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Audi

Audi allroad shooting brake concept revealed

Audi allroad shooting brake concept

Last month Audi previewed what we now know is the allroad shooting brake concept, which is what you see here. Then, and now, it’s clear this show car is a real-world preview of the next-gen TT coupé.

Certainly, if you look inside the cabin, the dash of this shooting brake concept matches the new TT interior revealed in Las Vegas last week.

On the outside the production TT may not match this concept panel for panel, but you can expect the front grille, headlight treatment and general shape of the TT to be directly descended from the shooting brake concept.

Indeed, Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, Audi’s Technical Development boss, has said as much: “We are offering very concrete glimpses of the near future in this show car.”

The design language previewed here will likely carry across other future models as well. The next A4, for example.

For what it’s worth the allroad shooting brake is powered by a 300kW/650Nm petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. The bulk of that power comes from a 2.0 TFSI petrol engine producing 215kW/380Nm. While two electric motors provide the rest: 40kW at the front axle and a separate motor for the rear axle offering 85kW. They say both motors can operate together with the petrol engine, so that makes 340kW to us. Never mind.

Despite the use of aluminium and CFRP for the body panels the concept still tips the scales at a not so moderate 1600kg, but with all hands on deck in the drivetrain department and a ubiquitous double-clutch gearbox the allroad shooting brake can reach 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.

Oh, and, don’t you just love the way car makers post-rationalise their concept models. Audi’s explanation for this concept model is a bit like a tampon commercial:

The versatility and functionality of the Audi allroad shooting brake is ideal for young, sporty and active people. In the winter in California, for example, they could drive the car from Los Angeles to the San Gabriel Mountains for snowboarding in the morning, and then head out to at Venice Beach for some kite surfing in the afternoon.

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Formula 1

FIA confirms 2014 F1 driver numbers

Romain Grosjean

Overnight the FIA confirmed the entry list for the 2014 Formula 1 season, and in doing so gave us the list of numbers drivers will now use on a permanent basis.

Of note is the fact current world champion Sebastian Vettel will carry number 1 this year but has selected the number 5 to use should he ever find himself in the unfamiliar position of being a loser.

Pastor Maldonado deserves a special mention, too, for bringing the number 13 back to Formula 1. The number was first used by the Delage factory team in the mid-1920s but was dropped after two drivers were killed. From that time on the number has rarely been seen on F1 cars.

There have been just two exceptions, in 1963 by Moises Solana driving a BRM at his home grand prix in Mexico and by Divina Galica in 1976, who tried her best but failed to qualify for the British Grand Prix at the wheel of a Surtees.

We still don’t know who will be driving for Caterham this year and while Max Chilton is listed for Marussia we understand a contract has not been signed and, for now, his number has not been confirmed.

At this stage only Sebastian Vettel (1), Kimi Raikonnen (7) and Romain Grosjean (8) will use the same numbers they carried in 2013.

The current list of entries form the FIA cautiously shows an asterisk next to the Lotus and Marussia entries, labelled “subject to confirmation”. A few money-related hurdles to be overcome, by the looks. Worrying signs for Lotus, who has had something of a financial shadow hanging over it for some time now.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Daniel Ricciardo will race with number 3 in 2014

Daniel Ricciardo confirms his F1 number

Just in via twitter, confirmation from Daniel Ricciardo himself, that the new Red Bull Racing driver will be racing with number 3 in 2014 and beyond. Until he earns the right to carry the number 1, of course!

After the break you can see why Daniel chose the number 3.

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Ford WRC

Robert Kubica already impressing M-Sport

Ford Fiesta RRC

Robert Kubica’s move to full-time WRC driver is looking good according to his new team, M-Sport, who are impressed with his dedication.

The 29-year-old Polish driver made a good impact last weekend after a winning debut with M-Sport in the European Rally Championship at the wheel of a Fiesta RRC (pictured above). Robert was competing in the Jänner Rallye in Austria as a warm up for his WRC duties. A late charge on the final stage on the back of an inspired tyre choice saw him overcome an 11.8 second deficit to claim victory.

“If you look at his performance at the weekend, it was very, very strong the whole way through and he saved the best for last,” said M-Sport team boss Malcolm Wilson. “He used what experience he’s got to make a fantastic tyre choice combination.”

Adding to the strong impression already made by Kubica is willingness to work with his new engineers.

