Yesterday it was words and pictures of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Today, it’s moving pictures and audio.
Sounds pretty good, too!
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Author: Liam
Here is one rumour that AUSmotive fully supports! MINI to join the World Rally Championship in 2011 with a Countryman. With all-wheel drive running gear and the 154kW 1.6 litre turbo four cylinder from the JCW model, the Countryman will tick all the right boxes for future WRC entry. Surely the might of MINI’s marketing machine would be a great boost for the WRC.
Speaking to Autocar, Mini rallying legend Paddy Hopkirk said, “People love the Mini and actually love the new MINI as well. It would be terrific to see MINI in the WRC. I’ve got the highest respect for the company and it would be magnificent for the glory days of rallying to return and for MINI to be a part of that.”
The speculation does get debunked by a MINI official later in the Autocar article, but, c’mon, you know it makes sense!
[Source: via MotoringFile | Pic: Road & Track]
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Spanish fly
Since revealing the regular Leon Cupra, Seat have been doing big things to its Golf-sized hatchback. Big power. Big brakes. Big style. Big performance. That’s a lot of big for a medium sized car. Indeed, Seat proudly boasts the Leon Cupra R is their “hottest ever hatch”.
Not content with the 155kW engine from the Golf GTI, Seat have nicked the 195kW engine from the Audi S3. That means this thing really flies. Strangely, though, the 0-62mpph time of Leon Cupra R is only rated at 6.1 seconds, whereas the S3 is under six seconds. Hmm, could be some marketing genius happening there methinks. Sure, the Seat is a front-wheel drive layout only, compared to the quattro S3, but you would expect the lower weight to make up for any traction issues. Never mind.
Along with most everything else you’ll be reading about in the next few weeks, this car will be having its first public showing at Frankfurt.
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2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
In January, before the Geneva Motor Show, Porsche gave us the new 911 GT3. Now, before the Frankfurt Motor Show, they are giving us the GT3 RS.
Stripped out, lightened and given more power, the GT3 RS is the weapon of choice for those serious about their track days. It’s just the way it is meant to be.
It probably has something to do with the 118bhp per litre produced from the flat six engine. For those not so quick with their sums, that means the 3.8 litre offers 450bhp (335kW) to play with. They’re certainly not the biggest numbers in town when it comes to über track cars, but in a GT3 RS, that’s enough to keep you busy.
Porsche don’t muck around with much fancy stuff when it comes to the RS, so there’s no double clutch PDK witchcraft here. Just a fool proof six speed self shifter. Similarly, no compromises were made with the wheels either, the rears are a foot wide and covered in 325/30 ZR19 tyres.
Mind, the dynamic engine mounts are both fancy-pants and elite. So, too, the revised PASM suspension set up, which has also seen the car’s track widened at the front and rear.
It looks like the only place that someone did clown around is with the bright red paint jar. But, kids, when you have a car with this much cred you can do whatever you like with your paint brush! Even if it does end up looking a bit like a French hatchback.
More after the jump.
Hyundai surprised noone when they announced overnight they will be giving their all-new Tucson replacement the ix35 nameplate and that it will make its public debut in Frankfurt next month.
It will be something of a home town debut for the ix35 which was designed at Hyundai’s Frankfurt design and technical centre.
Of course, you can get a sneak peak at the ix35 thanks to AUSmotive’s exclusive image captured earlier this month. A further set of unmasked ix35 images have been leaked since then, and can be seen after the jump.
UPDATE 20 August: Hyundai Australia release added below.
Navigation giant TomTom has finally released their turn-by-turn iPhone software to the Australian iTunes store. The price seems quite good, too, coming in at AU$99.99.
If you are an early adopter and have the software running already let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Just make sure you keep out of the way of this, apparently, over officious Mr Plod.
[Source: cnet Australia]
The man in the dark sunglasses is back. This time, though, he is not so shy about showing us his car. So, here, in full, is the new Peugeot RCZ.
Revealed a month out from the start of the Frankfurt Motor Show, where the car will make its public debut, these pictures show off the stunning lines and attractive curves of the RCZ. It is quite a nice car to look at, really, even if the Audi inspiration is clear.
The most memorable exterior styling cue is probably the “double bubble†roofline. Check the curves on the rear window! The active rear spoiler has two settings, depending on the speed travelled, and Peugeot say it has the right balance between road holding and fuel consumption. They also say the RCZ has “superb aerodynamicsâ€. Although, in the press release below at least, they don’t put a figure to that claim.
The 2+2 coupé will be powered by three engines at its launch. All turbocharged four cylinders, two petrol, one diesel. The entry level is the 2.0 HDi FAP (no, I’m not kidding) which is good for 120kW (163bhp) and 340Nm (251lb ft) of torque.
Next are the two petrol engines, both 1.6 litre in capacity and closely related to the offerings found in the MINI range. The first produces 116kW (156bhp), with torque rated at 240Nm (177lb ft). The second headlines the RCZ lineup the 2.0 THP offering 150kW (200bhp) and peak torque of 275Nm (203lb ft) with overboost function. The higher spec engine features Sound System technology that creates a different note according to engine speed, “just like a musical instrumentâ€.
