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Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo shows off the new Giulia

Alfa Romeo Giulia

Alfa Romeo is celebrating its 105th birthday and to do so they have given us the first look at the very, very appealing new Giulia. The company logo has been modernised and the company museum in Arese has re-opened and is ready for Alfisti from all over the world to come and enjoy.

Back to the new Giulia you see before you. We’ve only got a handful of details at this stage and along with the car’s seductive looks we think you will be very interested to learn more.

For now, though, we know the Giulia Quadrifoglio will boast a six-cylinder turbo petrol engine producing 380kW (510hp). No less than the engineers from Ferrari have been involved in the engine’s development.

Sounds pretty good, right. Well this new flying Alfa is rear-wheel drive and with a double-clutch transmission can reach 100km/h in 3.9 seconds. Who needs an M3?

The new Giulia features a long wheelbase for composed handling, which is further complemented by mutli-link rear suspension and double-wishbones up front.

There’s a few techy gadgets like an Active Aero Splitter to manage downforce. The car’s weight is split evenly 50:50 and it has a power to weight ratio of less than 3kg/hp.

Lightweight materials such as carbon fibre (prop shaft, bonnet and roof) and aluminium (engine, brakes, suspension, doors and front quarter panels) have been used to help keep the weight down. There’s even carbon ceramic brakes for the hottest of Giulias.

As well, Alfa claims the Giulia has the best torsional rigidity in its class.

Yeah, we want to see more too. For now though we’ve got a handful of pics a cheesy promo video and a press release and they’re all yours after the break. Alfa, colour us interested!

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Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo updates its logo

New Alfa Romeo logo

Old Alfa Romeo logos

Updated, modernised and refreshed, take a closer look at the new Alfa Romeo logo. This new 2015 version will soon be emblazoned on the famous Alfa grille of all new models. The older versions of the logo below show you how the logo has changed over the years.

For more on the logo and the history of Alfa Romeo check out this blog originally published by automotive journalism student Barry Hartley.

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News Top Gear

Clarkson, Hammond and May to Netflix?

Clarkson, Hammond and May to Netflix

The rumours have been around for a while, but it now appears certain former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will front a new motoring program on the online streaming network Netflix.

According to reports the hosts have had a number of possible options to consider, including UK broadcasters ITV. With a deal now “very close” to being agreed with Netflix it seems we can expect an official announcement soon.

Word also suggests the on-air trio will be joined by former Top Gear exexcutive producer Andy Wilman.

Meanwhile the final episode of Top Gear featuring the regular trio will go to air in the UK on Sunday. It’s expected the final episode will break all viewing records for the BBC. A short trailer can be seen below.

[Source: Business Insider Australia | Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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MINI

2016 MINI Clubman leaked photos

F54 MINI Clubman leaked images

The new MINI Clubman is due for its official launch in the next 24 hours but a French MINI dealer has pulled le trigger a little early and the result is this selection of leaked photographs.

As is MINI’s style there’s not a lot of change externally from what we saw in the 2014 concept model. And to our eyes, that’s no bad thing.

Some people will struggle with the new Clubman, we understand that. It’s not really a MINI as we used to know the brand. In fact, this car is pretty damn big, for a MINI. But if it’s not clear to you now that BMW is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to milk every last drop out of its MINI brand it never will be.

If nothing else the barn-style rear doors are pretty cool!

[Source: MotoringFile]

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Porsche Video

Is the Cayman GT4 the best sounding Porsche ever?

Porsche Cayman GT4

The first video you’ll see after the break poses the question: Is the Cayman GT4 the best sounding Porsche ever? Watch the clip, it does sound very good.

But the best sounding Porsche ever? Not even close.

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Bathurst 12 Hour

2016 Bathurst 12 hour wants you

2016 Bathurst 12 hour promo

Today is June 23. But that’s not important right now. What is important is that there’s 229 days to go until the 2016 Bathurst 12 hour. It’ll be held on the weekend of 5–7 February and we suggest you put it in your diary right now.

