Categories
Volkswagen

Would you buy a Volkswagen up! crossover?

Volkswagen buggy up!

A favourable response to the buggy up! and cross up! concepts has encouraged Volkswagen to seriously consider adding a crossover variant to its up! range, German newspaper Handelsblatt reports.

The up! is built at Volkswagen’s Bratislava plant in Slovakia and manager Albrecht Reimold says the up! was designed to carry a range of different models. Although, he would not go on record to confirm production plans for the up! crossover.

Handelsblatt claims the up! crossover would sell for less than €20,000—around three quarters of the price of an entry level Tiguan.

Australian sales data indicates the demand for SUVs has created a current that can’t be stopped. Would a wee SUV like the up! find a market here do you think?

[Source: Motor Trend]

Categories
Audi

Audi RS3 coupé rendering

Audi RS3 coupe rendering

In their wisdom Audi only ever made the RS3 in a five-door Sportback layout. Being lovers of three-door hatchbacks here at AUSmotive that made us a little sad. But automotive pixel maestro Theophilus Chin has come to the rescue with his work on the RS3 coupé you see above (and below).

Chin has mixed equal parts A1 clubsport and RS Q3 concept to create his vision of an RS3 coupé and we think it’s tops.

[Source: Theophilus Chin]

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Categories
MINI

MINI Rocketman to star in short film

MINI Rocketman short film

This MINI Rocketman was recently seen on the streets of inner London. Hang on a sec, hasn’t MINI put the Rocketman on the backburner; why is it out and about in public like this?

Turns out the Rocketman will feature in a short film, which could have a bearing on its longer-term future. Details of the web-based film state:

The 2 minute product film is part of a social media campaign across YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. The car itself will go into production based on the response from MINI fans.

We love the Rocketman concept and wish filmmaker Mischa Rozema all the best for this project.

[Source: MotoringFile | Pic: Conallmahon]

Categories
Top Gear

Top Gear Series 19 delayed until 2013?

Jeremy Clarkson

Jeremy Clarkson recently did an interview with South African radio where he discussed all manner of things, including the start date for Season 19 of Top Gear.

The chat goes for around 11 minutes and starts off talking about Formula One, covering the show driving hot hatchbacks at the Monaco Grand Prix, dealing with Bernie Ecclestone and the forthcoming Ron Howard biopic Rush.

But it’s about 8 minutes in when Clarkson first mentions the return of Top Gear to our TV screens. Normally the show would start in the middle of the year, but with the 2012 Olympic Games on in London at that time that will be the focus of the BBC’s air time and resources.

Talking to the host, Sasha Martinengo, about the Top Gear Festival in South Africa (16–17 June) Clarkson commented that he’ll be happy working with Richard and James, “because there’s no [more] Top Gear on this year.”

So there you have it TG tragics, it looks like you’ll have to wait until 2013 for your next Top Gear fix.

You can watch/listen to the interview in full after the break. For good measure we’ve included the segment from 17×02 where the lads race around Monaco.

[Source: Final Gear]

UPDATE 9 May: Jeremy has now confirmed S19 will start in January.

Continue reading “Top Gear Series 19 delayed until 2013?”
Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Life in the old bull yet?

2012 Bahrain Grand Prix

It’s of no surprise that focus on the future of Mark Webber has remained strong since new Ferrari rumours re-emerged last week. At first Mark seemed coy on the rumour, but did later deny the speculation outright, telling ESPN, “I haven’t signed anything.”

That prompted Christian Horner, Red Bull Team Principal, to pour cold water on the idea his veteran driver was on the move.

Speaking to Autosport, Horner said, “Every spring seems to be a reciprocal thing that Mark is going to Ferrari. He is not wearing red overalls. I think it is inevitable, almost every driver in the pitlane has been linked alongside Fernando next year, but we are focused on ourselves.

“Mark enjoys being within the team, he is happy here and we are happy with him. At the relevant time later in the year we will sit down and talk about the future as we have done in previous seasons.”

Horner explained the team is happy with Webber’s performance, “Mark has driven very well at the first few races. He has been settled in the car, turned up with a different approach this year which has been evident and he’s in good shape.”

Today, the Sydney Morning Herald reports a new deal to keep Webber ay Red Bull is imminent. The report says Red Bull are happy to let junior drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne continue their development with Toro Rosso again in 2013.

[Source: Autosport & SMH | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Porsche

Porsche “Fefi” 960 mystery develops

Porsche 960 rendering

The above image is a rendering of a new Porsche model known as the 960. It’s been nicknamed internally as “Fefi” and it’s aimed squarely at the Ferrari 458 Italia. “Fefi” meaning Ferrari fighter for those interested. Scouting the web for details of the 960 brings more questions than answers.