All engine options can be mated to a six speed manual gearbox, while only the lower spec 1.6 litre petrol engine has the option of a six speed sequential automatic transmission. Although, this won’t be available until a few months after the car goes on sale in the first half of 2010
Sadly there is only one photo supplied to date of the interior, described as possessing “subtly elitist ambienceâ€. Not content with that array of adjectives the PR team continue saying the interior is “echoing the world of motor sportâ€. Quite. Although, the leather dash is pretty cool, it has to be said.
There’s more pics to be viewed after the jump along with a detailed press release from Peugeot UK. As usual, clicking on any of the pictures will load a wallpaper-friendly 2000px super image.
UPDATE: The Motor Report brings us news saying the RCZ will launch in Australia in the latter half of next year. Très bien!
Earlier in the year the team at Drivers Republic was boasting about their growth in traffic. Now, sadly, their most recent communication tells of their demise.
The following text was taken from their email update, received earlier today.
“Unfortunately this is our final newsletter since DR has closed its doors and will no longer be publishing the features and videos that we’ve become so renowned for.
There has been plenty of speculation across the internet about the reasons why this has occurred, and despite the first impressions that it must have been for financial reasons, nothing could have been further from the truth.
Thanks to the participation of our readers and the generous support of the automotive industry we were in rude health and looking forward to a bumper year, but differences in our vision about future priorities have led to a parting of ways.”
The DR team has presented motoring fans across the globe with quality reporting, photography and opinion. But, it looks like that’s that, then. Shame really.
The Frankfurt Motor Show is going to be bigger than Ben Hur. Making sure they don’t miss out on all the fun Lexus will be revealing their new chariot, the Premium Compact Concept.
Lexus reckon their new show car will “demonstrate a mix of technical innovation and ground-breaking design that promises to raise the bar in the premium compact segment”.
I guess we’d better not miss it, then.
Here, in my home town of Canberra, as well as fixed speed and red light cameras, we have mobile operators monitoring and checking the speeds of the city’s motorists. I’m sure your home town has a similar set up.
Thanks to a recent article in the City News I can tell you there are currently five of these vans in operation around the ACT. All the vans are plain white Mercedes Vito models and they usually stick out like the dog’s proverbials. The locations in which the vans can be used are mandated, although there are 120 approved sites around Canberra.
Speed cameras and their operation often creates heated debate among motorists, so its good to remove the emotion and just hear what the dude inside the van has to say.
John, the operator pictured above, says cars can be measured and photographed from as far away as one kilometre. When a photo is taken two pictures are recorded one after the other. The first focuses on the number plate, the second, taken immediately after, is a wider view which shows the car and its surroundings.
The mobile van operators have caught motorists speeding in excess of 200km/h and John says there is satisfaction in doing his job, “Absolutely, it’s good to catch them,” he says. “It happens especially around places like the Monaro Highway and we catch a lot of people around the ski season.”
Some good sleuthing by a member at the VWWatercooled forum has discovered that the previously unconfirmed Golf VI GTD could be coming to Australia after all.
The GTD is powered by a 125kW 2.0 litre common rail diesel engine and produces a Golf GTI beating 350Nm of torque. While its 0-100km/h time of 8.1 seconds won’t frighten too many GTI drivers away, the in gear acceleration is likely to be very impressive.
The information on the GTD’s probable Australian launch comes courtesy of the Road Vehicle Certification System which “allows vehicle manufacturers to electronically certify that the vehicles that they supply to the Australian market meet prescribed safety standards specified in the Australian Design Rules.”
According to the data both the new Golf GTI and the diesel-powered GTD were certified at the end of July. Also sneaking in on the GTD page is a 77kW 1.6 litre TDI.
With a few local sightings already of the Golf VI GTI model, and an October release looking likely, will the GTD be announced at the same time?
Watch this space for more information as it comes to hand.
[Source: VWWatercooled | Thanks to Phil for the tip]
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The Great Ocean Road
Discovering a winding stretch of black top that takes your mind away from the chores of daily life and allows you to enjoy motoring freedom is, pretty much, what driving is all about.
You might be behind the wheel of the latest and greatest from Modena, the finest from Stuttgart, a Golf GTI, perhaps. Maybe even an old faithful such as a Lancia Fulvia or BMW 2002. It doesn’t matter, just being out, driving, with no other purpose than simply enjoying your machine and the road ahead. For those who love cars, does it get any better?
One of the best roads to find out for certain is the Great Ocean Road on the south-west coast of Victoria. The road stretches from Torquay through to Warrnambool, but it is the section between Lorne and Apollo Bay that best captures the essence of this coastal road. It’s also the most enjoyable part to drive, as well.
Sure, there is often plenty of caravans and Sunday drivers, but this is a road that must be savoured and every moment of clear road enjoyed to its fullest.
Now, best get to the point of this article I suppose. Last Friday, episode 27 of the rather oddball ABC TV program Can we help you featured a segment on the making of the Great Ocean Road. It is a fascinating journey back in time that traces the history and the champions of the road at its genesis. You can either watch the clip directly on the show’s website, or choose to download the episode in full.
Watch the footage, think of the great roads you like to savour, then, on a nice Sunday go out and enjoy yourself. I know I will be.
UPDATE 17 August: Thanks to Todd for the pic.