Author: Liam

Categories
Safety Issues Volkswagen

2009 Volkswagen Golf maintains 5 star crash rating

2009 Volkswagen Golf VI

In February 2009 crash testing authority EuroNCAP revised its rating system, making its guidelines stricter and more difficult to achieve a 5 star rating. In November 2008 it was announced the new Mk6 Golf achieved the top rating and, today, news comes through that the Golf has maintained its 5 star rating under the new testing regime.

Furthermore, the new Golf has achieved the highest score to date under the new procedures (click here to read Euro NCAP’s comments). The new test evaluation now takes into account electronic systems such as Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and has also introduced a rear crash test, designed to measure load on the spine.

The Volkswagen Golf also has also been awarded a 5 star rating by the local body ANCAP. Although in this instance, ANCAP has taken its data from the 2008 tests performed by Euro NCAP.

New video footage of the Golf’s 2009 test has yet to be added to the official Euro NCAP YouTube channel, however the previous test for the Mk6 Golf undertaken in 2008 can be seen here. Volkswagen’s press release follows below. For more information on Euro NCAP’s new testing procedures, check out their official website.

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Categories
Renault

Eric Cantona says yes to Laguna keys

Big name celebrity endorsements don’t always work. This one, though, pairing infamous football legend Eric Cantona with the new Renault Laguna just might. So far, we only have this small teaser to go on. Watch this space…

Categories
Green Machines MINI

Jay Leno talks about his MINI E

This clip, from Jaylenosgarage.com, shows well known car nut and TV guy Jay Leno talking about the MINI E. The film runs for 10 minutes and gives a pretty good inside look at MINI’s electric coupé, including some techno banter and a drive review.

Source: Jaylenosgarage.com via MotoringFile

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing

Mercedes-Benz has officially announced details of its SLS AMG supercar, the car to revive the ‘Gullwing’ nickname. The 21st century iteration is set to pack a 420kW punch, with power coming courtesy of a hand built 6.3 litre V8, driven through the rear wheels via a 7-speed double clutch transmission.

Built and developed from the ground up by AMG the car will use an aluminium chassis and body panels to keep kerb weight to 1620kg. That will give the coupé a power-to-weight ratio of 2.84kg/hp.

While the performance claims have been labelled as ‘provisional’ Mercedes-Benz say the car will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds and will have a top speed of 315km/h.

Despite having the engine mounted up front, the car has a front/rear weight distribution of 48 to 52 percent. This is one advantage of the classic sports car long bonnet formula, which has allowed AMG to mount the engine behind the front axle.

The big Benz will roll on light-weight alloys, 19×9.5 inch (front) and 20×11 inch (rear), supporting 265/35R19 and 295/30R20 tyres respectively.

The car has been in development since late 2006 and will reach the market around this time next year, with all vehicle component testing scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.

More teaser images and press guff after the jump. (Extra images available at eMercedesBenz.)

UPDATE: Renderings of the SLS AMG can be seen HERE.

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Categories
Aston Martin

Internal Aston Martin One-77 document leaked

Aston Martin One-77 interior

Dutch website 925.nl has published an incredibly detailed PDF on the Aston Martin One-77. They claim the file is an internal Aston Martin document describing everything you ever wanted to know about their new 700bhp supercar. I’ve only had a quick flick through the publication, but it is very comprehensive.

Included in the file are computer generated images of the One-77’s interior. The document also confirms the car’s weight as being 1500kg, and is listed in a table comparing the One-77 to the Mercedes McLaren SLR (1768kg), Lamborghini Reventon (1630kg) and the epic Bugatti Veyron (1888kg).

The final power output of the 7.3 litre V12 engine is not confirmed; the relevant paragraph merely states: “we are confident it will produce in excess of 700bhp”.

The PDF really is very interesting, I suggest you check it out by following the link below. For more on the One-77 check out AUSmotive’s earlier entry from the Geneva Motor Show.

Source: 925.nl via autoblog

Categories
Volkswagen

Golf R20T/GTI-R to be unveiled in September

Volkswagen Golf R20T

The latest in Golf R20T/GTI-R speculation suggests an official reveal at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show (15-27 September). Last month AutoExpress took a reasonable stab at how the car might look (above). And, while debate over the final badge remains, the good news is that it is now believed the über Golf will have an all-wheel drive 4motion system.

The closest thing to an official release to the predicted range-topping Golf has been the Scirocco Studie R from last year’s Bologna Motor Show. There was nothing in that information that confirmed how many wheels would be putting the 198kW of power to the road. It was hoped this question might be answered with a Scirocco R20T reveal at Geneva, but, failing a last minute headline grabber from Volkswagen this weekend, that hasn’t happened. Indeed, Volkswagen didn’t even come to the Geneva show with a production-ready Golf GTI.

