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Holden Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – October 2011

FCAI banner

Australia remains on track to achieve one million new vehicle sales according to FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers. VFACTS figures state 85,196 new vehicles were sold in October, a rise of 5.3 per cent on the same month last year.

“Manufacturers are reporting a steady increase in demand, placing the industry in a strong position to reach our target of one million sales for the calendar year,” Mr Chalmers said.

“So far this year 837,324 new vehicles have been sold. While this is 2.8 per cent fewer than for the same period in 2010, last month’s figures are the best October sales result since 2007 and suggest a return to pre-GFC sales volumes.”

Toyota holds a comfortable margin as the country’s highest selling brand, followed by Holden in its familiar second place. Hyundai has this month stolen the role as Australia’s third best seller from the usual Ford–Mazda scrap.

Toyota’s strength last month results from finding the Corolla and Hilux as the country’s two highest selling cars. Volkswagen finds itself in the headlines with the Golf claiming third place on the sales charts.

We expect more manufacturers will release their brag sheets on Monday; we’ll add them to the happy messages from Holden and Toyota as they arrive.

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Formula 1

Williams ‘negotiating seriously’ for Kimi comeback

Kimi Raikkonen

The reignition of Kimi Raikkonen’s Formula One career is now well underway with confirmation he is being considered by Williams F1.

Toto Wolff, a “significant shareholder” in Williams, told Kronen Zeitung, “Yes, it’s true. The Kimi Raikkonen file is on the table. The story is not for show, we are negotiating seriously, but it is only one of several options. There will be a strategic decision.”

Wolff also confirmed interest in young racers Jules Bianchi and Valtteri Bottas. Although, he did mention they may be better suited to a Friday practice role with the team.

Perhaps comments from Adam Parr, Williams CEO, made at the Indian Grand Prix tell us it is Kimi that they really, really want.

“I think everybody knows that Kimi is one of the most talented drivers who has been in Formula One in recent years,” he told the BBC.

“From what we can all see he’s very hungry to come back in, and I think having a world champion in your midst of course energises people. So all the points you made would be very relevant to a team that was thinking about what it was doing.”

[Source: ESPN F1]

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Audi

Third-gen Audi A3 interior spied

Audi A3 interior

Here’s a sneak peek inside the next-generation Audi A3. Surprisingly there’s a hint of A1 there with its vents and radio controls. The ever important cupholders are an improvement over the current 8P series as well.

Moving down the centre console it looks like the new A3 will feature a start button (not so well placed for RHD) and a large iDrive-like control knob for the pop-up screen at the top of the dash.

These pics seem to match the official looking sketches that emerged in April. While those sketches may have hit a home run, it seems nobody is clear when the next A3 will launch. Previous wisdom suggested it would be some time next year; reports now indicate it may be pushed back until 2013.

Mind, given how finished the interior seems to be, we won’t be surprised at all to see Audi launch the next A3 in 2012.

[Source: Motor Authority]

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Formula 1

Rossi to test for Team Lotus in Abu Dhabi

Alexander Rossi

That’s Alexander Rossi, not Valentino. Team Lotus has announced the 20-year-old Caterham Team AirAsia GP2 driver will drive their F1 car at the young driver test in Abu Dhabi (15–17 November).

The young American says, “I am very excited to finally announce I will be competing in Abu Dhabi with Caterham Team AirAsia and will have the chance to put more F1 miles on my CV with Team Lotus. After the positive GP2 tests in Jerez and Barcelona I feel we have a good chance of a strong result in the GP2 races and I will definitely be going into the weekend fully focused and motivated for a race win.

“For the F1 test I will be looking to learn as much as possible, do the best job I can and soak up every minute, in and out of the car.”

[Source: Team Lotus]

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Volkswagen WRC

VW declares first Polo R WRC test a success

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

After yesterday’s unofficial video of the Polo R WRC testing in Germany, Volkswagen has given us the official word. Success was the main one thrown about.

Two-time WRC champion Carlos Sainz was the first person to drive the Polo R WRC in anger. “I immensely enjoy being involved in the development and testing of the new Polo R WRC – and having the privilege of driving the first kilometres is naturally a great honour,” said Sainz.

“The car is still in an early stage but already feels very good. For the whole team, whether engineers, mechanics or drivers, it’s very important to get to know the first real car as early as possible and to test and continue to develop it.”

Volkswagen aren’t planning to enter the WRC until 2013 and Kris Nissen, Motorsport Director, gives a rough outline of the team’s plans, “The first Polo represents a preliminary stage of the subsequent rally car and during the upcoming months will serve as a test vehicle for various components such as engines, gearboxes or suspension parts. The findings obtained in these tests will be directly fed into the first thorough-bred Polo R WRC.

“Next year we’ll be running an extensive testing programme on tarmac, gravel, mud and snow in order to prepare ourselves for the 2013 season as best we can.”

There’s more after the break, including pics, quotes and an official highlights video from Volkswagen Motorsport.

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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Scirocco R lands in Australia

Volkswagen Scirocco R

If you’re a fan of the Volkswagen Scirocco R then your ship has come in; literally. Volkswagen Australia sent out an email yesterday advising prospective customers that the first officially imported Scirocco R models have arrived and now they’ve posted an image gallery to prove it.

