AUSmotive.com – Page 232 – Hanging on for dear life

Lexus

Lexus LFA blinged up with chrome wrap

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2012

Lexus LFA with chrome wrap

This chrome wrapped Lexus LFA supercar, claimed to be the world’s first, has been revealed ahead of this weekend’s MotorEx show in Sydney. Despite being one of only ~~five~~ 10 LFAs in the country, and sporting this blinged up custom look, the owner wishes to remain anonymous, agreeing only to be identified as “JP”.

JP lives in Queensland and has already covered 4000km in his two-month old machine. â€œLong drives arenâ€™t boring any more, I love it,â€ he told Drive.com.au.

If JP really did want to be modest about his identity perhaps he should have reconsidered the showy chrome look and LFUKNA personalised number plates! We’d also like to know how the Queensland government let that number plate through; was someone sleeping on the job?

The wrap was done by Exotic Graphix in Melbourne for a ballpark price of $10K. But when you’ve spent close to $800K on the car, that’s just pocket money, right? Half his luck!

[Source: SMH]

UPDATE: Lexus UK is running this story too. They also offer the info that this is LFA chassis #304.

BMW

F82 BMW M4 coupÃ© spied

It might still be a couple of years away, but here’s a pretty good look at the new BMW M4, formerly known as the M3 coupÃ©. Based on the F32 4 Series platform, the M4 will follow suit from the M3 sedan and use a turbocharged inline six cylinder engine.

Spied at the NÃ¼rburgring recently, it’s one of the first times an M4 mule has been seen out and about. The M brakes, M6 steering wheel and quad-tipped exhausts help to give the game away.

There’s also a video below and you can hear the unmistakable sound of a double clutch transmission on upshifts, but fear not, the M3 and M4 are still expected to offer the choice of a manual ‘box as well.

The front end of the F32 coupÃ©s will be sleeker and sportier than their F30 sedan counterparts. The M4 will also receive exclusive M treatment to its styling including the front grille and wider wheel arches.

It’s expected the production M4 will have a carbon fibre roof panel and will be more and less better than the E92 M3. That is, it should have more power, be more efficient, while weighing less than the old coupÃ©.

The latest word on release dates says the M3 sedan could hit showrooms overseas late next year, otherwise early 2014. While the more traditional coupÃ© layout, the M4, should arrive before the end of 2014.

[Source: F30post]

MINI WRC

Dani Sordo gets ready for Rallye Deutschland

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2012
1 Comment on Dani Sordo gets ready for Rallye Deutschland

The Prodrive twitter account brings us this video of Dani Sordo testing his MINI John Cooper Works WRC at Prodrive’s makeshift test track in Banbury. It’s a bit like a low-rent Ken Block video without the tyre smoke. The roof mounted camera gives you a great sense of speed as well.

Sordo is in preparation for Rally Germany which takes place on the tarmac roads around the Mosel wine region in late August.

Green Machines Porsche

Porsche 918 rocking cool mono Martini livery

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2012
4 Comments on Porsche 918 rocking cool mono Martini livery

Porsche 918 prototype spied

Porsche wins the cool award for the year so far, thanks to this 918 prototype with monochromatic Martini livery. It just looks the business!

It certainly looks much better than the Frankenstein look we saw in March, and it’s even better than more finished preview Porsche gave us back in May. And given the sales debut of the 918 Ã¼ber-hybrid is still some 12 months away we’re hoping to see more more of these stylish themes from Porsche along the way.

In case you need reminding of the potential awesomeness inside the 918 Spyder, they have taken the 3.4 litre V8 from the RS Spyder (currently on tour in Australia) and coupled it with Porsche’s own electric flywheel technology from the GT3 R Hybrid.

All wrapped up in a stunning sportscar silhouette the end result is a handy 770hp and a new dream machine for kids to hang on their bedroom walls.

Follow the link below for more photos.

[Source: Autoblog | Pics: CarPix]

Audi

Audi City digital showroom opens in London

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2012
3 Comments on Audi City digital showroom opens in London

Audi City, a new kind of electronic tyre kicker’s dream, brings the virtual into reality with the opening of a new digital showroom in central London.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi’s marketing and sales boss, explains, â€œAudi City combines the best of two worldsâ€”digital product presentation and personal contact with the dealer.

â€œThis new retail format brings us even closer to our customersâ€”geographically, of course, but first and foremost in terms of the quality of our relationship. Audi City offers new freedom for tailor-made services and an even more individual contact with the customer.â€

By 2015 Audi plans to have a more than 20 digital showrooms open across the world’s major cities.

It’s pretty cool, we have to say. You start by selecting your preferred model from a tablet then flick it to a life size Powerwall. The videos and pics after the break show it best.

Video

The Batmobile documentary previewed

Post author By Liam
Post date 19 July, 2012

Now that The Dark Knight Rises has hit the silver screen it’s timely to remind you of the impending Batmobile documentary. Who doesn’t love a good Batmobile? After the break you can see the three minute preview which includes a few brief interviews with key players and is sure to whet your appetite for all things batty.

Mazda

BRZ is RAW Subaru

When Subaru Australia announced they would bring the BRZ sports coupÃ© to market we wondered how this would affect their advertising campaigns, which hadÂ hitherto drawn heavily on Subaru’s exclusive all-wheel drive product range. Now we know and it seems Subaru would have us believe that rear-wheel drive equals raw.

Overall it’s not a bad effort, although some will question the reliance on WRC footage, given Subaru withdrew from the sport a few years ago now. And we still prefer the ad from Subaru Canada.

Decide for yourself by watching the ad after the break.

Motorsports Video

VIDEO: Driver’s eye view of Spa-Francorchamps

Post author By Liam
Post date 18 July, 2012
1 Comment on VIDEO: Driver’s eye view of Spa-Francorchamps

Lucas di Grassi driver's eye view of Belgian Grand Prix circuit

Lucas di Grassi brings us a second installment with his driver’s eye view camera. Now under the employ of Pirelli, di Grassi takes us on a lap of the highly respected Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. By taking us into the driver’s seat we get a great insight into the rises, falls and blind corners experienced on this great track.

We like this quote that Lucas posted with the YouTube video: “I had to drive with only one eye open as the camera was blocking my other eye, quite tricky.”

Motorsports News

Concerns over the future of the NÃ¼rburgring

Post author By Liam
Post date 18 July, 2012

Over the last day or so you may have read some worrying headlines about the future of the NÃ¼rburgring. 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 NÃ¼rburgring 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.

UPDATE: NÃ¼rburgring GmbH one step closer to bankruptcy
(Keep an eye on AUSringers.com for ongoing updates.)

Accessories & Tech BMW Random wallpapers

Even an E64 BMW M6 looks better on nice rims

Post author By Liam
Post date 18 July, 2012
7 Comments on Even an E64 BMW M6 looks better on nice rims

The E64 BMW M6, in our eyes it’s one of BMW’s greatest cock-ups. A glorious V10 engine wrapped up in styling you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. But, as these pics show, there’s nothing a lowered ride and choice rims can’t fix.

D2FORGED are responsible for the wheels, they’re 21″ CV11 Deep Concave running a staggered set up, with 9″ width up front and 10.5″ wide at the rears. The slender spokes, all 11 of them, are set-off nicely by the colour coded Interlagos Blue stripe on the lip.

There’s a few more pics after the break and simply click on each photo to be rewarded with 1600px sizing.

Ford News Random wallpapers

Ken Block Gymkhana FIVE wallpapers

Post author By Liam
Post date 17 July, 2012
1 Comment on Ken Block Gymkhana FIVE wallpapers

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.