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News

Life in the slow lane?

Queenstown, New Zealand

A short word to let you know that I plan to scale back AUSmotive for a while. That may mean you’ll see no updates for a week, or it might mean you see regular articles being added as per normal. I’m not really sure.

After almost five years of running AUSmotive out of love, and certainly not money, while also working full time in a totally unrelated field, I need a longer term break.

For now, though, thank you to all of you who have been regularly checking in to the site over the years and, hopefully, I’ll be back bigger and better at some stage in the future.

Liam
AUSmotive Editor/Founder

[Pic: Noah Hawthorne Photography]

Categories
Top Gear

Top Gear Season 19 starts on 27 January

Top Gear Season 19

Good news for Top Gear fans waiting for Series 19 to air, with word coming through the boys are due back at their Dunsfold hangar filming on Wednesday 23 January. That means we can expect to see the first episode of the next season on UK screens on Sunday 27 January.

For now it looks as though there could only be five episodes in the nineteenth season, but we can hope for more. Don’t forget, the latest Christmas special is due to go to air in February as well (see below).

As previously posted they’ve even been kind enough to give us a preview of Series 19, which we have repeated for you below.

  • Christmas special has been filmed, but broadcast to be delayed until February 2013. Clarkson has already hinted: “Well people here we go. Warm clothes and thick boots packed.”
  • Another cross-Euro race featuring car v public transport.
  • Kris Meeke and James May go rallying in a Bentley Continental GT.
  • Jeremy in the Ferrari F12 berlinetta.
  • Other cars to be featured include the Toyota 86, new Ford Focus ST, Jaguar F-Type, new Porsche 911, a new Lotus and the new Range Rover.
  • As well as the suggestion of including a special McLaren (not the P1, yet) and the Peugeot Onyx concept.

[Source: Finalgear]

Categories
F1 in pictures

The 2012 Formula 1 season in pictures

2012 Brazilian Grand Prix

As has become tradition here at AUSmotive we’re pleased to bring you a Christmas Day special, with links to all 20 of our F1 photo galleries from 2012.

Once again Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing proved to be a winning combination. Although, early on in the year—remember, we saw seven different winners in the first seven races—the young German didn’t have it all his own way. It wasn’t until that string of four successive wins in Asia that a third world championship seemed likely.

We hope you enjoy reflecting on the 2012 F1 season with our galleries and that you have a safe and happy Christmas with a fantastic 2013 around the corner.

Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari’s new F150 supercar revealed (or not)

Ferrord F150

Ferrari has sensationally revealed their new F150 hypercar on Christmas eve and we can bring you this exclusive new photo!

Okay, well maybe not, but after seeing Ferrari reignite the F150 bagde, even if it may only be an internal code, we couldn’t resist bringing back this spoof image from last year, following Ford’s demands that Ferrari cease referring to its F1 car as the F150.

Categories
Ferrari

Looking back at the new Ferrari F150

Ferrari F70 teaser

Ferrari F70 teaser

Earlier in the month we got a look at the front of the Ferrari F70. Now, the Ferrari website is teasing the F70’s backside, as well as its front, with a page titled “Special Limited Series”.

And what do you know, Ferrari’s new hypercar isn’t going to be called the F70 at all, rather the F150. Hmm, isn’t the F150 a pickup truck and haven’t we been here before?

Anyway, back to the images. It’s going to look pretty special, don’t you think? Of course, the car itself will be special too. Under a page titled “Solving the mystery”, Ferrari has this to say on the F150’s powertrain:

The F150 will be powered by a development of the 740 CV 6.3-litre V12 introduced in the new F12berlinetta, along with the latest evolution of Ferrari’s HY-KERS electric hybrid system unveiled at the Geneva Show in 2010. The HY-KERS system is a performance enhancer, as well as a tool in the battle to lower emissions.

On the seating position:

In order to rationalise interior space, the cockpit, and consequently the entire vehicle, is built around the driver, making the most of Ferrari’s experience, both in functionality and ergonomics. Hence the decision to adopt a fixed seat, which will be made to measure (as it is in an F1 car), with an adjustable pedal box and steering wheel.

On the development team:

A working group of F1 and GT engineers has been focused on the chassis for more than three years, availing itself of the contribution of Rory Byrne, who helped win 11 world titles in his role as the Scuderia’s Chief Designer.

We can’t wait to see the full details! There’s a few more teaser pics after the break, too.

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Luca di Montezemolo writes a letter

Luca di Montezemolo

Ferrari Chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, has shared his thoughts on the 2012 F1 season with a letter/interview issued by the Ferrari press department.

It covers obvious topics like Sebastian Vettel driving for Ferrari, as well as the yellow flag controversy surrounding the championship decider in Brazil.

But di Montezemolo also aired his views on a number of other aspects concerning Formula 1, including the legacy of Max Mosley‘s budget caps, the lack of testing and, ultimately, the future of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone. It’s not the first time di Montezemolo has had a crack at Bernie and it seems pretty clear he’s not a fan:

“The era of the one man show cannot continue: the future should be in the hands of a team that will look after all the different areas. We are slowly approaching the end of a period characterised by the style of one man who has done significant things. It’s a bit of a similar case to what will happen to me: within the decade I will face this question, but when I am 75 not 82…”

You can read the letter in full after the break. And we suggest you do.