If you still need convincing watch the video after the break. That should do it.

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Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider confirmed for Australia

2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

By now you’ve probably seen the odd Alfa Romeo 4C driving around the streets in Australia. Well, from November you can expect to see the 4C Spider as well.

If nothing else the Spider is better that its hardtop counterpart because it has headlights that weren’t sent from Mars.

Full press details on the 4C Spider announcement can be found below. Of course, pricing is yet to be released, but it’ll no doubt send the cost of your 4C experience into the six-figure bracket, or very close to it.

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Porsche WEC

2015 LM24: Porsche claims win number 17

2015 24 Hours of Le Mans

If Porsche didn’t have such a proud history at Le Mans achieving a one-two result in its second year would be difficult to believe. But Porsche went about the business of returning to the LMP1 category with enormous respect for its competition and seeing Porsche dominate and indeed tame the Circuit de la Sarthe for 24 hours is what we’ve been trained to expect.

The victory is Porsche’s 17th Le Mans victory. Seventeen!

It’s true, in a perfect world, and keeping an eye on the World Endurance Championship title, Porsche might have preferred its #17 or #18 car to win the race. However, there can be no denying the win to the #19 car which won on merit and with blinding pace during the night session.

Earl Bamber, Nico Hulkenberg and Nick Tandy are an unlikely grouping, but they are now Le Mans winners. They will share a bond for life and nobody can ever take that away from them. Well done lads, well done!

Wolfgang Hatz, the Porsche R&D boss put it succinctly, while reminding us of the resources Porsche has thrown at its LMP1 return: “A one-two finish in what is only our second year is an amazing reward for the guts of our engineers regarding the 919 Hybrid’s concept, and the relentless efforts of our 230 team members.”

Porsche 919 Hybrid final placings

1st (395 laps) #19 – Bamber (NZ), Hulkenberg (GER), Tandy (GB)
2nd (-1 lap) #17 – Bernhard (GER), Hartley (NZ), Webber (AUS)
5th (-4 laps) #18 – Dumas (GER), Jani (SUI), Lieb (GER)

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Audi WEC

2015 LM24: Audi sets lap record

2015 24 Hours of Le Mans

Audi failed to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans for just the third time since its maiden win in 2000. The four rings have an incredible record at La Sarthe and while they gave away their crown to Porsche in 2015 they did take one record from their stablemates; the outright race lap record.

Amazingly, the old race record (3:18.4) had stood since 1971 and was set by Jackie Oliver in a Porsche 917 LH. However, Audi etched its name into the record books twice, when first Filipe Albuquerque lapped La Sarthe in 3:17.647 in the #8 Audi R18 only for Andre Lotterer to better that in the #7 R18 with a time of 3:17.475.

Perhaps because they are part of the Volkswagen Group, or perhaps because they’re just good blokes, but Audi was very gracious in defeat. Audi Motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich was in the Porsche garage to pass on his congratulations a full 10 minutes before the race had ended.

And this is what Audi Chairmain Rupert Stadler had to say: “That was motorsport at the very highest level. The spectators witnessed a tremendous endurance race in which the two Group sisters, Audi and Porsche, fought the expected fierce and thrilling duel for victory.

“We can only congratulate our colleagues from Stuttgart on this success because we know exactly how difficult it is to win this race.”

While Audi’s Technical Development boss, Ulrich Hackenberg, was quick to give the marketing bods some joy: “I found it particularly impressive that Audi and Porsche with two completely different concepts of hybrid race cars were practically driving on the same level throughout the entire race.

“Both Group brands with their concepts were clearly faster than Toyota. And that’s exactly what we’d like to show in the WEC and at Le Mans.”

Audi still leads the title race in the World Endurance Championship and will no doubt want to make amends at Le Mans in 2016.

