Over the last day or so you may have read some worrying headlines about the future of the Nürburgring. The holding company which owns the ‘Ring is facing a very real threat of bankruptcy. So you’d be right to be concerned. However, while possible, it’s not expected the Nürburgring will close now or any time in the future.
We’ve covered the story in greater detail over at AUSringers.com and if you want to know more we suggest you read that article.
Can you believe that Ken Block’s Gymkhana FIVE video has surpassed 20 million views in just one week! To celebrate we’ve taken advantage of Ford UK making these wallpapers of Ken tearing around San Francisco available for download. Simply click on each pic to load a 2000px super image.
Prior to the release of Gymkhana FIVE, DC Shoes contacted us and said we can share their infographic, which contains a bunch of stats for the first four Gymkhana videos. And then things got away from us and, well, here it is now. You can see the full version after the break and, given GYM5 already has close to one million views, it won’t be long before some new big numbers can be added to this quite impressive brag sheet.
At least an hour before its scheduled debut Ken Block’s Gymkhana FIVE has been released via YouTube. Set in San Francisco, the sub title sets the bar by stating it’s “an epic use of an iconic city.”
Block’s latest Gymkhana franchise includes all the tricks you’ve seen before, including a cameo from Travis Pastrana as the latest donut dummy. We also quite liked the split screen helmet cam sequence and the airborne cornering stunt.
The protracted negotiations for the addition of Porsche to the Volkswagen Group stable have been completed and will take effect on 1 August, the two companies have announced. Plans for this move started in 2009 and Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen AG (pictured right), says the deal is, “good for Volkswagen, good for Porsche and good for Germany as an industrial location.”
New German tax laws have enabled the deal to be brought forward, after complications saw the original deadline for completion of the merger missed at the end of last year. Volkswagen will hand over one ordinary share to Porsche and assume total ownership of the holding company controlling the sportscar maker. In exchange Porsche will receive €4.46b.
At the press conference announcing the finalisation of the takeover Volkswagen’s CFO, Hans Dieter Pötsch, explained the benefits of the approach taken. “The course we are following makes strategic sense and will bring sustained benefits for all stakeholders, it creates transparency as to future developments, and lays the foundations for swiftly intensifying cooperation between Volkswagen and Porsche AG. For Volkswagen, our sound financial and liquidity position and maintaining our strong rating are also important”, he said.
With plans for massive investment Dr Winterkorn told reporters to expect big things. “We’re wrapping up one of the most significant projects in the automotive world,” Winterkorn said. “Together we are more capable than ever of becoming the best auto company on the planet.”
Pricing mechanisms, taxes, whatever you want to call them, have been in the news of late. Like it or not, Australia now has a carbon tax. The topic of tax is at the forefront of people’s minds and a suite of cuts and exemptions, including a modest raise to the Luxury Car Tax threshold, have been launched as part of the carbon price package.
Yet, the risincrease in the LCT threshold hasn’t satisfied the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce and they are repeating their plea to the Federal Government to have the LCT scrapped.
“Time and again, we have informed the Federal Government that this tax is unfair,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.
“As recently as May this year, in our Federal Budget analysis, VACC stated that this inappropriate imposition on vehicle purchases should be removed or, at the very least, the threshold should be doubled. Therefore a 2.9 per cent threshold increase falls way short of our expectations.”
You can read the VACC’s statement in full after the break. The video above shows BMW Australia boss Phil Horton share his displeasure for the LCT, originally posted as part of an April Fool’s Day gag.
Ken Block is readying himself for the latest edition in his tyre shredding series, Gymkhana FIVE. This time he’s going to wreck much of San Francisco on his way to YouTube glory. The new film will debut via the DC Shoes YouTube channel on 9 July (midnight 10 July here in Australia).
Why San Francisco? Well, it’s pretty obvious don’t you think. Expect some massive air time!
“I’ve always wanted to film a Gymkhana video in a city and there are few places as unique and iconic with such amazing topography as San Francisco,” said Block. “While movies like Bullit and various chase scenes have tried to use San Francisco to the fullest, I’m pretty confident that I’ve proven there was a lot left to be done on those amazing streets!”
Should be good, and Block promises this version will be more raw. Like his earlier videos, with less over the top effects, we expect.
The Australian International Motor Show will move to Sydney Olympic Park in 2014 and 2016. The 2012 show will take place at its traditional venue, the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre (SCEC), for one last time in mid–late October.
Australia’s major motor show alternates between Sydney and Melbourne each year and Sydney’s move to a new venue was forced by a three-year redevelopment of the SCEC.
AIMS Event Director, Russ Tyrie, welcomes the new opportunities offered by the venue switch.
“Whilst the SCEC has been our home for 23 shows, we are very much looking forward to the opportunities presented to us and exhibitors alike at Sydney Showground,†said Tyrie.
“The Sydney Olympic Park venue will enable the Motor Show to grow and become a more diverse event, with the expansive outdoor areas giving exhibitors more room and the chance to host both on and off stand activities the possibilities are practically endless.â€
A permanent move to the Olympic precinct has not been confirmed with AIMS organisers keen to see what the new SCEC will offer when it’s back in action.
Ferrari has announced it will auction a number of items to raise money in response to the recent earthquakes in northern Italy. They’re not messing about either. Up for grabs will be a very exclusive and track-only 599XX Evo hyper car valued at around €1m (AU$1.27m).
Supporting the headline act will be a complete V8 Formula One engine, racing overalls and helmets signed by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, and a suite of other racing memorabilia.
Further details will be announced in the coming days on the Ferraristore website.
UPDATE: Ferrari’s has been in touch to let us know they have upgraded their offer; after previously stating they would auction a plain old rare 599XX, they will now put up a more extreme and very, very rare 599XX Evo up for sale.
An earthquake to the north west of Bologna in Italy has claimed the lives of at least 15 people and brought temporary closures to the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati factories.
While the Maserati factory in nearby Modena did suffer some minor damage, it’s been reported the supercar makers stopped operations to allow workers to be with their families.
Last night’s earthquake was magnitude-5.8 and followed hours later by a second quake at magnitude-5.3. Last week the same region was affected by a magnitude-6.0 quake which killed seven people, leaving thousands injured.
Salvatore Iannizzotto from Modena police said: “The situation is one of great fear and uncertainty. The population was becoming more relaxed and slowly moving back into their homes. They have now left their homes again.”
Rescue workers are continuing to search for survivors and we wish them well.
Filming for Ron Howard’s F1-inspired movie Rush has just wrapped up. The BBC interviewed the lovable Richie Cunningham recently and some kind soul has added it to YouTube for us all to see. You can watch the piece after the break. Howard reveals his lasting hope for Rush is that it is respected by true F1 fans.
Well, Richie, we can say, after watching the interview below, we’re pumped! Can’t wait for this to hit our movie screens.
A dispute between Europe’s largest industrial union, IG Metall, and some of Germany’s largest employers, including its leading carmakers, have stalled and could lead to strike action. IG Metall is seeking a 6.5% wage increase for its workers, despite a German economy that is struggling with the burden of the European economic crisis.
It’s been reported that BMW, Daimler and Porsche are expecting confrontation with the union following talk of strike action in the previous negotiations. A 3% wage increase over a 14 month period has been offered, but that was quickly rejected by IG Metall.
Opel could also be caught up in the action as it continues to wrestle with the idea of closing down two of its German-based plants.
