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Formula 1

Is the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix up the Creek?

Eastern Creek International Raceway

Could the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix be heading to Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Raceway? Or will it be up the creek after Melbourne’s contract ends in 2010? As they say, all will be revealed in the fullness of time. In the lead up to the 2008 Melbourne Grand Prix there had been plenty of speculation about Australia’s future as an F1 host. One of the major issues with a race down under is the television schedule it creates back in Europe, with a broadcast time in the wee hours of the morning. This year’s race was delayed some 90 minutes to allow a bit more sleep in for European F1 fans, and next year’s race will be further delayed. Mr Formula 1, Bernie Ecclestone, has all but demanded Melbourne run the Albert Park race under lights so as to further enhance the viewing pleasure of European television audiences or face losing the event. Mr Melbourne Grand Prix, Ron Walker, would probably like to do what Bernie says, but the costs involved with lighting up Albert Park are cost prohibitive and as a result it is hard to put forward a case for the Melbourne Grand Prix existing beyond 2010. So where does that leave the future of Formula 1 in Australia?

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Auctions & Sales Holden

Walkinshaw HSV VL Commodore: You paid how much?!

Walkinshaw HSV VL Commodore SS Group A

How much would you expect to pay for Tom Walkinshaw’s homage to Darth Vader? Well, according to news just in from Shannons, you’d better cancel your order for a new BMW 135i to free up the cash. The HSV VL Commodore SS Group A pictured above sold at auction recently for $87,000. I’ll type that again, the car pictured above sold at auction recently for $87,000. Wowsers!

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Honda

Honda’s Civic Type R wins design excellence award

Honda Civic Type R

The Civic Type R has just been announced as the winner of the Best Interior category in the 2008 Wheels Automotive Design Awards. The distinctive exterior of the current model Honda Civic Type R attracts plenty of attention, but if you’ve never seen inside the futuristic looking Honda then you’ve only really seen half the story. The car’s interior takes the drama and electronic trickery to a whole new level.

Sally Dominguez, from ABC TV’s New Inventors, was one of the judges and she said the Civic was a “brilliant and thorough realisation of original concept car. No compromise in execution. Fine, jewel-like detailing.”

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Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania – At your service

2008 Targa Tasmania

An all expenses paid trip to participate in Targa Tasmania. Sounds good doesn’t it. What would I be driving? And could it compete with Gentleman Jim’s brand new Porsche GT2? Service crew … what do you mean service crew? Yes, the offer to take part in my first Targa Tasmania was not behind the wheel of a tarmac tearaway, but behind the wheel of a service vehicle. Still, when Andrew Robinson asked me to join him and his 2002 MINI Cooper S for his fourth Targa Tasmania assault, I couldn’t say yes quick enough.

This opportunity came up by chance, as most pieces of good fortune do. As an owner of a MINI Cooper S since 2004 I’ve very much enjoyed the social aspect that MINI ownership brings. There’s been plenty of great drives and new friends made in that time. It is through such connections that I had previously met ‘Robbo’. He’s shown me the way around Wakefield Park once or twice and seems a likeable enough chap. So, let’s talk Targa…

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Drive Thru Reviews Volkswagen

Drive Thru: Volkswagen Golf GT TDI v GTI

Volkswagen Golf GT TDIVolkswagen Golf GTI
Welcome to AUSmotive’s first Drive Thru test. In time these will become more commonplace, they will offer independent thoughts gained on a brief test drive that is about what you’d expect from visiting your local dealer. Drive Thru reports are designed to be brief, to the point, and to help you choose what to test drive when considering your next purchase.

Whenever I can force the keys from my wife I really enjoy driving our 2006 Volkswagen Golf GTI three door. Believe the hype, the reviews that have universally hailed this car as the leader of its pack are, for my part, bang on the money. So, when the 2 litre 125kW Golf GT TDI was released last year I was keen to learn more about this diesel lark to see why it is that Australian buyers are embracing these new user friendly powerplants. Okay, so it’s taken me a while, but here goes.

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Categories
MINI Challenge

MINI Challenge gets Tune up in preparation for Round 3

MINI Challenge at Wakefield Park

It’s just over a week until Round 3 of the 2008 MINI Challenge fires up and the off track action since the Wakefield Park round has almost been as frenzied as the on track thrills and spills with a series of moves taking place (read the full articles below for the latest news). Round 3 of the 2008 MINI Challenge will support the BigPond 400 at Barbagallo Raceway, May 9-11, the fourth round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Race 2 of MINI Challenge from Barbagallo will be shown LIVE nationally on the Seven Network’s V8 Supercar coverage, with a 30 minute post-produced highlights package airing on May 31 from 1:30pm on the network.