“What’s really shocked me is the amount of dedication and commitment that he puts into it,” added Wilson. “As an example, with the restrictions on his arm, he was at the workshop till 11pm the other night working with the engineers to reconfigure the handbrake and gearshift mechanism.”

For the 2014 season, Maciej Szczepaniak will replace Kubica’s former co-driver Maciek Barran, who retired from rallying late last year.

Szczepaniak was beside Kubica for last weekend’s ERC win and with greater time together and more time in the Fiesta RS WRC Malcolm Wilson expects Kubica will improve as the 2014 season progresses.

“Some of the times he was doing in WRC2, nobody has got that close to World Rally Car pace in a regional car before,” Wilson said. “In the second half of the season with the Tarmac events he’s already done, he’s going to be really strong.”

[Source: Autosport | Pic: M-Sport]

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Volkswagen WRC

Volkswagen ready for 2014 WRC title defence

2014 Volkswagen Polo R WRC

The 2014 WRC season kicks of with Rallye Monte Carlo next week and Volkswagen is ready to defend its world championship status.

Volkswagen forged an impressive reliability record with the Polo R WRC in 2013 and has made developments on last year’s car which it hopes will keep it at the front of the pack.

“When it comes to technical development, you simply cannot afford to let up for a single second,” said Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Although we won some laurels in 2013, we have certainly not rested on them.

“The manufacturers in the World Rally Championship agreed not to homologate any new World Rally Cars for the 2014 season. Despite this, we tried to take full advantage of the options still available to us. Many detailed aspects of the 2014 Polo R WRC have been further developed since we made our debut twelve months ago.”

Of course, in 2014 we see a new factory team to contend with on the form of Hyundai Motorsport. A welcome addition to the WRC, no doubt. Citroën, especially, and Ford will be hoping for better outcomes this year, as well.

In many respects this year will be harder for Volkswagen than last, they now have so much more to lose, and it will be fascinating to see how the season develops.

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Formula 1 News

Excessive speed not a factor in Schumacher accident

2012 European Grand Prix

French investigators have studied a helmet-mounted camera worn by Michael Schumacher and discovered reckless speed was not the cause of his accident.

“We know precisely what path Schumacher was skiing along,” said Public prosecutor Patrick Quincy. “We will be able to say with as much precision as is ever possible, how the accident came about.”

Based on the footage the investigators have said Michael was approximately 8m from the groomed trail and he hit a rock, which caused him to fall.

“We cannot recognise [from the footage] that he was traveling at a particularly high speed,” police commander Stephane Bozon said. He later commented that Schumacher was moving “at the standard speed of an experience skier.”

Meanwhile, Michael remains in an induced coma and in a critical condition. We all hope Michael will resume full fitness, but if he does it will take a long time.

Michael’s wife, Corinna, has asked the media pack outside the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Grenoble for privacy.

“It is important for me that you take the pressure off the doctors and the hospital, so that they can work in peace,” she said. “Please trust their statements and leave the clinic. Please leave our family in peace, too.”

[Source: Deutsche Welle | Pic: Mercedes AMG]

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Formula 1

Formula 1’s lucky numbers

2013 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

As the new F1 season draws near we can start getting all excited about the numbers the drivers will choose in this new era of permanent numbers.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen wants number 7 apparently. But so does Jules Bianchi. A bitch fight to settle it perhaps?

Other numbers nominated to date include:

  • Fernando Alonso (14)
  • Valtteri Bottas (77)
  • Jenson Button (22)
  • Romain Grosjean (8)
  • Kevin Magnussen (20)
  • Felipe Massa (19)
  • Sergio Perez (11)
  • Nico Rosberg (6)
  • Jean-Eric Vergne (25)

It’s not known yet if Daniel Ricciardo has selected a preference. Do you think he will stick with the number 19 he raced with in 2013 or choose something new?

We wonder, if our Mark was still in F1 if he would choose number 2, just for a laugh?

[Source: Planet F1 | Pic: Toro Rosso/Getty Images]

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Subaru

2015 Subaru WRX STi leaked, of course

Subaru WRX STi

Despite being less than a week from its official debut can anyone say they are surprised to see images of the all-new Subaru WRX STi ahead of schedule?

Admittedly it’s not starting with a great canvas, the recently released WRX, but this new STi version does look a bit better. Even if only because it has been romanticised with is WRC-inspired blue paint and gold wheels.

While we do have photos, we don’t have anything other than guess work regarding the engine being fed by that bonnet scoop. It will be a four cylinder, it will be turbocharged and it’s likely to have more than 300hp (220kW+). But we don’t know if its capacity will be 2.0 or 2.5 litres.

