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Alfa Romeo Chrysler Fiat

Chrysler Australia to take on Alfa Romeo and Fiat distribution

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The association with the Ateco Group and Alfa Romeo and Fiat, which began 15 years ago, will come to an end on 1 May. Distribution for the two Italian marques will then fall under the banner of subsidiary company Chrysler Australia. All Alfa Romeo and Fiat dealerships around the country will also come under the control of Chrysler Australia.

Neville Crichton, Executive Chairman of the Ateco Group said, “Alfa Romeo and Fiat have at their heart a real, live passion for life and Ateco has been fully involved in that, whether it has been the yacht, the Alfa Romeo G1 or motorsport with the Fiat 500 Australian Grand Prix and class-winning performances at Bathurst with Alfa Romeo.

“But while this makes it all the more hard to say good bye to these iconic brands, we know that it is that passion that has driven us over the past 15 years and which has made them successful once again in Australia. We know that they now have are prepared and positioned for a strong future in Australia and New Zealand, something of which I and everyone who has worked on them at Ateco can justifiably be very proud.”

Ateco’s full statement can be read after the break.

UPDATE: Chrysler Australia’s statement has also been added below.

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Formula 1 News

Bahrain GP protesters take cause online, following F1 industry’s support for race

Bahrain Grand Prix protest banners

Yesterday, Bernie Ecclestone and Team Principals from leading F1 teams attended the media launch for the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled for 22 April. It was a strong show of support for the troubled event.

This morning, the above image was sent to AUSmotive via twitter. Clearly some people don’t want F1 in Bahrain. In January we reported on calls to boycott the 2012 race and civil unrest continues in the Gulf state. It’s reported that 33 deaths have occurred since June last year.

However, Ecclestone has dismissed concerns over the race’s future. “People say to me ‘Oh there’s not going to be a race’. I say ‘How do you know?’ ‘Ah, we know because we saw, we read or we heard’ or something like that. It’s all nonsense,” he exclaimed.

The F1 supremo also denied there are any worries regarding security, “I’m absolutely sure that whatever is necessary to do will be done,” he said. “Probably not necessary. We’ve never been concerned about security in the past. I don’t understand why we should be now.”

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Subaru

Subaru BRZ STi seems certain

Subaru BRZ Concept STi

Subaru’s global marketing manager, Atoshi Atake, has given the biggest hint yet that a BRZ STi will become a reality.

A concept model was released at the LA Motor Show last year and any fans generated from that exercise will gain heart from Atake’s comments to Auto Express: “We have already had many requests from interested customers regarding a faster version. Let me say this—we will certainly satisfy our customers. We are already working on a faster version.”

However, don’t expect the STi version to stray too far from its basic BRZ roots. “We want to keep turbocharging separate. It is for models like the WRX STI,” added Atake. “The same goes for four-wheel drive. We could not make the BRZ four-wheel drive even if we wanted to.”

A peak power figure of 186kW (250hp) is being bandied about for the STi model and represents a sizeable increase from the 147kW in the standard model.

Overall weight would likely be reduced thanks to measures like carbon fibre body panels and racing seats. Usual enhancements such as revised suspension and uprated brakes would complete the package.

[Source: Auto Express]

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Pagani Video

VIDEO: Get closer to the Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra

The Pagani Huayra is beautiful. So we reckon you’ll enjoy this short video from noted YouTube contributor Marchettino.

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Formula 1 News

Aussie Chris Hemsworth to play James Hunt

Chris Hemsworth as James Hunt

Chris Hemsworth, former Australian soapie star and Thor leading man, will play James Hunt in Ron Howard’s F1 movie Rush. From a physical likeness point of view it’s not a bad match. Let’s hope he does the loveable rogue character of James Hunt well. It’d be a great role to play, that’s for sure!

German actor Daniel Brühl will play Niki Lauda. The movie is due out in 2013 and we’re getting sucked into the build up and can’t wait to see what Howard delivers.

The official word on the movie reads: “Following their personal lives on and off the track, Rush follows the two drivers as they push themselves to the breaking point of physical and psychological endurance, where there is no shortcut to victory and no margin for error. If you make one mistake, you die.”

[Source: Mail Online]

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News Video

Mmmm donuts

World record 75 simultaneous donuts

For a moment we’d like to direct your mind to its immaturity box, break it wide open and indulge in the silliness of the latest world record for the most number of donuts being performed at the same time. The new records stands at 75 and was set in the controlled confines of Infineon Raceway in California. You might actually be disappointed to know that this breaks the previous benchmark set by 57 like-minded Aussies.

