The McLaren X-1 concept made its public debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on the weekend. Here’s a few snaps of the Woking-built Batmobile out in the sun. Away from the controlled lighting of the photographer’s studio, do you think it looks any better?
BMW continues to celebrate the 40th birthday of M GmbH with this short video discussing where it all began—on the track. Iconic models like the 3.0 CSL, M1 and M3 are featured. We think you’ll enjoy reflecting back on four decades of M; who knows, you may even learn a thing or two.
It’s often said if you want a job done right you have to do it yourself. And after featuring not one, but two videos of home grown lads getting it all wrong at Pikes Peak we can thank Aussie Jeff Denmeade and his Honda powered Skelta for showing the locals how it’s done.
After the break there are two videos showing Denmeade and Catherine Hammond climb their way to the top of the demanding Pike Peak course. The first from inside the cabin, the latter from the roof of the Australian-built Skelta.
We have to tip our hats to Jeff and Catherine, too, not only for making the return trip to Colorado, but with a time of 11:19.722 they also managed to finish third in the Pikes Peak Open Class (23rd overall). A very tidy effort considering the rain and sleet they encountered as they neared the summit.
Thanks also go to long time AUSmotive reader Stu for bringing our attention to these videos. Stu now lives in the States and was actually in Colorado for the event. A multiple Targa Tasmania competitor, he included this note:
I know why people who are not from the area get there a week before to acclimatise. The bottom of the mountain is already 1600m above sea level and by the time we drove to the top we were feeling quite light headed. Even driving a hire car up at slow pace its quite unnerving as you just have these sheer drop offs!
[Thanks to Stu for the tip | Pic: Jason Odell]
McLaren’s Special Operations section has created this one-off concept, which they have called the X-1; we call it the McBatmobile. It’s been created at the request of an anonymous car enthusiast; let’s call him Bruce Wayne.
The McLaren X-1 will be shown at The Quail function, part of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Inside it’s very much MP4-12C, but clearly the bodywork is completely bespoke.
Frank Stephenson, McLaren’s Design Director, shares the brief received from Mr Wayne: “The client was very clear in his own mind what he wanted. But the only styling feature prescribed were metal brightwork rails running from the nose, over the shoulderline and hips, to the rear of the greenhouse.”
They say they used the 1961 Facel Vega, a 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance Ghia, a 1959 Buick Electra, a 1939 Mercedes-Benz 540K and a 1971 Citroën SM as automotive inspiration, but also took cues from various architectural references and other design icons.
From some angles it look really great; the detailing is bang on. From others, well, it’s just plain ugly. What do you think?
Barely three months after the sensational premiere of the BMW Zagato Coupé, BMW and Zagato are turning heads again at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance with the fruits of their latest collaboration. Created in just six weeks’ worth of lavish handcraftsmanship, the BMW Zagato Roadster represents another masterful example of the traditional coachbuilder’s art and an elegant take on the sporty, masculine marker laid down by the BMW Zagato Coupé.
At the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, this one-of-a-kind automobile finds itself in the best possible company. Every year connoisseurs and exponents of coachbuilt classics come together on California’s Pacific coastline to gorge on, mull over and be amazed by an array of automotive exotica. Indeed, you’d be hard pressed to find a more appropriate venue for the premiere of the BMW Zagato Roadster.
That’s the intro from BMW’s official press release (full version available below) and it sums up this stunning new Zagato Roadster and its raison d’être quite well.
Most roadsters look good with the top down, but the true test of their design is shown if they look just as good when the top is up. Unfortunately, at this stage, BMW has only given us words to describe the look of the Zagato’s roof. They use the term, “hallmark Zagato double-bubble roof” or “doppia gobba” if you want to impress your Italian friends.
That’s all well and good, but we’d quite like to see the soft-top in pictures so we can judge the form for ourselves.
We expect it won’t be long until photos from Pebbele Beach emerge, or even a promo video from BMW to show us what we expect will still be a fantastic looking creation, roof up or roof down.
Enjoy the pics below, it’s a wonderful looking car. Although, we’d very much prefer the Coupé. How about you?
WorldCarFans brings us a good selection of undisguised pics previewing the 2013 Audi A3 Sportback. It’s the best look yet at the five-door A3, which is expected to be on show in Paris.
As we’ve noted before, this is the model our Australian readers need to pay attention to. We’ve previously been tipped that the Sportback is the only layout of A3 ‘hatch’ we’ll see down under. Local fans of the three-door A3, which debuted in Geneva, will be left pining for the sleeker and slightly smaller A3.
It’s not known what the exact difference will be, but the adaptable MQB platform means Audi can use a larger wheelbase for the Sportback. Looks like all will be revealed next month.
Everything we’ve seen inside the new A3 should translate to the Sportback. We reckon Audi has done enough to maintain their position as the maker of some of the nicest car interiors to experience as well.
