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Aston Martin

Aston Martin One-77 to show off in Sydney

Aston Martin One-77

The Australian International Motor Show boasts it will have the only Aston Martin One-77 in Australia on display when the doors open at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre next Friday (19 October). The vehicle, owned by a shy Queenslander, is one of just 77 in the world and was delivered in May.

AIMS director Russ Tyrie can barely contain his excitement, “I am very proud and excited that an Aston Martin One-77 will be on display at the 2012 Australian International Motor Show.

“The One-77 was first revealed to the world in concept form three years ago, and this year, Australians will be able to see one in all its glory after its owner has generously allowed for it to be on public display, only months after taking possession.

“The One-77 is unique, it is like no other Aston Martin or supercar ever engineered and we are confident it will be a talking point of this year’s Australian International Motor Show.”

Powered by a 7.3 litre V12 producing 559kW/750Nm, the One-77 can reach 100km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds.

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Categories
Mercedes-Benz Oh the humanity

Mercedes SLS AMG Black Series lights my fire

An ex Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series prototype

Hmm, that’s not gone well. Remember that Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series test mule we showed you the other day, well it’s just lost a sibling thanks to a nasty fire while testing at the Nürburgring. At first it was thought the fire started due in the engine bay, but a later theory suggests it started due to overheating rear brakes. Thankfully, the driver and passenger escaped unharmed.

Interestingly, this accident happened on the main straight, Döttinger Höhe. One of the few places on the Ring where the brakes get some relief and it’s also not really a section of track you’d expect the car to lose control.

Check out the source link for more crispy photos.

[Source: Pistonspy]

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VII early reviews

Volkswagen Golf VII

Volkswagen’s new Golf VII has now been driven by the world’s motoring journos. Here’s a sample of what they’re saying:

Vicky Parrot, Autocar: “The Golf is precisely the globally appealing and useful car it needs to be. The desirability stakes have been upped,  and it is generally a sharper, more complete package. It is a VW Golf, purified.”
[see video review below]

Stephen Dobie, Evo: “The smooth manner in which it delivers its power is impressive, while the switch between two- and four-cylinder operation can only really be identified by an icon in the instrument panel. Combine all that with a supple ride (which some badly maintained roads on our Sardinian test route gave a stern test), and the Golf offers an experience as classy as its pricier Audi cousin.”

Paul Horrell, Top Gear: “The handling’s fine too, as you’d expect from a car where they’ve moved weight away from the nose. It resists understeer and takes all the swerves you chuck at it. But it is a bit po-faced. It stops short of actually encouraging you to throw swerves at it.”

Looks like it’s a case of same old for the new Golf, with about 10% improvement in all areas. Not earth shattering and, quite probably, entirely to VW’s script.

In addition to the Autocar video review we have added another from Auto Week, just make sure you switch on the English subtitles. Also included is some driving footage of the Golf VII filmed on the roads of Sardinia, where the press launch took place.

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Categories
Formula 1 Honda

Honda R&D boss wants F1 return

Honda RA108

Honda could be set to return to Formula 1 in 2014 after its R&D boss, Yoshiharu Yamamoto, admitted a desire to compete again.

Yamamoto explained they would need rules to change in order to lure them back into the fold. And guess what, the rules are changing in 2014, with the introduction of turbocharged V6 engines.

Speaking to Autocar Yamamoto said: “On a personal level I love racing, but there is a lot involved when you are in F1—it is the very top of auto racing and that requires a large commitment. But it is true that we do look up at those races and hope that one day we can take part again.

“I do not personally think we can just go straight back immediately, but there is potential for the rules to change and attract us. I follow the rules, certainly, and if they present an opportunity then it would be nice to go back.”

Honda is embracing turbocharged engines for its future road cars, so the attraction to the new F1 engine rules is easy to see. Already, Honda has committed to the World Touring Car Championship with a 1.6 litre turbo engine.

However, Yamamoto thinks it may take a WTCC title before Honda aims for the heights of F1 once more. “This is my personal view—not that of Honda—but I feel the first thing we must do is win in the WTCC, and then perhaps we can look further afield,” he said.

Honda walked out on F1 at the end of 2008 amid the carmageddon suffered during the Global Financial Crisis.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Lexus

Lexus LFA-based AD-X prototype spied

Lexus AD-X prototype

Lexus seems to be developing a habit of turning up to the Nürburgring with one-off prototypes that never see the light of day again. Already this year we’ve seen prototypes labelled AD-A and AD-B. Now we’re looking at the AD-X. It looks pretty cool in its Porsche GT3 RS-style colour scheme too.

It’s likely these AD-badged models are based on the LFA Nürburgring, itself a limited edition of the original LFA model. The Nürburging model gets 562bhp from its 4.8 litre V10 engine. How much do you reckon the engine in this AD-X produces?

Who knows if we’ll ever see this car again; if you want to see more be sure to follow the source link below.

