Ken Block, the razor sharp accurate WRX driving internet phenomenon, is back with a new motorkhana video. And this time the commercial opportunities are being exploited to the max with his DC Shoes company taking centre stage. So, kick back and enjoy Kenny’s awesome skillz yo as he rips it up along the Port of Los Angeles.
For more info check out the DC Shoes microsite. Another YouTube clip showing the build process of Block’s WRX can be seen after the jump.
The lads at MotoringFile.com have been doing a great job of covering the MINI United celebrations at Silverstone. They have audio of an interview with Michael Hoehn from MINI who is responsible for the roll out of the MINI Challenge across the globe.
Currently the one make MINI series is running in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and, of course, Australia. Justin Hocevar from MINI Australia is also featured in the interview.
MINI’s plans are to run the series in as many as seven different countries with a longer term goal of running a MINI Challenge world series of sorts, that would see the best drivers from each country competing against each other.
Click here to access the interview in full.
The rumours and speculation have finally been fulfilled. General Motors, once the biggest car manufacturer in the world, has now filed for bankruptcy.
The good news for Australia’s Holden is that it will remain unaffected by the bankruptcy proceedings which only affect US operations. “Holden is a subsidiary of GM but we are a corporate entity in our own right – an independent company under Australian law,” Holden Chairman and Managing Director, Mark Reuss, said today. “Beyond that, GM has indicated that Holden will be an important part of the New GM.”
Mark Reuss will be holding a press conference at 9am this morning and that will be webcast on audio and video or audio only web portals. Holden has also released an FAQ statement.
A statement from GM Chairman Kent Kresa is shown below, and a full media statement from Holden can be read after the jump. For more check out GM’s Facts & Fiction website.
Kent Kresa: “The General Motors Board of Directors authorized the filing of a chapter 11 case with regret that this path proved necessary despite the best efforts of so many. Today marks a new beginning for General Motors. A court-supervised process and transfer of assets will enable a New GM to emerge as a stronger, healthier, more focused and nimbler company with a determination not to just survive but to excel. The Board concluded that the proposed transformation will maximize the value of the enterprise, and the return to the many stakeholders who have been involved with GM over the years.
We are appreciative of the support from the US Treasury, the President’s Task Force on Autos, the UAW and its members, salaried employees and retirees, concurring bondholders, and very importantly, the American taxpayers. The Board is confident that this New GM can operate successfully in the intensely competitive US market and around the world. The Board stands behind the people of GM in embracing this unique opportunity to create value and a new company that will design, engineer, build and market the best cars and trucks in world.”
Earlier today the opportunity for a quick taste of MINI’s new Cooper D came my way. Naturally, I jumped at the chance to see just how Australia’s most economical car drives. That’s not a typo, with a miserly fuel consumption figure of 3.9l/100km and CO2 emissions at a super low 104g/km, the 1.6-litre diesel powered MINI presents itself as the hot hatch with a conscience.
If those stats don’t mean anything to you, they undercut the Hollywood-hyped Toyota Prius and highlight that the folks at GreenVehicleGuide.gov.au have some work to do at the top of their chart (see the comments section below).
First, let me say straight off the bat, the Cooper D is not a genuine hot hatch. If you are looking for all out thrills in a small package where the emphasis is not on compromise, then best look further up the MINI food chain to the Cooper S or JCW models, or even over the road to your closest Renault, Mazda or Volkswagen dealer.
If, though, you are prepared to compromise on your driving wishlist then the Cooper D is your car. MINIs are criticised for being compromised in terms of packaging, and whether that is a negative aspect or not really comes down to the individual. The compromise on economy the “Dooper” offers, however, is all good.
In short, you can thrash the living daylights out of this car and not hurt your wallet. Assuming that you do have sympathy for mechanical components from time to time then the Cooper D will continue to reward. The famous razor-sharp MINI steering is still there. The deadly accurate turn-in is still there. The nimble point to point chuckability is still there. And, more importantly than any of those things, the all out fun factor is still there.
As I said, this is not a true hot hatch. A car with a sweet spot that exists between around 2500-4000rpm can never provide the thrills of a first gen Cooper S, for example, which is happy and able to hover around redline all day long. So, in the diesel you need to take the time to find that turbocharged sweet spot and alter your driving to suit.
With that short sweet spot in the rev range you’ll be changing cogs quite a bit, so the slick and accurate gear change of the 6-speed manual is welcome. I can’t see the optional 6-speed auto being quite as inspiring, though.