As you can see the image above is clearly a two-door coupé layout. However, several reports suggest the 960 will be a four-door “coupé”. That’s all well and good, but “Fefi” is also supposed to be mid-engined, possibly using the next Audi R8 platform. Certainly the use of Volkswagen Group’s new MSB-M architecture (mid-engine rear/all-wheel drive) seems to be widely accepted.

So how do you make a four-door, mid-engined supercar to take on a 458? It just doesn’t compute. The engine used in the 960 is said to be a twin-turbo flat six, but it won’t be flat enough to put seats on top!

Summing up then, I think we can expect Porsche to pursue this “Fefi” concept and it does seem to be that it will be mid-engined; sitting in the range above the 911, but below the 918. After that, though, details seem very sketchy.

[Source: Automobile | Pic: Quattroruote]

Categories
Formula 1 Video

VIDEO: 1970 Spanish Grand Prix

1970 Spanish GP

After we got that amazing photo of Jackie Stewart at the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix our research led us to this fascinating highlights package of the race. It has a bit of everything, typical F1 politics messing around with qualifying, a fiery accident, close racing and a runaway winner thanks to a high rate of attrition.

The footage also takes you back to a time you can scarcely believe existed. The fact the race continued while the burning debris from the Oliver–Ickx crash was being attended to by fire marshalls makes you thankful to know that would be incomprehensible by today’s standards.

We know you’ll enjoy this wonderful archival footage. It goes for 24 minutes so make sure you’re set and ready to be transported back in time.

Continue reading “VIDEO: 1970 Spanish Grand Prix”
Categories
Formula 1

Jackie Stewart gets the flamin’ drift

Jackie Stewart, 1970 Spanish GP

Thanks to AUSmotive reader Aaron for sending in this amazing photo of Jackie Stewart at the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix. At the time Stewart was the defending World Champion after safely tucking away the first of his three championships in the previous year.

In the photo above the aftermath of a collision between BRM driver Jack Oliver and Ferrari’s Jacky Ickx rages in the background. Stewart, seemingly unperturbed, carries on in spectacular fashion. Thanks to a host of retirements the Scot managed to lap everyone in the field on the way to what ended up being a comfortable victory at Jarama.

Thankfully, Oliver and Ickx did not suffer any serious injuries. They can consider themselves lucky men.

 

Categories
Formula 1

VIDEO: Barcelona track guide by Sauber

Barcelona track guide by Sauber

Ahead of next weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix we bring you this track guide for the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona. The video has been produced by our new favourite F1 team Sauber Motorsport.

Kamui Kobayashi is at the wheel of the C31, while Sergio Perez calls the shots from a chopper above the track.

Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow…

Continue reading “VIDEO: Barcelona track guide by Sauber”
Categories
Renault Subaru

Renault Megane 265 Trophy v Subaru BRZ

Renault Megane 265 v Subaru BRZ

Okay, it’s probably no surprise that the 265hp on offer in the Renault Megane 265 Trophy—one of the world’s best front-wheel drive chassis—can see off the 200hp found under the bonnet of the rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ. But watch this video from Evo, filmed at Bedford Autodrome, and see if you think everything went according to script.

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Categories
BMW

VIDEO: BMW 3 Series Touring getting thrashed

BMW 3 Series F31 Touring

We like the new F30 3 Series. And we’re pretty sure we’ll like the F31 Touring version that goes with. To that end here’s a couple of stylish soccer mums thrashing their test chariots around the Nordschleife.

The final reveal of the new 3 Series Touring should take place around the middle of the year. July perhaps.

Oh, the clip brings the startling revelation that the Bimmer wagon is no match for a Nissan GT-R!

[Source: F30post]

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Categories
Aston Martin

All-new Aston Martin model to debut in 2013

Aston Martin Rapide

Next year marks 100 years since the birth of Aston Martin. Pretty cool, huh. And to celebrate the centenary they’re making a brand new car. Not another rehash of an existing model with frilly bits, but a brand new creation. Given Aston’s talent for making stunning looking machines this has made us a bit excited.

Even better, confirmation of the new car has come straight from the horse’s mouth, Aston Martin’s CEO Dr Ulrich Bez: “This will be an entirely new model. We have to do something remarkable to mark our centenary. It won’t be a DB9 with a Centenary Edition badge and it won’t be a limited edition like the One-77 supercar. This will be a mainstream Aston.”

With recent sightings of DBS-sized Astons undergoing testing and development it’s probably safe to start preparing for a new V12 coupé from Gaydon. And, knowing they’re onto a good thing, the new supercar’s exterior will be a development of Aston’s current styling.

“The best cars stand the test of time,” explained Dr Bez. “You need evolution in design, not constant change. Look at the Porsche 911.”

[Source: Auto Express]