With the hot Golf/Scirocco engine likely to be sourced from Audi’s S3 the adaptation of the donor car’s quattro all-wheel drive hardware seems a formality, and the latest gossip from CAR magazine in the UK tends to support this.

Let the speculation continue, with all eyes on Frankfurt for the final answer.

Source: CAR via autoblog

Categories
Audi Motorsports

Audi R8 LMS deliveries begin

Audi R8 GT3 LMS

Last August when the Audi R8 GT3 sports car was revealed you probably giggled with the excitement of a six-year-old like I did. Well, I’m pleased to say you can giggle some more as news of these awesome looking machines starting to reach customers.

Audi Sport Italia have been handed the keys to the Audi R8 LMS. The handover of chassis number 101, the first customer car, was made on Tuesday in the Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Emilio Radaelli, Team Manager of Audi Sport Italia, accepted the R8 LMS from Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich.

The R8 GT3 will make a dual race debut in mid-April with both the French GT Championship and the ADAC GT Masters starting on the same weekend (10-13 April). That marks the start of a long campaign for the new machines, with a full list of events available after the jump.

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Categories
News

MINI Cooper S Clubman gets a slice of Fritz

MINI Cooper S Clubman - Space Box

MINI, ever the masters of style, have allowed design gurus Republic of Fritz Hansen to give a Cooper S Clubman the once over. While the Danish design house were at it, they gave Airstream a call to build a rather nifty caravan. Or, in MINI terms, a Space Box.

Both the MINI and the 22ft Space Box will have touches of wetsuit neoprene to really hammer home the lifestyle statement. The trailer doesn’t stop there, though, as it will have a fully waterproof interior. Mr Surfer Dude will be stoked about that, no doubt.

The concept will be presented for the first time at the INTERNI DESIGN ENERGIES exhibition in the courtyards of Università degli Studi di Milano during the Salone del Mobile show in Milan, which runs from 21-30 April.

MINI’s press statement can be read after the jump, and make sure you click on the image above for the full effect.

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche UK announces Panamera pricing

Porsche Panamera

The Porsche Panamera four door gran turismo goes on sale in the United Kingdom in mid-September. Pricing starts at £72,266 for the Panamera S, £77,269 for the Panamera 4S and £95,298 for the top of the range Panamera Turbo. In Aussie dollars that equates to around $155,000, $165,000 and $203,000 respectively.

Of course, when the Panamera does get down under it cost plenty more than that with the Luxury Car Tax, among others, seeing the prices head well north.

At launch engine options are limited to a V8, although in varying horsepower tunes and the Turbo, well, er has a Turbo bolted to it as well. Actually, one wasn’t enough, so Porsche bolted two compressors to the 4.8 litre V8, for good measure.

Six-speed manual or seven-speed PDK transmissions are on offer, along with the usual menagerie of Porsche’s pet acronyms, including PASM, PCCB, PTM and VTS. You’ll have the read the press release below to find what they all mean. That’s if you don’t know already.

More Panamera pics can be seen here: Porsche sends new Panamera into space

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Categories
Volkswagen

Inside look: How to build a Golf VI

Golf VI production at Wolfsburg, Germany

Here are four videos showing the inner workings of the Golf VI production line at Volkswagen’s headquarters in Wolfsburg.

They are fascinating viewing. There is no commentary, but the sounds from the factory floor have been captured well and add to the experience. In the third clip you can even hear The Chemical Brothers pumping through the stereo!

I’ve been fortunate enough to do a MINI factory tour at Plant Oxford in England. If the opportunity ever presents itself to tour a major production line I highly recommend it.

All four clips available after the jump. Here we go…

Source: VWvortex.com

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Categories
Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton drives F1 car by remote control

This viral ad for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was just sent in by massive Lewis Hamilton fan Wes Stubbs. It takes us on a fictional journey from remote control car nerds right to the heart of the McLaren garage, and ends up with the current World Champion driving his F1 car via a Bluetooth equipped mobile phone. It’s pretty damn cool.

(Thanks to Wes for sending this in.)

Categories
Motor Shows News

MIMS 2009 – That’s a wrap

Melbourne International Motor Show

The doors have closed on the 2009 Melbourne International Motor Show. That brings down the curtain on individual shows for Melbourne and Sydney, with a new era set to begin in 2010.

Around 160,000 visitors attended MIMS this year. That figure is down on other years, but Motor Show director, Russ Tyrie is talking things up, “In any other year, we would be disappointed with a crowd of 160,000. But considering the impact of the global economic slowdown and with households watching every cent, achieving this number of visitors is encouraging for an industry feeling the pinch.”

Following the joint venture agreement between the Melbourne and Sydney motor show organisers there will be no major Australian motor show until the latter half of 2010.

With such a long break between events the next “Australian International Motor Show” is sure to be one you cannot afford to miss.

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