Categories
Saab

Can Saab rise like Lazarus again?

Saab 9-5

A newly registered Swedish company has become an unlikely lead bidder to pick over the leftovers of Saab, now in the hands administrators. National Electric Vehicle Sweden is a consortium included the former boss of Volvo Trucks, has emerged as the leading bidder after Chinese company Youngman ended its interest in the Swedish marque.

Aside from its name, not much else is known about National Electric Vehicle Sweden, which was only officially registered this week. It’s believed to be backed by a Japanese–Chinese group called Sun Investment, owning 49%, with the majority 51% owned by Mikael Kubu, president of Gothenburg-based law firm Ac-Gruppen.

Valdemar Lonnroth, a journalist from Trollhattan newspaper TTELA, said: “We have a very anonymous investment company that owns shares in this registered company, Sun Investment, but we still don’t know who’s behind it.

“We don’t know if it’s a Chinese or a Japanese company behind this conglomerate. Nobody has really a picture of what kind of resources they have or what their intentions are, besides the fact that they want to produce electric vehicles.”

In February it was thought BMW may have been interested in taking over Saab’s scraps, but nothing has really emerged since then.

For now the administrators are keeping their cards close to their chest and choosing not to offer any comment on the sale process.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Formula 1

Bomb disposal expert called into action at Monaco GP

2011 Monaco Grand Prix

A small white box found near the media centre, adjacent to the La Rascasse corner, at the Monaco Grand Prix last night raised suspicions and race organisers called on a bomb disposal expert to investigate. The area was quickly sealed off and after further investigation it was decided a controlled explosion to destroy the box was the correct course of action.

This incident follows from last year when an unattended bag was discovered on the morning of the race. Although, on that occasion the item was deemed to be of no danger.

[Source: BBC F1]

Categories
BMW Video

You never forget your first love

Chris Harris drives his 1986 BMW E28 M5

In his latest video Chris Harris reveals one of the first cars he lusted after as a child was the E28 BMW M5. He says at the time he could barely imagine sitting in one. And now he has one all of his own. He still loves it.

Perhaps it’s the comparatively simple nature of 1980’s engineering which has allowed for a more casual approach from Harris. This, we think, is one of his best Drive videos yet.

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Audi Motorsports

Audi releases Truth in 24 II

Le Mans 2011 film Truth in 24 II

Audi has just released Truth in 24 II: Every second counts, their film about the 2011 Le Mans race. You’ll recall it was a race with the full gamut of emotions for Audi.

Two of their cars were destroyed in horrific crashes—thankfully neither Allan McNish nor Mike Rockenfeller were seriously hurt—while their third and final car hung on to win the company’s tenth Le Mans title by less than 15 seconds.

The film has a dedicated website and readers from Australia, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States should be able to download it now for free via iTunes.

Audi returns to Le Mans on 16–17 June to defend their title with the R18 e-tron quattro. This time the competition will come from Toyota, after Peugeot dramatically stopped its sports car program in January.

A short preview and press release from Audi of America can been seen below.

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Categories
McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C hunting for rich oil deposits

McLaren MP4-12C in Dubai

McLaren has just released this promo to announce the arrival of the MP4-12C in Dubai, or more accurately the opening of its new dealership. We’ve already seen this week how promos can go wrong, but we reckon McLaren has done a better than half decent job with this one.

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Categories
MINI

2014 MINI Cooper S struts its stuff

MINI Cooper S prototype

The Nürburgring 24 hour race has quickly been cast aside and manufacturers have already returned to the Ring to thrash their latest test mules around the famous track. Here, Car magazine brings some great pics of the third-gen MINI Cooper S (F56).

They say the new Cooper S, and even the JCW model, will be powered by a hi-po three cylinder turbocharged engine. Apart from that the recipe probably won’t stray too far from what we’ve seen in the previous R53 and R56 models.

For the first time MINI will platform share with BMW, with the latter using the modular F-platform for its own front-wheel drive plans. Also for the first time we can expect to see a five-door variant of the regular MINI hardtop. That is, in addition to the upsized Countryman.

This is all well and good, but we reckon BMW is flogging its MINI horse a bit too much these days. What made the relaunch of the brand great a decade ago was that MINI offered something fun and unique. And it was a bloody good car. Now, with more models than you can poke a stick at, we fear they’re just diluting their own product.

