Categories
Audi

VIDEO: See the Audi A1 quattro reach v-max

Audi A1 quattro

The Audi A1 quattro: only 333 will be made and they cost an absolute bomb. Financially speaking, it makes no sense at all. But forget that for a moment and consider what Audi has done here.

They’ve gone and stuffed a 188kW 2.0 litre S3 engine and quattro all-wheel drive system under the skin of the funky A1. Throw in some cosmetic tweaks to give the car a more muscular appearance and you end up with a Frankenstein-like show car special. Which it was. But then Audi went and made it. For real.

Here, then, is a short video with Christian Gebhardt, from German mag sport auto, giving the A1 quattro a good seeing to. Along the way he finds an empty road and pushes towards v-max!

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Categories
Subaru

Don’t you forget about me

Subaru BRZ video review

We all know it has taken two to tango in regards to the Toybaru back-to-basics rear-drive sports coupé project. And with the Toyota 86 currently hogging the limelight thanks to yesterday’s Australian launch we thought it was only fair to bring you some Subaru BRZ content.

To do so we’ve headed to YouTube and found a couple of clips from the United States. Of course, that means it’s called a BRZee instead of the BRZed—but don’t worry, it’s still the same car.

First up is a clip direct from Subaru where they invited a couple of punters along to a photo shoot and recorded their thoughts when they were given the chance to get behind the wheel. No surprises they had lots of nice things to say.

Second, we’ve got a review from Road & Track. They put the BRZ up against the Mazda MX-5 and a Hyundai Genesis Coupé. (If you you think BRZee is bad, wait till you hear what the Septics do with Hyundai!) It’s a good selection of cars to compare against too.

An exact date for the Australian launch of the BRZ has yet to be announced, but we expect it to take place in the next 4–6 weeks.

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Categories
Mazda Motor Shows

Leipzig 2012: Mazda MX-5 ‘Yusho’

Mazda MX-5 Yusho prototype

Rear-wheel drive sports coupés from Japan seem to be the special of the week and Mazda doesn’t want to miss out on all the fun. They’ve just debuted this supercharged MX-5 “Yusho” concept at the 2012 Leipzig Motor Show in Germany.

The 2.0 litre four cylinder engine has been warmed over with a supercharger kit from US tuning house Flyin Miata. Thanks to them the Yusho now offers a much sportier 177kW/274Nm. That represents a very healthy gain of 59kW/86Nm over the standard car.

But Mazda didn’t just stop at the blower, they’ve done this properly and beefed up the engine internals, as well. Pistons and conrods have been sourced from Cosworth. The engine drinks from uprated fuel injectors and a new engine map keeps things in check. A customised exhaust system helps to free gasses more easily and a clue to this car’s extra grunt is given by the centrally mounted tips poking out from a carbon fibre (look) rear valance.

Suspension has been taken car of with Bilstein shocks, plus Eibach springs and sway bars. Add to the package some sticky Toyo semi-slicks on 17″ alloys and you end up with what should be a very well sorted MX-5.

The matt white paint finish and suede/alcantara interior trim details round out the look rather nicely.

‘Yusho’ is Japanese for victory and, clearly, Mazda is on a winner here. In fact, we’d quite like one please! Alaz, there’s no word at this stage on production plans, so we’re not sure we’ll ever get the chance to buy one.

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Categories
Toyota

Toyota 86 photo gallery

Toyota 86

Rounding out our launch coverage of the Toyota 86, we bring you a healthy selection of press images. We start with the images you saw yesterday, but add to them, most notably with the higher-spec GTS model. For some reason Toyota has gone light on with pics of the entry-level 86 GT.

After the break you can get your hands on over 40 pics of the Toybaru 86; simply click on the photos to open in 2000px super image sizing.

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Categories
Toyota

Toyota 86 full Australian press kit

Toyota 86

Here, in all its glory, is the full text from the 2012 Toyota 86 press kit, with thanks to Toyota Australia. For an introduction to the 86, including local pricing, check out today’s earlier pricing & specs article.

As the contents list below shows, there’s a lot of detailed info in this press kit. We hope it will be a great resource for fans of the Toybaru, who we expect will enjoy pouring over every last word!