The start-stop function is a little odd at first, and cruder than I imagined. But it doesn’t take long to get used to the system and it simply adds to the character of the car. Likewise the diesel clatter from the engine bay that rears its ugly head at times. This offers character, too, in a not so good form, however. But, again, I can imagine one would get used to it and even enjoy the reminder of compromise that it brings.
There’s not much compromise on performance when zipping in and out of traffic inside city limits, either. Sure, it’s no rocket ship, but, thanks to a peak torque figure of 260Nm on overboost the car gathers pace easily enough, if that’s your go. If it’s not, you can simply sit back and enjoy the ride letting the regular 240Nm of torque do its thing on your behalf. I didn’t sample it for myself, but I am reliably informed that the Cooper D can handle freeway driving with a minimum of fuss as well.
In closing, when appraising the MINI Cooper D one needs to take the usual goalposts and give them a different slant. You can approach the car a couple of ways—is it a conventional car with a twist, or a car that does away with convention? It does a little bit of both, and in doing so offers a new alternative to opposing market segments.
For the Prius loving greenies, the MINI Cooper D takes their odd looking and compromised driving experience and gives it a massive slap. BANG! Saving the planet needn’t be such an outward exercise in showing that you are prepared to give up on driving enjoyment to save a few whales.
For the pure hot hatch Paddy Hopkirk wannabes the MINI Cooper D takes their spine tingling, and often spine jarring, driving experience and gives it a gentle massage. OH YES, THAT’S THE SPOT! Pure driving enjoyment needn’t be such an outward exercise in brashness and wallet burning fuel bills.
So, the MINI Cooper D gets the AUSmotive tick for car buyers willing to alter their purchasing parameters. And now that you have read all that, this car can be summed up in a few short words—it’s a Super Dooper!
Pics and launch day press release are available after the jump. More information on the Cooper D can be read here and here.
There seems to be a pattern forming here. This was, generally speaking, another very good episode from the TGA lads. More importantly, the hosts are improving. They still have a way to go if their aim is to match the UK masters, but their progression is evident.
Opening the show with a supercar shopping trolley segment is always going to win points with me. And the Audi RS 6 v HSV Sportwagon R8 was plenty entertaining. Steve, I agree the RS 6 sounds too quiet inside the cabin, but, outside, it sounds fantastic! The two tonne Audi also set a cracking lap time around the test track.
Olympic swimmer Leisel Jones was the guest and she also posted a pretty handy lap time. Pleasingly, Warren is getting better at this gig too. You got the feeling that Jones was at ease and she looked comfortable throughout. Well done to Warren as his first interview this series with Mark Skaife was pretty hard to watch.
Other highlights from tonight’s show included Steve teaching James’ dad to drift a Falcon XR8 ute. Steve then tried his hand at drifting a stretch limo— Chrysler 300C style—before having a go in a Mr Whippy van. Unsurprisingly, both were poor drift tools, but the racing truck was more than capable of hanging its arse out.
The weakest link of the episode was the final segment—Warren’s review of the Kia Soul. His delivery was okay. The production values were okay, too. But not giving a definite opinion, or providing a meaningful conclusion just made the whole piece completely worthless.
The last two episodes, though, have shown that Top Gear Australia is marching onwards and upwards. Long may they continue.
The BMW M3 Edition Model is the latest incarnation of the M3 to be released from Munich. Based on the Coupé, the car will go on sale across the globe from July this year and production will be limited to six months.
The M3 Edition Model will be available in just four colours, Alpine White Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic or Monte Carlo Blue Metallic.
Engine specs remain as per the regular M3. That means you still get a hugely impressive 309kW from the 4.0 litre V8, capable of launching the car to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds. The sprint time can be further reduced to 4.6 seconds by ticking the optional 7-speed Drivelogic double clutch transmission.
Exterior tweaks include the kidney grille, bonnet openings, side gills and exhaust tips that are finished in a darkened chrome. The wing mirrors, too, are given a once over with black paint. Exclusive 19″ wheels are part of the package and can be optioned in the usual colouring, along with black or a special white contrasting colour with polished spokes. Sounds interesting! No pics of that white option from BMW PR, sadly.
The car has also been lowered by 10mm over a standard M3, however no detail is given. Until information to the contrary is supplied, we can assume that this is revised springs only.
Interior trim is dependent on external colour choice, with a variety of areas such as armrests, contrast stitching on the Black Novillo leather seats and door sills getting the M3 Edition Model treatment.
No idea on pricing for the Australian market at this point, but it looks like the M3 Edition model will be available down under with BMW’s press release (available after the jump) clearly announcing a worldwide launch.
UPDATE 2 June: BMW Australia have released a press statement on this car which reads “BMW Group Australia has been fortunate enough to secure just three exclusive BMW M3 Edition Models for Australia.” The cars will be here “towards the end of the year” and pricing is yet to be confirmed.
