved seventh generation Golf is also the current World Car of the Year.

At launch the Golf VII will be available in four spec levels, starting with the 90TSI priced from $21,490 with a 6-speed manual. The Golf 90TSI Comfortline carries a list price of $24,990; add $2500 to both if you’d like a 7-speed DSG transmission.

The current top of the range is the Highline model, available with DSG only, the 103TSI (7-speed) costs $31,990 and the 110TDI (6-speed) starts from $34,490.

Power comes from a new EA211 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine, available with 90kW or 103kW, or a 110kW 2.0 litre EA288 diesel engine.

The new Golf is a bit lighter and a bit more fuel efficient than the old Mk6 model. And you can expect the Mk7 Golf to be just a little bit better all round compared with the previous-generation. The Golf is not really one to make a habit of taking giant leaps forward. When you consider the Mk6 Golf was a very good car in its own right, that’s no criticism either.

A host of new technology and specification has found its way on the Golf for the first time, including a panoramic glass sunroof option, fatigue detection, Adaptive Cruise C0ntrol, City Emergency Braking, Stop/Start and more.

Also now included across the entire Golf range for the first time is the XDL electronic differential lock, which was previously only available on the Golf GTI.

There’s more detail after the break and if you’re keen to see the new Golf in local showrooms make sure you arm yourself with the full detail available in the Australian press kit. At 70 pages it should keep you busy for some time.

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Categories
Subaru

Has Subaru bottled it with its new WRX?

Subaru WRX prototype

It’s only a couple of weeks since Subaru raised hopes that they were about to, finally, release a very nice looking WRX. Alas new, if not unexpected, evidence suggests the stunning WRX Concept could be little more than a cock tease.

To be fair it’s a little hard to tell under all that camouflage, but this prototype 2014 Impreza WRX, or possibly even a WRX STi, seen lapping the Nürburgring doesn’t appear to resemble too much of what we saw at the New York Auto Show.

Please Subaru, do it right, just press copy on the concept model you’ve already teased us with.

For a better look at the WRX prototype make sure you check the full Pistonspy gallery using the link below.

[Source: Pistonspy]

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Categories
Volkswagen

2014 Volkswagen Golf R spied in testing

2014 Volkswagen Golf R prototype

With the industry pool returning to the Nürburgring this week Volkswagen’s Mk7 Golf R dropped by to wind its way around the famed 20.832km track.

Big front air intakes look set to remain and the centre-mount twin exhaust tips will make way for quad tips, with two on either side of the car.

Now that we’ve seen the specs for the Audi S3 we can probably make a well educated guess and state the new R will use the latest Haldex V all-wheel drive system and boast 221kW/380Nm or thereabouts. Although some reports suggest power may be clipped to 213kW.

[Source: Autoblog | Pic: CarPix]

Categories
Formula 1 Motorsports Porsche Red Bull Racing

Porsche says no, everyone else says yes

2013 Chinese Grand Prix

Porsche insist no contract has been signed to tie Mark Webber to the company’s new chase for outright success at Le Mans which starts next year.

“Mark Webber has not signed a five year contract with Porsche,” claimed a company executive speaking to German newspaper Die Welt.

“Porsche has a squad of ten highly successful works drivers, forming an excellent basis for the occupation of the LMP1 cockpits from 2014.”

In an interview with Auto Action Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche’s research and development boss added: “We still have plenty of time to decide our driver line up.

“We will use some of our own drivers and add some external drivers—we have two cars and need six drivers next year. There is a test plan, and for sure Mark Webber is not part of them.

“For now we are concentrating on the schedule—the plan is a mid-year roll-out of the car, and in the autumn we will finalise our driver combination. What we need is the best combination of drivers that fit together.

“LMP1 is a team sport, and if you have three of the quickest drivers, I am not sure that this is the best way. Yes, we can have perhaps some Formula 1 drivers in the future, but it is not necessary.”

Trouble is, the wider industry isn’t buying into Porsche’s denials. Audi very much believe Porsche “could go in that direction” admitted a team member at the 6 Hours of Silverstone last weekend.

Meanwhile, former Porsche sportscar legend and four-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell shared his view that Webber will leave F1 for Porsche. “I hear he (Webber) has gone,” he told the Huffington Post.

On the one hand seeing Mark help to lead Stuttgart’s charge at Le Mans makes us excited, but we’ll be sad to see him leave F1 when that day comes.

[Source: Motorsport.com & ESPN F1 | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Volkswagen WRC

Sebastien Ogier wins 2013 Rally Portugal

2013 Rally Portugal, Volkswagen

Illness and mechanical gremlins could not stop the increasingly rapid Sebastien Ogier juggernaut from claiming victory at Rally Portugal last weekend.

The Volkswagen driver made it a threepeat of rally wins, adding to his success in Sweden and Mexico. And in a sign that things could be about to get worse for Volkswagen’s rivals Jari-Matti Latvala showed signs he is finally coming to grips with the Polo R WRC as well.

Ogier won the rally by almost a minute from Citroën’s Mikko Hirvonen. Latvala was third, his first podium for Volkswagen, and only a temporary issue with a broken driveshaft prevented him from contributing to the team’s first 1–2 result in the WRC.

Further images and detail from Volkswagen can be seen below.

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Categories
Motorsports Peugeot

Sebastien Loeb’s Peugeot 208 T16 revealed

Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak

Peugeot has revealed Sebatsien Loeb’s newest plaything, the 208 T16 Pikes Peak. As the name suggests this is the car Loeb will drive in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It doesn’t look much like a garden variety 208 GTi anymore does it.

For the technically minded you’ll just have to make do with the pics for now. Peugeot is keeping the surprises regarding engine specs, power and even the racing livery for closer to the event, which takes place at the end of June.

We can tell you the massive rear wing has been adapted from Peugeot’s former 908 LMP1 racecars used during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which in itself is kinda cool.

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