Categories
Porsche

Former Porsche CEO charged with market manipulation

Dr Wendelin Wiedeking walks

Former Porsche CEO, Wendelin Wiedeking, and ex-Chief Financial Officer, Holger Haerter, have been charged with market manipulation, following three years of investigations. The charges surround the handling of the ill-fated takeover of Volkswagen back in 2009.

Automotive News has the story:

The indictment was filed after more than three years of investigations into claims Porsche misled investors in 2008 when it denied that it sought to buy VW. The company in October of that year disclosed a plan to take control of the carmaker.

“The investigation found the suspects in February 2008 at the latest made the decision to increase Porsche’s share in Volkswagen to 75 percent in the first quarter of 2009 to prepare a takeover,” Claudia Krauth, spokeswoman for Stuttgart prosecutors, said today.

In the period between March 10 and October 2, 2008, Porsche denied at least five times that it planned to increase its VW stake to 75 percent, Krauth said. The denials influenced VW’s share price, she said.

[Source: Automotive News]

Categories
Lamborghini Video

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento arrives in London

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento arrives in London

A couple of weeks ago this footage was filmed showing the one-off Lamborghini Sesto Elemento being delivered to Lamborghini London.

You may recall we were lucky enough to get up close and personal with this stunning creation at the Australian International Motor Show earlier this year. It’s just a totally magnificent car.

While this example is the only one in the world at the moment, a total of 20 Sesto Elementos are expected to be made. And if you’ve got a lazy couple of million bucks burning a hole in your pocket then we suggest you get in touch with your closest Lambo dealer right now.

Weighing in at just 999kg the spectacular carbon fibre origami creation can reach triple figures in 2.5 seconds. That’s thanks to its 570hp 5.2 litre V10. It has to be one of the most extreme cars money can buy.

Which is why watching this video is often times a little disturbing. On the one hand it is quite refreshing to see how unplanned and low key this delivery was. But we also wonder how these guys might go organising a piss up in a brewery.

Categories
MINI

MINI Australia extends JCW GP allocation to 55

MINI John Cooper Works GP

Christmas has come early for local fans of the MINI John Cooper Works GP, with an extra 25 models confirmed for Australian delivery. That brings Australia’s total allocation to 55, following an earlier boost of 10, and now 25, extra models. A nice increase from the originally announced 20 deliveries.

The JCW GP is priced from $56,900 and, unusually for a MINI, is unable to be altered from the standard spec.

MINI Australia General Manager, Kai Bruesewitz says demand for the exclusive model is running high, “Almost every JCW GP Edition already has a customer name against it and judging by the success of previous limited edition MINI models, the remainder won’t be gathering dust.

“With a total worldwide production of just 2,000 units, the MINI JCW GP Edition looks set to become an instant collector’s item and Australia punches well above its weight in securing a substantial chunk of that production.”

MINI say the GP2 can lap the Nürburgring in 8 minutes 23 seconds and call it the fastest MINI ever. The first Australian deliveries are expected in January.

Categories
Ford Video

VIDEO: Ford hoons way into festive season

Ford Snowkhana One xmas video

Ford has hooned its way into the festive season with this stop-animation spoof of Ken Block’s Gymkhana video series. The clip is titled Snowkhana One and would have been a total ball ache to make. The tyre smoke being the standout here.

Have a look at the video after the break and let us know what you think, was it worth the effort?

Categories
BMW

BMW M135i laps Nürburgring in 8:18

BMW M135i

The BMW M135i has been winning the hearts and minds of the world’s motoring press since its release. Now, German mag Sport Auto has used the 235kW/450Nm offered in the M135i to good effect by lapping the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife in 8 minutes 18 seconds.

It’s understood the car used by Sport Auto was fitted with a 6-speed manual transmission and was rear-wheel drive, rather than an all-paw xDrive model.

Here’s a list of other times achieved by Sport Auto test driver Horst von Saurma that are around the same as the M135i:

  • 8:05 – BMW M3 (2007)
  • 8:09 – Audi RS4 (2006)
  • 8:09 – BMW M6 (2005)
  • 8:13 – BMW M5 (2004)
  • 8:13 – Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG (2009)
  • 8:15 – BMW 1 Series M Coupé (2011)
  • 8:16 – Porsche Cayman S (2009)
  • 8:18 – BMW M135i (2012)
  • 8:22 – BMW M3 (2000)
  • 8:25 – Lotus Exige S (2008)
  • 8:26 – Audi S5 (2008)

[Source: bmwblog.com]

Categories
Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C prototype has an oopsie

Alfa Romeo 4C prototype

Alfa Romeo’s development of the highly anticipated 4C sports coupé continues apace. In fact, after this prototype ended up in a ditch, you could say things are moving too fast.

There’s no details of what happened, just a short video showing the Alfa workers scratching their heads alongside the 4C. Thankfully it doesn’t appear that anything other that pride was seriously damaged.

Also making a brief appearance in the video is another prototype. Hard to tell what it is; a new Giulia or even an SUV maybe?

[Source: Carscoop]