2012 Toyota 86 press kit

  1. Toyota 86 inspired by 50-year sports car heritage
  2. The passion of two companies
  3. Toyota 86 is well specified
  4. Toyota 86 engine is all new
  5. Toyota 86 is first with dual injection
  6. Two transmissions for Toyota 86
  7. Toyota 86 instruments put emphasis on tacho
  8. Chassis tuned on Prius tyres
  9. Lightweight wheels for 86
  10. Toyota 86 has two brake packages
  11. Toyota 86 suspension provides excellent response
  12. Toyota 86 is ultra-low, wide and compact
  13. Toyota 86 aerodynamics provide stability and enhanced handling
  14. Toyota 86 has smallest Toyota steering wheel
  15. Toyota 86 has a voice that can be heard
  16. Design elements evoke Toyota’s heritage
  17. Toyota 86 – no stone unturned
  18. High-quality 86 interior engages the driver
  19. Comprehensive active and passive safety package for 86
  20. Toyota 86 ‘sees red’
  21. Toyota 86 comes with premium audio systems
  22. Toyota 86 seats are light and comfortable
  23. Frameless rear-view mirror a world first
  24. Toyota 86 cabin uses ultra-high strength steel
  25. Toyota 86 specifications
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Categories
Toyota

Toyota 86 video promos

Toyota Australia has provided two brief videos to promote its new 86 sports coupé. There’s no audio in either, so you’ll just have to imagine yourself in the driver’s seat ripping through the gears nudging the 7450rpm redline.

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Categories
Toyota

Toyota 86 – Australian pricing & specs

Toyota 86

Toyota Australia has just announced pricing for its new rear-wheel drive 86 sports coupé. And we think Toybaru fans will like it: the base GT model starts from $29,990 and the higher-spec GTS (shown above) is priced from $35,490.

On its Facebook page Toyota Australia has shown an example of drive away pricing for the base GT model. If you’re a 40-year-old male with good insurance history and based in the 5000 postcode you can drive away for $33,748. Of course, you’ll need to check with your local Toyota dealership to confirm individual pricing if you don’t fit that description.

Toyota Australia’s executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor expects buyers will embrace their sharp pricing: “The 86 is meant to be enjoyed by as many driving enthusiasts as possible, and our pricing will extend its appeal to people who never imagined they could afford such a fun car.

“The 86 will serve as a halo car for Toyota, expanding the brand into a new dimension of driving performance.”

The base model, with 6-speed manual transmission, tips the scales at 1222kg and with 147kw on offer from the 2.0 litre boxer engine the Toyota 86  has a power to weight ratio of 120kW/tonne.

A 6-speed automatic transmission can be optioned for an extra $2500, which comes with steering wheel paddles to activate the 0.2 seconds gear changes. The auto ‘box will also blip the trottle to match revs on downshifts.

Fuel consumption for the 86 is rated at 7.8./100km for manual equipped cars and, surprisingly, a low 7.1l/100km for those fitted with the self-shifter.

Standard equipment on the 86 GT includes 16″ alloys, cruise control, air conditioning, seven airbags and a five-mode stability control system. While the higher-spec 86 GTS gets 17″ wheels, satellite navigation, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, climate control and leather accents on the seats with red contrast stitching.

You can read Toyota Australia’s press release after the break, accompanied by 15 wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images.

Toyota 86 pricing#

  • 86 GT manual – $29,990
  • 86 GT automatic – $32,490
  • 86 GTS manual – $35,490
  • 86 GTS automatic – $37,990
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Categories
BMW

BMW likely to include M7 in future plans

BMW 7 Series (F01)

For reasons best known to themselves BMW has never given M GmbH access to its top-range 7 Series model. That’s left Audi and Mercedes-Benz to divvy up the spoils for factory warmed over luxury saloons. However, that’s all about to change according to former M boss Ludwig Willisch.

While no timeframe has been given by Willisch, he told The Detroit Bureau, “I think we will get it.” Support for an M7 is strong in the US, Willisch claims, where he is now President and CEO of BMW North America.

To help the cause with his Munich bosses, Willisch has teamed with his counterpart from China, who also expects an M7 would sell well in his home market.

Before we see an M7, though, buyers wanting a decent sized four-door that’s not an M5 will be able to make do with an M version of the 6 Series Gran Coupé. Expect sales for that model to commence around this time next year.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Red Bull asked to end holey floors

Red Bull Racing RB8 tyre squirt slot

As always nothing is ever certain in F1 and the floor used on the Red Bull RB8 at the Monaco Grand Prix, previously signed off by the FIA, has now been deemed illegal. Specifically, Red Bull had, for the last three races, incorporated small rectangular holes towards the rear of the floor designed to reduce ‘tyre squirt’ (shown in picture above).

What on earth is tyre squirt, we hear you ask. It’s explained quite well on the Scarbs F1 website; put simply the airflow around the rear tyres creates dirty air which disrupts the effectiveness of the rear diffuser. The holes used by Red Bull, referred to as tyre squirt slots, are designed to offset this effect and improve the quality of airflow to the diffuser and hence increase downforce.

Despite Red Bull introducing their fancy slots in Bahrain, three teams—Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes—spoke of a possible protest during the Monaco weekend. Eventually, they chose to keep quiet but the FIA Technical Working Group was asked for further clarification.

