Categories
Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: Racetrack level driving pleasure

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series

You may know a lot of things about the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupé Black Series. For example, you probably know the official word from Mercedes Australia says all 32 models on their way down under have been sold out. You probably know a ball-tearing Estate version is on its way.

Of course, you will definitely know the C63 Black is powered by one of the world’s great engines; in this case a normally aspirated 6.3 litre V8 producing 380 awe-inspiring kilowatts.

But, did you know its AMG coilover sports suspension and the high performance composite brake system offer ‘racetrack level driving pleasure’?

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Categories
Formula 1 Lotus Renault

Romain Grosjean to join Raikkonen at Lotus

Romain Grosjean

Romain Grosjean will return to the driver’s seat with Lotus Renault GP in 2012. The 25-year-old Frenchman won the GP2 series this year and will join Kimi Raikkonen at the newly branded Lotus team. He’s pretty happy about that too.

“I am thrilled to be one of the team’s race drivers in 2012. There’s a big grin on my face at the prospect of getting behind the wheel of next year’s car, and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity,” said Grosjean.

“To be racing alongside a former world champion and someone who is hungry and returning to Formula 1 will be a great experience, and I’m sure will help raise my level of performance too. I feel that my successful season in GP2 Series has helped me mature a lot, and I am a much more complete driver than I was last time I was competing in this sport.”

Grosjean’s boss, Eric Boullier, is also making the right noises, “Romain has shown a lot of maturity in the past twelve months both through his GP2 Series victory and his development as third driver with us. We were impressed when he drove for us in the first practice sessions in Abu Dhabi and Brazil.”

Boullier also made this heartfelt comment about his former drivers, “I would like to thank Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna for their contribution to the team’s performance this year and I wish them all the best for the future.”

More after the break, including a video interview with Grosjean.

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Categories
Porsche

Buy a used Porsche and travel lemon free

1994 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.6 Coupe

The Porsche 911 is the most reliable used buy according to a recent Autobild TÃœV report published in Germany. Data from reports on cars of seven, nine and 11 years of age were collated and Porsche’s 911 proved to have the fewest defects of all the cars tested.

In fact, five of the top 10 cars in the report were Porsche models, including the Boxster and Cayman as well. So, your used Porsche may prove reliable, but don’t expect the running costs to be on par with your average used car.

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Categories
Motorsports Porsche

Porsche at Le Mans: The early years

Back in July Porsche told us they would be returning to Le Mans in 2014 to chase for outright victory. Here, again, they remind us they are the Kings of La Sarthe, with 16 outright wins and ‘countless records.’

Categories
Video Volkswagen

Tough love

1975 Volkswagen Golf Mk1

Here’s a cracking video that gives us a great look at one of the best Mk1 Golfs in Australia. The car is an Australian built 1975 three door owned by Stuart French. It’s fair to say the mod factor is off the scale compared to AUSmotive’s own 1980 Mk1 Golf GTI, which is in good original condition.

The level of finish and detail in Stuart’s Golf makes it one of the finest examples of a custom project build you will find. Respect to Jonty3000 as well for putting together a fine short film to document this kick arse Mk1.

We rate the Mk1 Golf as the finest looking of the six generations so far; the original and the best!

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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Categories
Holden Hyundai Kia Mazda Renault Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – November 2011

FCAI banner

Hold on tight everyone Australia should crack 1,000,000 car sales in 2011 after VFACTS figures show 88,654 new vehicles were sold in November. That brings the year to date total to 925,978, which should allow the 1 million mark to be broken for only the fourth time in Australia’s history.

“For the past four months in a row sales have been trending above the same period for 2010. This suggests improving consumer confidence in Australia’s economic prospects,” FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers said.

Although, it is worth noting the final tally for 2011 will fall short of last year’s total of 1,035,574 sales.

As usual Toyota topped the charts for the month (17,436 sales), followed by Holden (9,761) and Ford (8,103).

For the fourth month in 2011 the Toyota Corolla was Australia’s highest-selling car (3,731). Close behind was the rather more bearable Mazda3 (3,480) and the tradies’ favourite Toyota HiLux (3,332).

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Categories
Formula 1

2012 USGP saved by last minute deal

United States Grand Prix

The World Motor Sport Council met overnight and confirmed the 2012 F1 calendar will remain unchanged. That means, of course, that Austin is back on track to host its first ever GP in mid-November.