Audi R18 e-tron quattro final placings

3rd (-2 laps) #7 – Fässler (SUI), Lotterer (GER), Tréluyer (FRA)
4th (-3 laps) #8 – di Grassi (BRA), Duval (FRA), Jarvis (GB)
7th (-8 laps) #9 – Albuquerque (POR), Bonanomi (ITA), Rast (GER)

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Motorsports News

Nürburgring management bans lap records

Looking over Quiddelbacher Hohe to Flugplatz accident site, April 2015

The fallout from the tragic accident at the Nürburgring in the VLN1 race back in March has continued with the track’s owners, capricorn Nürburgring GmbH, deciding to extend the speed limits initially introduced for motorsport only to all Nordschleife track activites.

That means all Touristenfahrten days will have speed limits. All private track days will have speed limits. And all industry pool days will have speed limits.

Capricorn has still gone one step further by officially banning any new attempts at lap records. This statement was issued late last week:

“Following the tragic accident on 28 March 2015, the German motorsport association (DMSB) introduced speed limits for races at the Nürburgring. capricorn NÃœRBURGRING GmbH has decided to extend these speed limits to other activities on the Nordschleife, which is why record drives are currently not permitted on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,” said Carsten Schumacher, CEO of capricorn NÃœRBURGRING GmbH.

The VLN accident happened at the entry to the Flugplatz right hander where a Nissan GT-R got airborne over the Quiddelbacher Hohe “jump” and crashed into the crowd killing one spectator.

The image above was taken in late April looking at Quiddelbacher Hohe, with the entry to Flugplatz over the crest. Workers were modifying the fences around the spectator area ahead of the VLN2 race.

A 200km/h speed limit applies from Hocheichen to Flugplatz (all activities).

A 250km/h speed limit applies from Flugplatz to Schwedenkreuz (all activities).

The usual 90–50km/h speed limits apply on the approach to the Breidscheid Bridge track entry (TF only).

A 250km/h speed limit applies on the main Döttinger Hohe straight, from the “gantry” to Antoniusbusche (all activities).

The initial introduction of speed limits for VLN competition, including the Nürburgring 24 hour race, was hoped to have been an introductory measure that was able to be brought in relatively quickly while a longer term solution was developed.

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Audi Video

Audi RS3: The hills are a-five

Audi RS3

We all know the new Audi RS3 won’t be perfect. But we do know, and with absolute certainty, that its five-pot engine will make it one of the best sounding cars in its segment. Don’t believe us, then get busy watching the video after the break. Grrrrrrrrr!

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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Top Gear

Chris Evans to head new Top Gear line up

Hi, my name's Chris and I am a fuckwit!

Chris Evans is a knob. And he’s also going to be the new host of Top Gear.

Speaking about his new role the UK radio and television presenter said: “I promise I will do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.”

Evans is a well known petrol head and has one of the world’s most enviable classic Ferrari collections. He’s also a massive knob.

Showing a sign of intent for the future of Top Gear the BBC has signed Evans on a three-year deal. And they’re pretty happy about it too.

“I’m so delighted that Chris will be presenting the next series of Top Gear,” enthused Kim Shillinglaw, Controller of BBC Two and BBC Four. “His knowledge of and passion for cars is well-known, and combined with his sheer inventiveness and cheeky unpredictability he is the perfect choice to take our much-loved show into the future.

“Chris is a huge fan of Top Gear and has great respect for the craft and work ethic of one of the best production teams in the world. He knows the phenomenal attention to detail it takes to make a single sequence of Top Gear, let alone a whole series. He is already full of brilliant ideas and I can’t wait for him to get started.

“He’s also a total knob-end.”

Okay, maybe Shillinglaw didn’t make that last comment.

Evans has made contact with the show’s three former hosts and says he has the blessing of Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond. As for James May, Evans had this to say: “James called me back straight away. We had a chat, we are going to meet up today or tomorrow to talk about things. Who knows what might happen there?”

While Evans’ co-hosts are yet to be named, the BBC has confirmed production for the next series of Top Gear will start in the next few weeks.

The last episode to feature Clarkson, Hammond and May will go to air in the UK on 28 June and will follow on Australian screens shortly after.

[Source: Top Gear | Pic: twitter]