Having considered the Red Bull approach once again the FIA has now said the floor will have to be changed before the cars take to the track at next weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Red Bull’s results from the previous three races will stand.

For their part, Red Bull say, via Helmut Marko, that the change won’t disrupt their preparatons. “We had not planned to use this floor in Montreal anyway,” Marko said. “We had prepared a different configuration using a flat version of the floor. Therefore we do not need to modify the cars in Canada.”

[Source: Autosport & Adam Cooper | Pic: XPBImages]

Categories
Lotus

Lifestyles of the bitch and famous

Dany Bahar, Group Lotus CEO, with Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, pictured above with Alicia Keys and Swizz Beats, has been suspended for 14 days while parent company DRB-Hicom carries out an investigation into his activities amid concerns over misuse of company funds. And, boy, isn’t Tony Fernandes making the most of the opportunity to kick Bahar while he is down. More on that later; here’s a snippet from the official Group Lotus plc statement on Bahar:

“As a result of a number of media inquiries, Group Lotus plc can today confirm that, following an operational review, chief executive Dany Bahar has been temporarily suspended from his role to facilitate an investigation into a complaint about his conduct made by Lotus’ penultimate parent company, DRB-Hicom Bhd.

“In Bahar’s absence, Datuk Lukman Ibrahim (Proton’s deputy CEO), Mohd Khalid Yusof and Aslam Farikullah (representatives of Lotus’ parent companies) have been authorised by Lotus’ board to handle and conduct the day to day management and affairs of the Lotus Group. They will be assisted by Rusman Zaihan. They have been authorised to take up these duties during the suspension period.”

Okay, then, let’s get back to the bitchiness being exhibited by Fernandes, Malaysian businessman, owner of Caterham Cars and boss of former F1 outfit Team Lotus. A short while ago he took to twitter and said the following (excuse the spelling mistakes):

“So the mess at group lotus is finally being told. No one listened to us. Syed Zainal and bahr out. Chairman gone. Kamil of DRB is a good man but what a mess he’s inherited.

“Ego is a bad thing. Sued by Group Lotus. Abandoned by Clive Chapman . All so unecessary. But now we are real happy at Caterham.

“We could have done so much with Group Lotus and the F1 team in the true Lotus spirit building from scratch not renaming a team. and created cars that people want

“But now we recreate the spirit of Lotus in caterham. Exciting days ahead.”

We’re not entirely sure if any of that is based on fact or is just plain fantasy on Fernandes’ part, but it makes for some juicy reading. As we suspected, the kiss and make up statement from Bahar and Fernandes after their F1 naming fallout was indeed based on fiction.

Group Lotus also has form at responding to swipes from Fernandes, let’s see if they sharpen their fingernails again. It’s all a bit high school tantrum-like really.

[Source: This is money, The Sun Daily & BBC]

 

Categories
Toyota

A closer look at the Toyota 86

Toyota GT86 wallpaper

Ahead of tomorrow’s release of official Australian pricing and specifications for the Toyota 86 sportscar we bring you a selection of 50 images sourced from Toyota UK. We expect we’ll be adding a few more from Toyota Australia tomorrow as well.

We start with these very cool composite shots showing the inherent balance achieved through the Toybaru’s boxer engine and general chassis geometry.

Remember, you can simply click on the pics to view them as wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images.

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Categories
Pagani

Evo first to review the Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

Jethro Bovingdon from Evo is one lucky so and so. He’s the first journo to be thrown the key to a final production version of the immensely appealing and mega-expensive Pagani Huayra.

It’s appealing because of the way it looks, of course, and the extremely high attention Pagani pays to its finishing. And it’s immense thanks to a twin-turbo 6.0 litre V12 able to produce in excess of 700hp. Oh yeah, and its dry weight is around 1350kg. They’re compelling numbers.

The trouble for Pagani is they set the bar so high with the Zonda that this new car will always be marked hard against its predecessor. Has the move from normally aspirated power to forced induction robbed the car of immediacy at the expense of headline numbers? Has the shift from a trad manual box to a slick 7-speed double clutch lost purity? Can the Huayra match the driving experience of the Zonda, so lauded by those lucky enough to have experienced it?

Bovingdon does a reasonable job of answering those questions in his video review, which you can see below. For greater detail you can read his text-based thoughts, where he says:

“…The Huayra is its own sort of supercar and it’s at once luxurious and intense. And it doesn’t half feel special when you spot the active aero doing its little dance. Following the Zonda line was never going to be easy but early signs suggest that the Huayra will be just as revered in years to come.”

After watching the video review we’re left with two thoughts: if only they added an extra minute or two of pure driving footage, no commentary, just colour and movement; and can someone please pass on a can of WD-40 to whoever is in charge of the interior production!

[Source: Evo]

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