So what happened? Last time we spoke the Texas race was looking doomed after organisers attempted to put Bernie in his place as both parties squabbled over a measly $25 million.

Well, we’re unlikely to ever find out the full story and all we’re getting from USGP organisers are matter of fact statement like this: “Mr. Ecclestone received his check today. We want to thank the fans supporting us, the local officials and businesses that have encouraged us, the State of Texas, Circuit of The Americas’ staff and Bernie himself. I want to thank and commend Bobby Epstein for getting us across the finish line. Bobby’s perseverance and leadership kept the project on track despite unfair and unfounded criticism,” stated Red McCombs, chairman of McCombs Enterprises and founding partner of Circuit of The Americas.

Building work will resume immediately after being suspended around three weeks ago. The Austin track does look like it might be a good one, so let’s hope everything runs smoothly from here.

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Categories
Porsche

VIDEO: Porsche 911 South African dealer launch

991 Porsche 911 South African dealer launch

This amateur video recording of the 2012 Porsche 911 South African dealer launch has made its way onto the Tubes. The 991 is certainly a landmark model and with a fair portion of its development having taken place in South Africa it’s probably no suprise they put on such an elaborate production.

The driving stunts are actually not too bad. As for the rest, well, it’s a bit of a wank really. And the less said about the soundtrack, the better!

[Thanks to Pete for the tip]

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Categories
Lamborghini

VIDEO: Aventador’s launch control in action

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

If you had a 700hp supercar, with all-wheel drive and launch control, and an empty road ahead of you, do you reckon you’d give it a crack? Yeah, thought so.

Well, given it’s unlikely that you, or I, are going to have access to such equipment any time soon here’s a video filmed from the seat of a Lamborghini Aventador showing just what that would look like.

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Categories
Formula 1

Sky Sports unveil F1 TV team

Martin Brundle, Sky Sports F1

Sky Sports has just announced its roster of talent that will be bringing Formula One to British, and perhaps Australian, screens in 2012.

Heading the team is former long-time BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle. He’ll be joined by fellow ex-BBC TV staffers including Ted Kravitz and Steve Rider. The former BBC 5 Live radio trio of David Croft, Anthony Davidson and Natalie Pinkham will also be switching to the pay TV channel. Completing the comprehensive line-up are Georgie Thompson and Simon Lazenby.

Brundle and Croft will call the racing and qualifying action, with pitlane support from Kravitz and Pinkham. Davidson and Croft will handle commentary duties during practice sessions.

Kravitz and Thompson will host a regular F1 magazine style program, while Lazenby will anchor the F1 coverage on race weekends. Rider will be used in a senior interviewer role, speaking to former F1 greats throughout the year.

Australian broadcaster Channel Ten has confirmed all races and qualifying sessions in 2012 will be broadcast live on One. They are yet to announce which network they will source their feed from. We suspect it will be Sky.

[Source: Sky Sports F1]

Categories
Audi

El Clásico

Audi A1

Audi has muscled on on the world of Spanish football by releasing a new A1 promo ahead of this weekend’s El Clásico fixture. Audi has a track record of associating its feisty A1 with football; you may recall previous connections to the Japanese national team and Bayern Munich.

This promo includes enough tyre sliding action to pop the eyes out of Australian regulators. Although, the reveal at the end is a nice surprise.

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Categories
BMW

VIDEO: BMW 3 Series F30 v E90

BMW 3 Series F30 v E90

Here’s a nifty little video comparing line drawings of the new F30 BMW 3 Series against its E90 predecessor. Amazing how, in this visual form, the E90 looks horribly dated already. Perhaps the most controversial element of the F30 design, the connection of the headlights to the famed BMW kidney grille, looks as though it was always meant to be and the former treatment now appears incomplete.

The video can be seen after the break. It runs for about three and a half minutes and it is a bit slow moving, but worth persisting for the excellent soundtrack.

For those who like to know the numbers, here’s how the F30 has grown:

  • 40-45kg lighter than E90 sedan, depending on engine
  • 93mm longer body
  • 50mm longer wheelbase
  • 37mm wider track (front)
  • 47mm wider track (rear)
  • 15mm more legroom for rear passengers
  • 8mm more headroom

[via F30post]

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