[Source: WCF | Pics: Automedia]
New footage from Jeremy Foley’s crash at the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been posted to YouTube by his Evolution Dynamics team and it gives us sobering view of the wild ride. Foley and co-driver Yuri Kouznetsov rolled their Mitsubishi Evo VIII 14 times before coming to a peaceful rest.
Both Foley and Kouznetsov, who suffered a dislocated shoulder, have been interviewed by the Today show on US network NBC. The two videos are available after the, erm, jump, and we recommend watching both.
[via Autoblog]
Autocar brings word that the facelifted BMW Z4 is expected to get the M Performance Automobiles treatment, in addition to the cosmetic makeover from the styling team.
That means we should start getting used to the Z4 M35i badge. If nothing else, it’s less convoluted than the current range topping Z4, the sDrive35is. Given the basic numbers of the sDrive35is currently match the fantastic 1M, namely 250kW/450Nm, we’re left wondering what BMW could have in store for the M35i.
With its first petrol powered M Performance model, the M135i, BMW has tuned the N55 3.0 litre turbocharged six to 225kW/450Nm. The same powerplant set for use in the M351. Yet, it stands to reason that any model wearing an M badge, even if it’s M-lite, must have more power than any model in its range that has gone before it. But can an M-lite Z4 have more performance, on paper, than the mighty 1M? Or will M-sourced suspension tuning and cosmetic enhancements be enough?
We think we know the true answer to those questions but we rather expect BMW’s marketing team will be in overdrive explaining why an M badged Z4 is better than the sDrive35is, when they both have the same on-paper spec.
The facelifted Z4 is due for release at the Detroit Auto Show in January next year. So, we’ll definitely have an answer to our questions then, if not before.
[Source: Autocar | Pic: CarPix]
With the BMW 3 Series GT reported to debut in concept form at next month’s Paris Motor Show it’s quite timely that a new series of spy shots have emerged.
The 3 Series GT will sit rather oddly between the saloon and Touring versions and, surprisingly, we’re desperate to like it. Alas, we fear, in profile view at least, it’s just going to look like a Holden Cruze hatch. And, we think, that’s not something BMW should be proud of.
Adding somewhat to the practicality of the F34 GT is the expectation it will follow the lead set by the 5 Series GT and feature a two-piece opening liftback, or tailgate, or hatch; call it what you will.
Check the source link below for more pics and tell us what you think.
[Source: WCF | Pic: Automedia]
Well, we were expecting Chris Atkinson to drive a MINI in Rallye Deutschland, but we weren’t expecting this! In exchange for posing like a prat in the above pic Atko will be the lead driver for WRC Team MINI Portugal for the remaining five races of the 2012 season.
It’s been a roller coaster year for Team MINI Portugal, run by Motorsport Italia, who were surprisingly given factory backing after BMW cut Prodrive’s factory status back in February.
Since then Motorsport Italia’s lead driver Armindo Araujo has failed to meet expectations. According to an official team statement the decision to release Araujo was made after the Rally Finland debrief. “There’s always a point where you have to admit that something isn’t quite right and I hope that we’ve accepted that point at just the right time,” said Team Manager, Bruno de Pianto.
“The decision was not taken lightly and was made on purely sporting grounds. It was not a personal decision and everyone in the team wishes Armindo all the best for the future.”
Confirming Atkinson’s position de Pianto added, “Atko’s a really top guy all the way from Australia, fast and experienced and he’s going to take over as the team’s No. 1 driver, flanked by the oh-so-experienced Belgian Stéphane Prévot for the rest of the season.
“It’ll be his first time in a MINI on the test this weekend, but we’re confident that Chris can handle any car he lays his hands on and his MINI will love him within minutes. We’re all very much looking forward to working with him and Stéphane and seeing what surprises Rallye Deutschland has to offer!”
Atkinson will make his race debut with WRC Team MINI Portugal in Germany over the weekend of 24–26 August.
You can hear what Chris has to say by watching a short video below, which has been sourced from Atkinson’s YouTube account.
A Ferrari F70 prototype was recently filmed prowling the streets of Maranello. Sadly, there wasn’t much drama, just some tootling about town. As a result we can’t tell you much more than what we’ve already reported/speculated.
To recap, we’re expecting the F70 to be powered by a 7.3 litre V12. This will be complemented by a KERS unit, helping to push total power to, or perhaps even beyond, 900hp.
Epic power these days is the norm, it seems. Similarly, there’s a push from manufacturers to make their newest models lighter than the relative heavyweights they replace. In keeping, then, reports suggest the F70 could weigh as little as 1140kg.
[Source: Carscoop]
Word on the e-street says the five-door Audi A3 Sportback could join the impressive list of debut models heading to the bright lights of the Paris Motor Show next month. A little early perhaps? We’ll see.
If nothing else it’s a good opportunity to share this new rendering showing the five-door layout. We reckon it’s a fair effort, too.
Aside from riding on a slightly longer wheelbase, we don’t expect the A3 Sportback to differ too greatly from the three-door A3 we saw at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.