[Source: Car]

Categories
Volkswagen

Mk7 Golf GTI prototype suffers from shyness

Volkswagen Golf VII GTI prototype

If you look closely, beneath that heavy camouflage, trying to peek out is a honeycomb grille. That and the lowered stance of the Golf VII prototype are the best clues that we’re looking at the next-gen GTI.

The regular Golf is due for its worldwide debut at the Paris Motor Show in September, so don’t expect to see the GTI in showrooms anywhere until 2013. And we’d say it’ll be late next year before there’s any chance of seeing one in an Australian dealership.

So far the gossip on the Golf VII GTI tells us we can expect it to weight 100kg less, have around 165–170kW and maybe even a mechanical LSD. We’re very keen to see how it shapes up.

While the sales debut of the new GTI won’t take place until next year, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if Volkswagen got fans around the world a tad worked up by turning up to Paris with a “concept” GTI.

[Source: WCF]

Categories
Formula 1

Spirit of Al Capone lives on at Monza

Monza Grand Prix circuit

Word has come through that Italy’s Guardia di Finanza—that’s finance police to you and me—have raided the Autodromo Nazionale at Monza as part of an investigation into the circuit’s management, Sias SpA.

Suspicions have been arisen about some funny business regarding tax matters, dodgy invoicing and other shonky deals from as far back as 2007. It’s understood the fuzz have their eye on seven individuals and also took their raid parties to the homes of circuit officials, including circuit director Enrico Ferrari.

Alleged corruption in high levels of management in Italy? We’re shocked.

[Source: WCF]

Categories
Alfa Romeo Fiat Mazda

Mazda and Fiat hop into bed together

Alfa Romeo 4C Concept

Good news kids! Mazda and Fiat have been fooling around together behind the bus shelter after school and want to take their relationship to the next level.

In adultspeak that means they have formally signed a non-binding MoU to collaborate on two new roadsters based on the MX-5 platform. Remember, that’s a rear wheel drive platform for those playing at home. The agreement states the new models shall be lightweight, distinctly styled and brand specific. Awesome.

So, what’s with the picture of the Alfa Romeo 4C Concept above? Fiat knows you only look at her because she’s got a bit of cash, she’s smart enough to know she’ll tease more cash from you if she struts a sexy Alfa Romeo in front of you. Much like the 4C, really.

To be clear, then, the two new models will be sold under the Mazda and Alfa Romeo brands. This story just got a little bit cooler, don’t you think. For Mazda they get to work with the style gurus from Italy. While Alfa Romeo gets to work with the efficiency masters from Hiroshima, which is where the current plans suggest the two cars will be built.

Assuming the courtship goes well then the Mazda–Alfa Romeo roadster romance should be consummated by the end of the year.

The official word can be read below and includes comments from the father’s of both families.

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Categories
Formula 1

VIDEO: Valencia Gran Prix promo

Valencia Gran Prix

This advertisement for the Valencia Gran Prix came our way via Jonathan Noble. It’s harmless, it’s cute, it’s a bit of fun.

Light ’em up girls!

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Categories
News

Will strike action cripple German giants?

Mercedes-Benz C Class production line

A dispute between Europe’s largest industrial union, IG Metall, and some of Germany’s largest employers, including its leading carmakers, have stalled and could lead to strike action. IG Metall is seeking a 6.5% wage increase for its workers, despite a German economy that is struggling with the burden of the European economic crisis.

It’s been reported that BMW, Daimler and Porsche are expecting confrontation with the union following talk of strike action in the previous negotiations. A 3% wage increase over a 14 month period has been offered, but that was quickly rejected by IG Metall.

Opel could also be caught up in the action as it continues to wrestle with the idea of closing down two of its German-based plants.

[Source: The Detroit Bureau]

Categories
Audi

Audi R8 facelift shows minor work

Audi R8 product improvement

Audi plans to give its stunning R8 some minor cosmetic work before the next-gen model appears sometime around 2014, or maybe even 2015. These spy shots give us a few clues of what to expect for the facelifted R8, or product improvement to use correct Audispeak.

It appears as though LED headlights could become standard fare, with revised housings. And also the front grille has received minor work, although a train spotter would be happy to notice it. At the back this V10 model has round exhaust tips, instead of the oval shape used on the current model.

These changes should be seen on production models before the year is out. Perhaps our Australian readers may need to wait until early 2013, but that’s just a guess on our part.

[Source: Autoblog | Pics: CarPix]

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