Author: Liam

Categories
Volkswagen

No Scirocco love for the United States

Volkswagen Scirocco

News has been confirmed that Volkswagen US will not be importing the gorgeous Scirocco.

What affect, if any, this has on Volkswagen Australia’s plans and hopes to bring the coupé down under remains to be seen. Like the US, it is currently believed the Scirocco doesn’t make business sense for VW as it would most likely take sales away from Golf hero, the GTI.

Whatever the beancounters say, I know one thing, a fan base exists in both countries that would ensure Sciroccos would sell. Maybe not in record numbers, but if Renault can bring in a limited release of 40 Clio Renault Sport F1 Team R27s, then could Volkswagen Australia consider doing likewise?

While the Scirocco was launched in between the Golf V and Golf VI models, the car stands on it own and has the benefit of not being affected by new model syndrome. A mild curse which affected the limited release of 200 MkIV Golf R32s, which were on sale just months before the launch of the Golf V.

Australian readers will have to hang their hats on hope at this stage. Volkswagen Australia have not categorically ruled out the Scirocco, but things don’t look too promising, it has to be said. The best chance seems  to the opportunity to bring in the Scirocco R20T (based on the Studie R), which could be revealed to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

[Source: autoblog]

Categories
News

P1 International forced to file UB40?

P1 International

According to various news reports a potentially spiteful court case between the founders of P1 International, Damon Hill and Michael Breen, could force the company into bankruptcy.

Hill, the 1996 F1 World Champion, left P1 three years ago and is seeking money he believes is owed to him. In order to do that he launched a bid to have the company closed down. However, just last week, this bid was unsuccessful and Breen claims that P1, despite an uncertain future, is “still trading and our members are still collecting and driving their supercars as normal.”

The case is scheduled for a return to court next week.

[Source: Car via autoblog]

Categories
Chevrolet Fifth Gear Motorsports

Plato philosophical about great save

Fifth Gear’s Jason Plato is currently getting about in the BTCC in a reasonably priced car—a Chevrolet Lacetti. Something not so reasonable, though, was the tap up the backside given to him by BMW driver Jonathan Adam at Brands Hatch last weekend.

Watch the clip above to see the amazing car control shpwn by Plato as he keeps the car going in its intended direction, even if it was pointing in an entirely different one.

There’s also a brief post-race interview with Plato who found out that his bag of talent actually had a bit more in there than he first thought.

[Source: autoblog]

Categories
Lotus Targa Tasmania

Lotus Exige Cup 260 takes on Targa

Lotus Exige Cup 260

Dean Evans will be gladly flogging the bejeezus out of a Lotus Exige Cup 260 in the Targa Tasmania event later this month.

With 192kW at their disposal, and just 890kg of car to move around it’s pretty safe to say Evans and co-driver Simone Bachmann have the ingredients to be at the pointy end of the field. Indeed the Cup 260 is good for a 100km/h sprint time of just 4.1 seconds.

Helping the Colin Chapman mantra of “horsepower makes you fast in a straight line, lightness makes you fast everywhere” to live on, this will be the world wide tarmac rally debut of the Exige Cup 260.

More specs and detail after the jump in the Lotus presser, and a rather tasty YouTube clip that shows what Dean Evans can do in a Lotus (if you haven’t seen this clip, I suggest you take the time to watch it).

Continue reading “Lotus Exige Cup 260 takes on Targa”
Categories
Volkswagen

Golf GTI television commercial

This is a pretty cool ad for der neue Golf GTI, which has just gone on sale in Germany. Of course, our wowser advertising rules would never see an ad like this make it past the we-can’t-admit-that-it-is-possible-to-have-fun-behind-the-wheel do gooders. So, we’ll just have to make do with internet viewing instead. As it happens, we’d better do that while we can too, just in case Krudd gets his way.

The tagline at the end of the TVC reads, “only for advanced drivers”.

There’s also a behind the scenes look after the jump, which is great news if you sprechen Deutsch.

[Source: Carscoop via The Motor Report]

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Categories
GM News

Your chance to catch the Bandit

Burt Reynolds' Pontiac Trans Am

“For the good old American lifestyle: For the money, for the glory, and for the fun… mostly for the money.”

It’s a great line, from a great movie. At least, I thought it was great when I was kid. Of course, I’m talking about Smokey and the Bandit. Known as much for the Pontiac Trans Am as anything else, it has to be said.

Now, you can buy Burt Reynolds’ own  1978 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am ‘Bandit’ Sports Coupe. The car is fully restored, and includes special Bandit insignias on the headrests.

If you’re interested you need to get yourself to the Houston Classic Auction on 2 May. Full details after the jump.

[Source: Worldwide Auctioneers via autoblog]

Continue reading “Your chance to catch the Bandit”
Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Jenson Button talks about the BGP 001

Jenson Button has just made it two race wins from two starts in 2009 at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Brawn-Mercedes driver got off the line from pole position poorly and lost the lead to Nico Rosberg. However, he was able to regain the lead before the race was cancelled due to a monsoon-like storm.

This YouTube clip, from BrawnGP, shows Button full of optimism before jetting out to Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix. Now, two races into the season, it makes for interesting viewing to listen to what Button has to say. You get the feeling that the strong pre-season form shown by BrawnGP left the team full of confidence. Looking at the subsequent results, you can see why.

A full table of results from the Malaysian Grand Prix can be accessed at Formula1.com.

