Year: 2011

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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Abu Dhabi GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Once again Sebastian Vettel proved his qualifying prowess by putting his Red Bull on pole position for the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is his fourteenth pole for the year and equals the record for most poles a single season with Nigel Mansell’s efforts in 1992.

Incredibly, Vettel, now on 29 career pole positions, needs just five more to move into third in the all-time list, behind Michael Schumacher (68) and Ayrton Senna (65).

Second fastest at Yas Marina was Lewis Hamilton. The McLaren driver had been the form driver of the practice sessions and was quickest in Q1 and Q2, but his best lap of 1:38.622 could not match Vettel’s time of 1:38.481.

Jenson Button completed the familiar trend of McLaren and Red Bull qualifying in the top three with a 1:38.631 lap time.

Australian drivers Mark Webber (Red Bull; 1:38.858) and Daniel Ricciardo (HRT; 1:44.641) qualified fourth and twenty-first respectively.

Comments from the first three can be read below.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images & Vodafone McLaren Mercedes]

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Categories
Citroen WRC

Loeb secures eighth world title at Rally GB

Sebastien Loeb

A retirement for Ford’s Mikko Hirvonen at the Rally of Great Britain has handed Sebastien Loeb his eighth consecutive WRC title. The rally is still in progress, but Loeb can no longer be beaten for the crown.

“Mikko was going like a bat out of hell and we were scrapping for every tenth of a second. In SS7, I started flat out as I wanted to get back in front,” said Loeb at the end of Day 2.

“There was fog and the grip suited me a lot better. Mikko made a mistake and the situation has turned in our favour. If his retirement is confirmed it means that we’re world champions, and we can take it easy.”

We’ll have more from Citroën after the rally is finished.

[Source: Citroën WRC]

Categories
BMW

VIDEO: BMW M5 going sideways

BMW F10 M5

BMW UK has released this promo video for the F10 M5. It’s well shot, the audio sounds good (even though we suspect it’s been enhanced a little) and does anyone ever get tired of watching a car going sideways? Find out for yourself after the break.

In the coming days we’ll have a special insight into the M5. Stay tuned!

[via BimmerFile]

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Categories
Volkswagen

VW Golf Cabriolet – Australian pricing & specs

Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet

Volkswagen’s sassy Golf Cabriolet is now on sale in Australia. With four seats and and retractable soft-top roof it further enhances the model range of the Golf for local buyers. Offered for sale with only the 118 TSI spec engine the Golf Cabrio is priced from $36,990 for the 6-speed manual and $39,490 for the 7-speed DSG.

The roof opens in nine seconds and can be operated at speeds up to 30km/h. Those concerned about the lack of roof and safety can be assured an automatic roll-over hoop deploys within 0.25 seconds of its sensors being alerted. The Golf Cabrio has also earned a five-star safety rating from EuroNCAP.

More detail from Volkswagen is available after the break, including PDF downloads for the detailed press release and full Australian specifications.

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Categories
Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque – Australian pricing & specs

Range Rover Evoque

The stylish Range Rover Evoque has just launched in Australia and get ready, you’ll soon be seeing these everywhere. Certainly, Range Rover is doing its part to cater to the largest audience possible by offering the market an extensive model range. There’s four basic models—three 4WD and one 2WD—available in ‘Pure’, ‘Dynamic’ or ‘Prestige’ specification. On top of those 12 basic variations, you can also choose a three or five door layout.

The Evoque range starts at $49,995 for the five door 110kW diesel-powered eD4 2WD ‘Pure’ and reaches its pricing-peak at $75,895 for the five door 177kW petrol-powered Si4 ‘Prestige’; add $1500 for Coupé models. That’s pretty sharp pricing for entry into Range Rover ownership. Although, the cheaper front-wheel drive models won’t be in Australia until mid-2012.

At launch, then, you’ll need $53,395 to get into an Evoque, the 110kW TD4 five door. Diesel models offer the choice of a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed auto ($2480). It’s also worth noting there’s more than $13,000 difference between the ‘Pure’ and ‘Dynamic’ spec, before a much smaller step of $2000 from ‘Dynamic’ to ‘Prestige’.

On top of the numerous model choices, Range Rover is offering 12 exterior colour options, plus three contrasting roof colours. It’s all a bit MINI-like, really, with thousands of possible permutations. It’s almost a bit too much to take in, which explains the lengthy press release available after the break.

As well as style, Range Rover claims substance when it states the Evoque provides “class-leading all-weather, all-surface capability with legendary Land Rover Terrain Response.” Naturally, these days, there’s an alphabet of traction and stability systems. Try these on for size: DSC, RSC, TCS, TSA, HDC, GRC and EDC. Let’s not forget the brake-related ABS, EBD, EBL, EBA or CBC.

We expect Range Rover will struggle to meet demand for the Evoque and predict they will fast become the must-have fashion accessory of 2012. Do you agree? Check out the photo gallery and extensive press release below and let us know what you think.

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Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

2011 Abu Dhabi GP: Take a lap around Yas Marina

McLaren’s Principal Race Engineer Phil Prew talks us through a lap of the 5.5km Yas Marina circuit ahead of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After the break you can see a preview of the race from Pirelli’s point of view.

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Categories
BMW

New BMW 4 Series coupé rendered

BMW F32 4 Series coupé rendering

The clever clogs from Wild Speed have produced a series of renderings of what they think the new BMW 4 Series coupé (F32) will look like. Of course, expected styling cues from the new F30 3 Series are all there and, also unsurprisingly, the mid-sized 4er looks a bit like a mini-me version of the 6er coupé.