Videos of both can be seen after the break. It’s stupid but looks like a hell of a lot of fun. Just don’t try this at home kids.

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Saab

Saab Cars Museum opens

Saab Cars Museum

Saab. Remember them?

Well now you can at the official Saab Cars Museum in Trollhättan. True to form the existence of the museum almost fell through, amid controversy which saw its contents put up for auction.

The merry chaps from Saabs United were on hand for the opening and filmed a short video. It’s a bit wobbly, but offers a glimpse of the genuinely cool classics on show, as well as the future models that never really got a chance to shine.

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MINI WRC

Prodrive pushing for Portugal podium

Prodrive MINI WRC

The Prodrive MINI WRC returns to action this weekend at Rally de Portugal and they have high hopes. It’ll be their first event since the BMW decided to shift their manufacturer alliance elsewhere and we rather hope Dani Sordo has a cracker of a race and sticks it up ’em, so to speak.

Pleasingly, the Prodrive cars will be displaying an increased level of support from BP. Disappointingly, there’s still no action for Kris Meeke.

In an official statement, Prodrive Team Principal, Dave Wilcox, explains the car has recently benefited from over 100 technical modifications.

“The newly homologated parts make a significant improvement to the car and should we run error free, I would certainly hope that Dani could be up there fighting for a podium.

“However, the competition does have the significant advantage of having already competed on gravel this year in Mexico, but Dani certainly knows the Portuguese event well and has achieved podium finishes here on his last three outings.”

We wish them well.

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BMW

BMW issues worldwide recall for 5 and 6 Series (2003–2010)

BMW E60 5 Series

Details have emerged this morning of a massive recall to be undertaken by BMW. It’s estimated 1.3 million vehicles are affected, including models sold in Australia. The cars affected are all 5 Series and 6 Series models built between 2003–2010.

In delightful PR-speak this recall is being referred to as a “quality measure”. According to an official statement from BMW AG the fault is related to the battery cable cover.

“In some remote cases, the battery cable cover inside the boot of these vehicles may be incorrectly mounted,” the statement reads.

“This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, to charring or fire.

“We are not aware of any accidents or injury to persons resulting from this fault.”

BMW Australia has made efforts to alert owners through twitter and Facebook updates. Apparently the inspection and repair should take less than an hour and BMW will be contacting owners through their nationwide dealer network to make arrangements.

Fair play to BMW, it’s good to see manufacturers getting on the front foot for these types of issues. Not all of them do.

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Nissan

It has a face only a mother could love, but…

Nissan Juke R

This is the Nissan Juke-R. If you’ve not been playing at home, Nissan has taken its, frankly quite ugly, Juke crossover, ripped the guts out and stuffed in a GT-R drivetrain. The twin-turbo V6 has been pegged back a bit to around 480hp (the latest GT-R now has 540hp) but that doesn’t seem to have negatively affected the driving experience.

After the break you watch Autocar scribe Matt Prior enjoy his time behind the wheel of the Juke-R on an empty track. He reckons it is brilliant. The engine, suspension and handling all get the thumbs up. The Juke has a shorter wheelbase than the GT-R and Prior says that helps make the Juke-R more alive and agile.

At this point in time the Juke-R is only ever likely to be a concept model. That said, we applaud Nissan for taking us on this journey. It’s daft, utterly pointless and that’s what makes it so great. A major manufacturer just having a bit of laugh. There should be more of it.

Oh, actually, we’re not sure if a mother could love that face.

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Porsche

Never mind, it’s just a wee fuel leak

2012 Porsche 911 (991)

In the United States Porsche is undertaking the somewhat embarrassing move to recall new 911 Carrera S models due to a possible fault which could result in a fuel line to become disconnected.

Over 1200 models, built between October 2011 and January 2012, could be affected. The recall notice reads in part: “A fuel leak could lead to the engine misfiring or stalling, increasing the risk of a crash. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could increase the risk of a fire.”

It’s probably not the headlines Porsche had in mind for its new 911. We’re wondering, then, would this affect your decision to buy a 991 911 if you were about to sign on the dotted line?

The full recall notice from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can be read below.

[Source: Autocar]

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Ford

VIDEO: World’s fastest standing mile record

Hennessey Ford GT standing mile world record

A fellow by the name of Sean Kennedy has entered the records books for achieving the highest speed in a standing mile run. It’s not a bad effort either, he drove a Hennessey-tuned twin-turbo 2006 Ford GT to a v-max of 257.7mph (414.7km/h).

That’s pretty damn fast, don’t you think. You can see a video of Sean in action after the break. It’s just a shame the video doesn’t do this feat any justice at all.

[Source: Autoblog]

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