Categories
Audi

Audi A5 Sportback

Audi A5 Sportback

Audi seems intent on extending its Sportback range, as these concept drawings show. The A5 Sportback is believed to have been confirmed by Audi insiders, but official details are as sketchy as the images above. The rumour mill suggests that an RS5 Sportback is also on the cards, likely to be powered by the 3-litre supercharged V6 from the next S4. Tasty!

Currently, the only Sportback models actually in Audi showrooms are the A3/S3 variations. However, concepts have been revealed for A1 and A7 models.

The addition of an A5 Sportback to Audi’s range seems to fly in the face of the current financial doom and gloom. It is the use of a modular longitudinal platform architecture that affords Audi such possibilities.

May as well pluck a date out of the air for possible production scheduling, but if we’re very lucky, the A5 Sportback could be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. If that happens, expect European sales to commence in 2010. If you’d like to see this model sold in Australia, my guess is, you’d better start petitioning Audi now.

[Source: Fourtitude]

UPDATE 6 April:  AUSmotive understands the A5 Sportback is well underway at Audi. On that basis, don’t be surprised to see an official reveal very soon. If I was to wildly speculate I might suggest the New York International Automotive Show (10-19 April), or Auto Shanghai 2009 (20-28 April).

Categories
Volvo

It’s a Volvo Wazza, but not as we know it

Volv0 V70 V8 powered ute

Stone the flamin’ crows have you seen what them Swedish blokes have gone and done? They’ve sent some backpackers down under and nicked our way of life.

We’re not pulling anyone’s leg here, these are pics of a V8 powered Volvo ute. Externally, there’s equal parts Commodore and Falcon, ensuring the Swede in wolf’s clothing looks the part. The V8 donk makes certain she has as much go as she does show.

Okay, it turns out that someone is pulling our legs. That someone is Bo Zolland of VizualTech, who is the bloke responsible for these Photoshop creations. Top work Bo, these utes look great. You can almost see them doing some circle work at the Deni Ute Muster. And, that, is probably the best compliment an Aussie can bestow on a ute. True dinks!

Check out more of Bo’s creations after the jump.

[Source: Carscoop via Sportbilen.se]

Continue reading “It’s a Volvo Wazza, but not as we know it”
Categories
BMW

BMW X5M / X6M and a heart of gold

BMW 4.4 litre twn turbo V8

I want to live, I want to give…

Another embargo set, another embargo broken! It seems the power of the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 inside the X5 M and X6 M was too much to hold back. With figures of 408kW (555hp) and 680Nm of retina removing torque is it any surprise.

The M versions of the X5 and X6 are about as exciting to me as having more hot air delivered to Parliament House. And about as useful. There is no doubt in my mind they will be stonking cars to drive, but I don’t really get the point of hyper SUVs to be honest.

Presumably BMW are keeping a straight face when they describe the X6 M as possessing “athletic charisma”. One wonders if those crazy Chermans have an arse-about dictionary, or something. When I looked in my dictionary to find words to describe the X6 M, I came up with corpulent and indifferent. Clearly, I’m not quite on the same page as BMW, then.

But that engine. Oh, that engine! It wants to live, and it wants to give. And then keep on giving. The beating heart inside these BMW behemoths may well be the cure to all the evils of the metalwork surrounding it. That stupendous 680Nm of torque is available, in full, from just 1500rpm. Can you imagine the awesomeness that would lay at the beck and call of your right foot. PPPOOOOOWWWEEEEERRRRRRR!!!

The engine doesn’t stop at brutal power, though. It even has a hint of innovation coursing through its veins. BMW claims the new M TwinPower Turbo engine is the world’s first with a common exhaust manifold encompassing both rows of cylinders and featuring Twin Scroll Twin Turbo Technology.

If you do see the point of hyper SUVs, then I invite you to read BMW’s comprehensive release after the jump. There’s also a few pics of what these new cars actually look like, as well. You know, just in case you were wondering.

Continue reading “BMW X5M / X6M and a heart of gold”
Categories
Accessories & Tech Mazda Video

Start me up

iPod controlled RX-8

Seems like everyone wants a 1:1 scale remote control car these days. First there was the Vodafone viral for Lewis Hamilton, now John Oxer, from Melbourne, has added remote capabilities to his 2004 Mazda RX-8.

John is part of the admin team at geekmyride.org, so of course, it is his wont to add a bunch of nerdy, yet very cool functionality to his 1:1 model car. Full driving control appears to be a way off yet, but John can now unlock and start his car from anywhere in the world using his iPod Touch. Once running he is able to access live data, including RPM, fuel capacity and so on. Using Google Maps he can also pinpoint his car’s exact location.

The RX-8 is fitted with it’s own internet connection and the iPod Touch uses WiFi to talk to the car. There’s a whole bunch of geeky stuff explaining how all this works in the YouTube clip after the jump.

[Source: geekmyride.org]

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Categories
News Volkswagen

Not the nine o’clock news

The UK television commercial for the Golf VI, titled “The Fight”, has become one of the UK’s most complained about TVCs ever. In January the ad had received a bit over 100 complaints, but that number has since risen to 1066. As a result the ad can only be screened in Britain after 9pm. So, if you’ve had your dinner, tucked the kiddies in to bed and your Horlicks is ready to be drunk, then you can watch the clip above. If not, you’ll get a smack on the wrists from Mrs Bothersome-Knightly at number 69.

[Source: guardian.co.uk]