[Source: Pistonspy]

Categories
Accessories & Tech Mazda

VIDEO: Mazda explains its i-ELOOP technology

Mazda i-ELOOP video

Over the next little while you’ll be hearing a lot about Mazda’s new Skyactiv i-ELOOP technology. In Australia our first look at this new tech will be in the 2013 Mazda6.

The i-ELOOP name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue easily, but it is a simple and clever way to ensure that no power from the car’s alternator is lost. To do that energy is sent to a specially created capacitor. It also uses regenerative energy to power the alternator, freeing it from its reliance on the engine. One of the main benefits of this concept is reduced fuel consumption.

It’s a little bit nerdy, really, and if it all sounds a bit like witchcraft, then watch the video after the break.

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Categories
BMW

2014 BMW M4 back at the Ring

2014 BMW M4 coupe

The 2014 BMW M4 coupé has been spied in action at the latest industry pool testing held at the Nürburgring. It’s just the second time the coupé has been spotted and aside from the new pics and video (below) there’s not much else to tell you. Inasmuch as there’s no new info relating to the F82 that we haven’t already told you.

So, that means you should be expecting the F80 M3 sedan to be released late next year or early 2014, with the M4 to follow before the end of 2014. Power will come from an inline six cylinder with at least two turbos; there may be three.

Of course, the new M3/M4 will be a little bit lighter, a little bit faster and a little bit more efficient than the models they replace.

[Source: F30post]

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Polo R to launch in five months

Volkswagen Polo R WRC Street

Volkswagen’s R&D chief Ulrich Hackenberg has confirmed the Polo R will launch at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show next March. The date has been selected to coincide with Polo’s full-time entry into the WRC.

The Polo R was previewed in the guise of a WRC “Street” model at the Wörthersee show earlier this year. In production trim its engine will be a tuned version of the Mk6 Golf GTI unit. It’s expected the Polo R will have 225hp (167kW) sent to its front wheels through a mechanical limited slip diff. A 0–100km/h time of around 6 seconds is predicted.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Porsche

“A lot of horsepowers”

Walter ROhrl and Harry Metcalfe discuss the Porsche 918 Spyder

Harry Metcalfe from Evo is the latest person to blame for yet more Porsche 918 Spyder content. Here he chews the fat with Walter Röhrl, who was also kind enough to take Harry for a drive.

We quite liked Walter’s description of having “a lot of horsepowers to drive with this car.” It’s an interesting chat actually, and towards the end they discuss a bit more about the car’s sales release, which is still some 12 months away!

There’s been some changes to the provisional specs released back in August. Notably, Porsche now claims the 4.6 litre V8 produces 585hp, up from 570hp. Also, Röhrl mentions the 918 has four-wheel steering, which is the first we can recall hearing that.

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Categories
Porsche

Imagine the Porsche 962C as a daily driver

Porsche 962C

Japanese mag MotorHead turns the cool dial up to 11 with this short film about a road registered Porsche 962C. It was one of Vern Schuppan’s early development models by the looks. Short interviews with the car’s current owner and Carrera Cup Japan Champion and GT300 driver, Yasuo Miyagawa (above), are featured, along with onboard footage as it roams the city streets.

If you had a 962 as a daily driver, of sorts, how awesome would it be to drop down to your local shops to pick up a soft drink? Even just driving in regular traffic would be a real highlight. Then, there’s the thought of driving it on the track. Oh yes!

[Thanks to James for the tip]

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Categories
Formula 1 Mazda

Mazda6 to revive F1 celebrity challenge

Matthew Cowdrey and Anna Meares with the Mazda6

Those who marvel at the periphery of Grand Prix week will have lamented the loss of the Celebrity Challenge around Albert Park this year. So we can only imagine their delight at today’s announcement telling the world the celebrity race is back!

So far the choice of celebs centres around over-achieving athletes, with olympic cyclist Anna Meares and paralympian Matthew Cowdrey confirmed. They will be joined by Britain’s own olympic cycling legend, Sir Chris Hoy.

Their weapon of choice? A diesel-powered Mazda6. We imagine panel beaters around Melbourne will be pleased for the practice they will be given on repairing the new Mazda sedan.

Speaking at today’s press conference Meares said: “I’ve always dreamt of being involved in car racing. Much like cycling, it is such a technical and mentally draining sport and I have the greatest respect for Formula 1 drivers.

“It’s also not very often that I get a chance to race against Sir Chris for bragging rights.”

[Source: Australian Grand Prix]

Categories
BMW Tesla

VIDEO: Tesla S v BMW M5

Tesla S v BMW M5

Here we bring you an almost pointless video from Automobile magazine who have lined up a Tesla S and BMW M5 for a drag. But it’s a bit of harmless fun and on paper both manufacturers claim 4.4 seconds are required to reach 100km/h. So let’s see that theory put to practice. Which car do you think will win a straight out drag?

Although, regardless of this result, we think it would be more fun to drive both cars hard around a track or mountain road and see which one runs out of juice first. The Tesla S, with its predicted 480km range (when driven at 90km/h), or the M5 and its 80 litre fuel tank. Bit of a no brainer, perhaps?

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