Imagine the above kit with an M bodykit and a silky smooth high powered six cylinder engine and you’re looking at the proper ‘M3’, which will now be called an M4. In a few years time it will all make sense we suppose.

[Source: F30post]

Categories
Caterham Formula 1 Lotus

Joint statement on the Lotus position

2011 German Grand Prix

The two warring Lotus factions have issued a joint statement that proves everyone really does live happily ever after. In the public eye, at least. We expect behind closed doors there have been many toys thrown out of cots.

Apparently the two parties signed off an agreement in the last week or so with the terms to remain confidential.

Stick with us, this next bit might get a bit confusing. The brands ‘Lotus’ and ‘Team Lotus’ will be reunited under the Group Lotus banner. As previously reported, the former owners of the Team Lotus brand, 1Malaysia Team Racing, will become known as the Caterham F1 Team.

In 2012 we expect Lotus will continue with the black and gold livery and Caterham F1 has declared its intention to maintain its green and yellow colours.

The loving words of the joint statement can be read in full after the break. We suggest you imagine Dany Bahar, Group Lotus CEO, and Tomy Fernandes,  1Malaysia Team Racing owner, in a passionate embrace as you read the fairy tale below.

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupé Black Series – Australian pricing & specs

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series

Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.

And Lord, can it please be a $245,000 C63 AMG Coupé Black Series? There’s only 32 coming to Australia and I kind of need to know now if you can help or else I will probably miss out.

Do you think he’ll help? I’ve got until April next year to get the money. That’s about five months away. Maybe I could save the cash myself, it’s only about $1700 a day.

Yes, we are big fans of the C63 Coupé AMG Black here at AUSmotive and we reckon a fair number of you will be as well. It has to be one of the best looking and most aggressively styled cars to come out of a German factory ever. With 380kW of normally aspirated 6.3 litre V8 fury it will go like stink as well.

Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Mr Horst von Sanden is very confident he will have no trouble shifting the C63 AMG Black from his showrooms.

“In Australia we have offered two AMG Black Series models in the past and they were very quickly snapped up by AMG aficionados who recognised their unique character and scarcity,” said von Sanden.

“The C 63 AMG Coupe Black Series will be limited to a total of 35 units for Australia and New Zealand. Obviously we wanted to get more but, the global customer demand for this latest Black Series has seen our allocation limited… and we already have a double figure order bank.”

More from Mercedes-Benz Australia after the break, including basic specification. Start saving!

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Categories
Formula 1 News

‘Rush’ filming on location at Nürburgring

'Rush' filming, November 2011

Ron Howard and his merry men have recently been spotted shooting scenes for the upcoming movie Rush. The latest motorsport story to hit the silver screen will focus on the epic Niki Lauda–James Hunt battle from the 1976 Formula One season.

Pistonspy has a great selection of images of the old skool Grand Prix cars circulating on the old course; follow the source link for more. Awesome!

[Source: Pistonspy]

Categories
BMW

BMW F80 M3 has a day out at the Nürburgring

Bimmerpost brings us some video of the next-gen BMW M3 undergoing testing at the Nürburgring. Although a fair portion of the clip shows the sedan and coupé prototypes on regular public roads as the cars make the short transit between the Nordschleife and BMW’s test facility in the village of Nürburg.

We think we know the F80M will be powered by a six cylinder engine (it certainly sounds this way). But we don’t know if it will be a straight six or a V6. We think we know the engine will be turbocharged. But we don’t know if there will be one, two or even three turbos.

We’re also not sure if the turbo(s) will be a traditional configuration or a fancy new electronic gizmo, or perhaps a combination of both technologies.

So, as you can see there’s a lot of speculation happening with the new M3 at the moment. Also, don’t forget a change in BMW model naming means the M3 will be a sedan and the more traditional coupé will be badged as an M4.

All should become much clearer when the M3 sedan debuts in concept form at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show next March. We think.

[Source: Bimmerpost]

Categories
Nissan

Nissan GT-R – MY12 specs released

MY12 Nissan GT-R

It looks just like the old one, but Nissan is adamant they have made changes to their flagship GT-R model. First, the big news, a reversing camera is now standard!

Of more merit is a 20PS power increase, taking the peak figure up to 550PS (404kW). Twenty seems to be the magic number, too, as torque has also been given a 20Nm boost, now topping out at 632Nm. Coupled with revisions to intake efficiency, exhaust valve cooling and a few other tweaks Nissan reckon low-mid range engine response has been significantly improved.

The transmission is smoother thanks to some minor mechanical tweaks and the use of a specially developed competition-based oil. Of particular note to Australian buyers is word that RHD models will have a tailored suspension setup. As well as the driver the propeller shaft for the front wheels is on the right side of the car. Nissan compensates for this by having different spring rates for the left and right side as well as changing the installation method for the rear suspension arms.

So, do these changes make a jot of difference? According to Car magazine, they do: “The engine’s response is cleaner, there’s a new appetite to the way it revs to the limiter, the chassis is more fluid and the four-wheel drive system works with more subtlety and there’s less pitch under braking.” Job well done, it seems.

As with previous model year updates Nissan Australia is planning for a March release. Manufacturer’s list pricing has been confirmed at $170,800 retail price. Although, the MY12 GT-R will go on sale in Japan later this month. More detail from Nissan is available after the break.

UPDATE: Short promo video added below.

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