Prices and specs for Australian delivered Scirocco R models were announced by Volkswagen in September. As a quick reminder you’ll need $47,490 for a 6-speed manual and $49,990 if you want a 6-speed DSG. Of course, you’ll also need to add taxes and associated on road costs to those manufacturer’s list prices.

Here at AUSmotive we’ve been big fans of the Scirocco ever since it was first launched in 2008. Indeed, we even suggested you get in touch with VW Aus to see if they could get a wriggle on for the sexy coupé.

Well, it’s taken over three years, but the Scirocco is here and we can’t wait to drive it!

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Peugeot

2012 Peugeot 208 revealed

2012 Peugeot 208

Following last week’s report on a new Peugeot 208 GTi, the wraps have officially come off the new 208 hatch. Based on these pics it’s quite a smart looking thing too. There’s oodles of Euro chic in the design detailing, although things do get a bit fussy on the C-pillar of the three door.

Inside, we’ve been given brief glimpse. We can see the 208 looks the part and has a nice level of finish. Although, we do wonder if its HVAC controls may be a bit awkward to use, placed under the dash above as they are.

The best news on the 208 we’ve seen to date is a continuation for manufacturer’s to shed weight from outgoing models. As such the 208 will weigh in at more than 100kg lighter on average than the 207.

It’s expected the Peugeot 208 will be on sale in Australia towards the end of next year. More pics, video and press guff for you after the break.

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Volkswagen WRC

VIDEO: Volkswagen Polo R WRC gets angry

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

Here is a fantastic video showing rally legend and Volkswagen employee Carlos Sainz thrashing a prototype Polo R WRC around some country lanes in Germany. Turn your volume up to 11 and enjoy!

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Porsche

Porsche Cayman R driving footage

BMW 1M v Porsche Cayman R v BMW M3

Regular readers will recall we tested the Porsche Cayman R a few months back. We loved it. Winding Road recently posted some footage of the Cayman R they tested and while there are no words to accompany their clip, the video does give you a small taste of what this superb car is like. Take the jump to watch the clip and read our Drive Thru review for more detail on what the Cayman R is like to drive.

UPDATE: We thought the WR video was too much of a tease, so we’ve found a couple of extra clips and added them below for you as well.

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Subaru Toyota

Subaru BRZ v Toyota FT-86

Subaru BRZ v Toyota FT-86

New website FT86club is fast proving to be the go to place for the latest information on the ‘Toybaru’ project. The Toyota–Subaru collaboration has achieved much attention across the globe and especially in the world of internet forums. The climax of that build up will be reached early next month when both cars are revealed in full at the Tokyo Motor Show.

However, the internet stops for noone and more images of the FT-86 have been revealed via a leaked TRD parts catalogue. With today’s release of official BRZ images it gives us the first chance to compare both cars side by side and that’s exactly what we’ve done here.

You can click on the image above for a larger version. When you’ve done that, tell us what you think; which car would you buy?

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Mitsubishi Motorsports

On board with the 2011 WTAC winner

In August the 2011 World Time Attack Challenge was held at Eastern Creek in Sydney. Teams from around the world come to Australia, get it out and race against the clock to prove who is the fastest. On the same day, in the same conditions.

In 2010 the fastest man was ‘Tarzan’ Yamada at the wheel of his Cyber Evo with a best time of 1:30.58. And so it proved again in 2011, with Tarzan improving on his 2010 time to set a best lap this year of 1:28.851. That’s damn quick, to be honest.

The outright lap record at Eastern Creek is 1:19.142 set by Nico Hulkenberg in 2007 at the wheel of an A1 Lola. For reference, the V8 Supercar lap record was set by Mark Skaife in 1999. The best Skaifey could manage was 1:31.730.

It seems there was a bit of controversy over the 2011 WTAC event and that has since been addressed by the event CEO, Ian Baker. Now that the dust has settled Cyber Evo sponsor Yokohama has published footage of Tarzan’s lap to YouTube, which you can see above. Enjoy.

[Thanks to Joshua for the tip]

Categories
Subaru

Subaru officially teases BRZ Concept STi

Subaru BRZ Concept STi rendering

It takes two to tango when you make an affordable ‘Toybaru’ sportscar. We’ve seen some unofficial material recently for the Toyota FT-86 and now Subaru has given us an official sneak preview of its BRZ Concept STi.

Subaru’s BRZ will premiere at the LA Auto Show in a couple of weeks, meaning it will be the first in the Toybaru project to be officially revealed to the public. Although, the production ready BRZ, like the FT-86, will have a full reveal at the Tokyo Motor Show in December.

Expect the basic specs to match the FT-86, so think around 200hp from the 2.0 litre boxer engine and, of course, a compact rear-wheel drive layout.

It’s a bit hard to tell without seeing the full car, and it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to say this about a Sunaru, but we reckon the BRZ has the edge over the FT-86 so far in regards to looks.

UPDATE: Press release from Subaru Australia also added below.

UPDATE #2: New renderings added.

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