Former Wallaby tackles MINI Challenge

Today MINI Australia announced that former test Rugby player Ben Tune will be taking the hot seat in the Uber-Star Car in Perth. “I’m definitely excited about it,” Tune said. “It isn’t every day you have an invitation to get behind the wheel of a racecar. I’m really looking forward to having a lot of fun while I’m in Perth, but also I hope to develop further as a driver.” Tune is a noted revhead and has business interests importing a range of accessories for the motoring market. The pun possibilities here are endless, haha. All the best to Ben, I’d love to be offered a drive like this, what a blast he will have!

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Mercedes-Benz

Australian pricing for new Benz CLS range

Mercedes Benz CLS

Mecedes-Benz Australia have today released pricing and specification details on their all new CLS class saloon range. The CLS still looks like a competently designed AU Falcon, something Ford couldn’t manage, with the attractive swooping hipline giving the big Benz it’s most distinguishing feature. As to be expected Mercedes have upped the ante on the electronic gadget front. LED lighting is used for rear tail lights and indicators, as well as in the often copied side mirror indicator repeaters. A revised steering wheel has also been introduced, but no word on whether it can be fitted with a diamond encrusted Benz roundel from factory. Other electronic specifications are best left to the press release, which reads:

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Categories
MINI

MINI drops LSD on factory JCW models

MINI JCWIn startling news, it is believed that MINI will not offer a limited slip differential option on the factory built JCW models. Australian delivered cars (6 speed manual Cooper S only) can currently be fitted with an optional LSD for AU$280. Instead, the new factory JCW range will feature the electronic aids DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and EDLC (Electronic Differential Lock Control). It remains to be seen how well these aids will cope with the expected 155kW driving through the front wheels. Debate rages as to the effectiveness, or otherwise, of the electronic diff in BMW’s new 225kW rear wheel drive 135i coupé.

Source: MotoringFile.com

Categories
Audi

Audi A4 Avant due in August

Audi A4 Avant

You should be able to see the sedan version of Audi’s new B8 model A4 at your local Audi Centre now, but for me, it is the Avant versions that have always looked the part. That probably stems back to my yearning for an Audi RS2 all those years ago. Of course, subsequent RS4s have done nothing to lessen that desire. I dunno, there’s just something really cool about a wagon with Porsche equalling performance. Looking at the pictures of the B8 Avant, and, yep, the desire is very much still there. Audi reckons the sculpted D-pillars give the car a ‘dynamic, coupe-like silhouette’. Forget the marketing speak, the car speaks for itself. It looks fantastic. A shame, then, that we’ll have to wait until August to see them in Australian showrooms.

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Targa Tasmania

Targa Tasmania in pictures – part 2

2008 Targa Tasmania

This is the second batch of images from my 2008 Targa Tasmania experience, all taken at the Longford town stage on Day 2. Most of the cars featured are from the classic categories. After Robbo went through in his MINI Cooper S (car #923) we had to get back to Launceston to help sort one of the minor gremlins that had appeared on his car. You’ll be able to read more about that when my detailed account is posted in the coming days.

In the meantime, enjoy these images. Point of note is the Porsche 356 (car #260) which was flown out to Tasmania especially for the event direct from the Porsche musuem in Germany. The car was driven by Klaus Bischof, the museum’s director. Nice work if you can get it!

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Categories
Peugeot Video

Climb Dance featuring Ari Vatanen

Welcome to one of the best pieces of motorsport footage ever filmed. Jean Louis Mourey’s five minute masterpiece captures the sights and sounds of Ari Vatanen at the 1988 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Vatanen literally manhandles his purpose built 447kW (599bhp) all wheel drive Peugeot 405 T16 to the summit on his way to victory in a then record time of 10:47.77. The current outright record, set at the 2007 event, is 10:01.41, set by Japan’s Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima driving a Suzuki XL7.

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Nissan Targa Tasmania

R35 Nissan GT-R world competition debut at Targa Tasmania

R35 Nissan GT-R at Targa Tasmania

The 2008 Targa Tasmania event marked the international racing debut for the new R35 Nissan GT-R. Sadly, the event didn’t go entirely to plan for the big Nissan, forced to withdraw from the event on Day 2 with suspension problems.

You can read more about the car’s involvement at Targa at gtrblog.com. There are also more pics below of the car at Targa Tasmania.

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