Not long to wait until we find out, the car will be revealed next week at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit.

[Source: Terra Autos]

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Motorsports

Formula E car takes to Las Vegas streets

Formula E Spark-Renault SRT 01E

The Formula E Spark-Renault SRT 01E made its “dynamic public appearance” on the streets of Las Vegas earlier this week. It was all part of the events held around the Consumer Electronics Show. All we can say is, based on these photos and supplied video, that it was a totally underwhelming experience.

Things will have to get a little bit more exciting if this new and visionary category, which we hope will succeed, is going to capture the attention of motor racing fans.

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz GLA 45 AMG revealed

Mercedes GLA 45 AMG

As night follows day Mercedes-Benz has found another model to stuff its mighty 265kW/450Nm 2.0 litre turbocharged engine into. After servicing the hot hatch and saloon markets, Mercedes has now turned its hand to the all conquering mid-size SUV segment with the GLA 45 AMG.

As its name suggests this is the lovechild of the A45 AMG and GLA. What we have here is an SUV, a Mercedes-Benz and an AMG! How can anybody resist that holy trinity?

The car will make its public debut in Detroit next week before going on sale in Europe in July. And we predict they will sell a fair few as well.

As with its hatch and sedan siblings the GLA 45 AMG features a 7-speed dual clutch transmission and 4matic all-wheel drive system. The baby SUV AMG can reach 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, two tenths slower than the hatch. Presumably that’s die to increased weight, although we don’t have the stats to confirm that at this stage.

This is now a well proven recipe for Mercedes-Benz and greater detail can be found after the break, along with additional photos.

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Audi

A look inside the new Audi TT

2014 Audi TT interior

Audi has used the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to preview the interior of the new TT. After getting a taste of the 8V A3 the finish of the forthcoming TT is as you’d expect. That said this interior does take quite a leap forward.

You will notice a large TFT monitor behind the steering wheel. This has been labelled the Audi virtual cockpit and by combining the instrument cluster with the digital display Audi has done away with a traditional central screen above the transmission tunnel. That move has also brought about the move of the climate control vents featuring a small display to show the temperatue settings. Quite neat, really.

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Formula 1

A look at how the 2014 F1 season is shaping up

2014 Renault Sport F1 V6 engine

As you are probably aware the 2014 Formula 1 season is shaping up as one of the most open we’ve seen in recent years. The reason for this is the new regulations which will take the sport forward in the quest for more energy efficient engines.

With all teams starting from scratch it is likely to be the team who best adapts to the new regs and has the most reliable “power unit” who is able to break away from the others. And with only five engines (it’s just easier to call them that) per driver per year reliability is going to be a huge concern.

The engines will be 1.6 litre turbocharged V6 in configuration with a 15000rpm limit. Power will be down from around 750hp to 600hp. To compensate for that loss, the Energy Recovery System will be enhanced to provide double the power it has in the past, now up to 160hp. Also, instead of having the ability to use ERS for around six seconds per lap, drivers will have access to ERS for around 33 seconds each lap.

Cosworth will no longer supply engines to Marussia in 2014, which leaves Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault as the three manufacturers to support Formula 1 this year.

Last year a car could carry a total of 160kg of fuel at the start of a race, in 2014 that limit will be just 100kg. Further, in anticipation of heavier ERS components, the overall minimum weight of the car (including driver, but not fuel) increases from 624kg to 690kg.

Bodywork changes will alter the look of the cars. To start with the height of the front nose has changed dramatically, with a limit of 185mm, down from the 550mm we saw in 2013. There will be no more exhaust blowing at all, only a single exit exhaust at the rear of the car will be permitted. The front wing will be narrower and the rear wing will be shallower, as well.

In addition to the FIA’s new technical regulations, some rather radical changes have been introduced for the sporting regulations as well. Most notably these include: double points for the final race in Abu Dhabi, a pole position trophy and permanent numbers for the drivers.

The season begins in earnest in mid-March at the Australian Grand Prix, but pre-season testing kicks off in late January. Lotus has already announced it will be missing the first test as the rush to prepare these new cars hits home.

Almost all teams have locked away their drivers for 2014; Marussia and Caterham still have vacancies. After the break you can see the most recent list of teams and drivers, the full 2014 calendar, as well as a brief video from Sky Sports F1.

UPDATE 24 January: New video added explaining how the 2014 power units will work.

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