In February this year Citröen revealed images of its new DS Inside Concept. Only, back then, they didn’t show us the inside at all, just the outside.
Citröen have now rectified that problem by sending interior images to AUSmotive HQ. The car is due for launch in early 2010 they say. So, a public showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September could be on the cards.
After the nifty looking outside I was expecting a bit more flair on the inside, especially for a concept car. The MINI-esque styling cues are still there. The textured ‘haute-couture’ leather dash won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think it could be a nice touch. Okay, maybe the leather roof is pushing things a bit too far, but it is a show car after all.
The seats are a bit crazy looking with the overstyled patterns in the leather, but there’s no reason to expect they won’t be comfortable. Other design details inside are well executed, though, especially the metal lever on the front seats to gain access to the rear of the car.
So, on reflection maybe this concept is not so much concept as it is pre-production car. On that basis, the DS Inside Concept, in visual form at least, gets the AUSmotive tick of approval.
Have a look at the images and video after the jump and let us know what do you think.
Well, sort of. The Toyota F1 team is adding an exclusive line to its merchandise catalogue this year. “While stocks last” you can get your hands on front wings, rear wings, and even a rear wing, engine cover and undertray as one item. There seems to be enough on offer, including wheels and suspension parts, to buy your very own F1 car. It’s kind of like meccano, only bigger and better.
Prices start at around AU$360 a go up to AU$9000. The items are available online, although AUSmotive was having problems loading the website just now, perhaps you will have better luck.
Australia’s first ever Winter Olympic Gold Medallist Steven Bradbury is the latest recruit to the MINI CHALLENGE Uber-Star ranks. The cult hero who proved the old adage ‘to finish first, first you have to finish’ will be racing in Round 2 of the Australian MINI CHALLENGE to be held at Symmons Plains in Tasmania this weekend.
Bradbury, a keen Formula Vee competitor, is eagerly anticipating his latest high speed pursuit and sees a future for himself as a tin-top racer, “the twin scroll turbocharged MINI Challenge cars are really fast and I’m hoping to put the Uber Star car into it’s best ever placing,†he declares.
“I’d love to do well at Symmons and possibly even get a few more opportunities with MINI Challenge, it looks like a fantastic series and I’m very excited about being asked to drive the Uber Star car.”
Let’s hope Bradbury has better luck in Tasmania compared to three-time AFL premiership player Jason Akermanis!
Meanwhile, Paul Stokell is one driver hoping to recreate his success from Symmons Plains last year. Stokell was the Round 1 winner in his DecoRug machine and hopes to build on his early series lead, “we had a great weekend in Round One, everything went according to plan. I feel good coming into Round Two at Symmons Plains.”
Five-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb has been awarded his country’s highest public honor, the ‘Légion d’honneur’. Presented by French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, the title is the French equivalent to a knighthood.
Speaking at the awards ceremony Loeb said, “This award is given to an individual, but I would like to share it with each and every member of the Citroën team. Every time that we hear the French National Anthem played at the end of a rally, we all feel exactly the same pride at having showcased France to the best of all our abilities. I hope now that I can continue to worthily represent my country by claiming a sixth consecutive World Rally Championship title at the end of this year.â€
With a near perfect start to the 2009 season, which includes five wins from six starts, I dare say that sixth title can already be pencilled in.
Former F1 driver Jos Verstappen has crashed his Aston Martin LMP1 in testing at Monza in Italy. The Dutchman lost control of the car in unexplained circumstances in the high speed parabolica corner.
Verstappen’s test car, one of only three LMP1 chassis, has been written off. The force of the impact was believed to be 15G. Luckily, Verstappen escaped unhurt. Although, he was at a loss to understand why or how the accident happened.
According to comments on Verstappen’s website, data logging shows he was set for a lap time around 1.5 seconds slower than his fastest lap. Further telemetry suggests nothing untoward was at play in the moments leading to the incident.
Jos the Boss was only announced to be driving for Aston Martin last week and naturally he was a bit shaken up by the impact and incredibly disappointed for his new team.
The 24 hours of Le Mans will take place on the weekend of 13-14 June.
[Source: The Motor Report & autoweek.com]
Here is a brief “lifestyle” story on car clubs, featuring clubMINI‘s Queensland chapter, among others.
Car clubs can be a lot of fun. You can learn a lot more about your car, and about yourself. You can become exposed to a whole new level of motoring enjoyment. You can improve your driving skills through better access to professional training. Car clubs can also be a great way to sample the world of motorsport at a relatively affordable level.