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Aston Martin

It’s official: Aston Martin is cool

Aston Martin Vantage range

With models like the Vantage, Virage and even the four-door Rapide, Aston Martin is considered a leader in automotive design. Never mind that the cars are also pretty decent as well. In general, you know an Aston Martin is going to be a beautiful car.

Further to this, their boss, Ulrich Bez, races his product in one of the toughest motoring events ever, the Nürburgring 24 hour race. And they also make special models like the new V12 Zagato.

It’s little surprise, then, to learn Aston has been voted as the UK’s coolest brand, mixing with the likes of other market leaders, such as Apple and Bang & Olufsen.

Speaking about the award Stephen Cheliotis, Chief Executive, The Centre for Brand Analysis and Chairman of the CoolBrands Council said, “Smooth, sexy and sophisticated; British built, high quality and hand finished, let’s be honest, young or old, male or female, opinion former or British public, who wouldn’t aspire to own what is truly the coolest car on the road. Number one in five of the last six years, this British icon is truly the coolest of the cool.”

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Audi Random wallpapers

Random wallpaper: Audi Quattro

Audi Quattro

It’s been a while since we posted up a Random wallpaper, but we thought this shot of an Audi Quattro rally car was too good to pass up. Note the hint of flame from the car’s exhaust.

The pic came to us via a press release promoting the UK tour of Top Gear Live, which will be held in Birmingham and London next month. A fleet of Group B rally cars will be on show, making us even more envious that we won’t be there.

You know the drill, click the pic to view the image in 2000px sizing and get ready to ‘Fire up the Quattro!’

Categories
Porsche

VIDEO: An inside look at the Porsche 911

Porsche 911 (991)

Porsche brings us new video of the 991 911 from the Frankfurt Motor Show. This time August Achleitner, Manager of the 911 model line, has his say on why he thinks the new 911 is king.

There’s also a bit of discussion about the 991’s performance at the Nürburgring; it has cut 13 seconds off the best time set in the old 997.

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Dodge

Dodge Viper ACR laps Nürburgring in 7:12.13

Following news earlier in the month that the Dodge Viper ACR lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife in a staggering 7 minutes 12.13 seconds we bring you the documentary evidence. GT racer Dominik Farnbacher was at the wheel and posted the time on 14 September 2011.

The time is being claimed as a production car record; the merits of which can always be debated. For example, the Viper ACR is no longer in production. That said, the car used for this lap was believed to be in completely standard trim.

A brief statement from SRT is available after the break.

[Source: ViperHQ]

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F1 in pictures Ferrari McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 Singapore Grand Prix in pictures

2011 Singapore Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel’s dominance in 2011 has been perfectly captured by the image above. Love him or hate him, nobody can deny the young German has been in a class of his own this year. And so it was at the Singapore Grand Prix; Vettel’s most complete race this season.

To see how the also rans went we have compiled another 80 pictures from the unique night race held at Marina Bay. They’re all there for you after the break and don’t forget to click your favourite images to view in 2000px super sizing.

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WRC

WRC to offer free live streaming from Rally France

Sebastien Loeb, 2011 Rally Finland

This weekend’s Rally France will have live action from selected stages streamed for free on the internet. The footage will be broadcast via the sport’s official WRC.com website and is part of a trial program to gauge future possibilities.

A total of 14 hours will be streamed from Friday and Saturday competition. Helping to bring fans closer to the action the footage will include in-car footage along with interviews and press-conferences.

Simon Long, CEO of the WRC’s promoter North One Sport says, “The digital landscape presents numerous opportunities to further expand the reach of the World Rally Championship and this experiment is a big step forward in our plans to develop formats and content to suit.

“We have made a significant investment to get the project to this stage and it’s exciting that we are now ready to try and turn the theory into reality; however it’s important to make clear that this is a trial first and foremost and we expect to learn a great deal. This is unchartered territory, both technically and in terms of programming, but it’s a vital stage in our development plans for the next 12 months.”

[Source: WRC]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

The ultimate barnyard find?

1955 Mercedes 300 SL alloy gullwing

Those with a keen eye will recognise this barnyard wreck is an iconic Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupé; the original ‘Gullwing’. It’s a 1955 model and only the very knowledgeable will pick it as a special alloy-bodied competition special. Just 29 were ever made.

Along with its alloy body panels Mercedes made further modifications including the use of lightweight Plexiglas, while lowering and revising the suspension, adding a high-lift camshaft, knockoff Rudge wheels and bigger brakes.

Making this find more remarkable is the fact the car is still with its original owner. How could he let such a classic and truly great car end up in this condition? Well, perhaps receiving the car as a graduation gift didn’t exactly bestow the original owner with the greatest appreciation for what he had been given.

Tom Welmers, the owner in question, drove his 300SL regularly until the 1970s when the transmission failed. What we see now is the result of a half-baked DIY repair job. It’s not that Welmers didn’t have the expertise to fix it—maybe he did, maybe he didn’t—the point is the car has sat in this state of disrepair for around 40 years. Why?

Rudi Koniczek is a restoration specialist and he not only established the bona fide nature of this diamond in the rough, but, thankfully, has also been charged with returning the car to its former glory. Koniczek helped negotiate a sale to an appreciative benefactor and having already restored chassis #1 and #6 we expect the results for this rare 300SL will be stunning.

If the restored car goes up for auction, with its rarity and unique provenance, it’s expected to sell for well over a million dollars.

[Source: Hemmings via WCF]

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Singapore GP: Post-race press conference

2011 Singapore Grand Prix

In winning the Singapore Grand Prix overnight Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) did something he hasn’t been able to do this year: he led the race from start to finish. He was never troubled and while he has mathematically left the door open for the title to go elsewhere, it is now only Jenson Button (McLaren) who can upstage him.

Actually, the real likelihood is that Vettel’s already impressive 309pt tally and 124pt lead in the drivers’ championship will only be extended in the five remaining races. He will become the sport’s youngest ever dual world champion, never mind the added bonus of joining an elite club of drivers to go back to back. Atop the podium, you sense the gravity of his achievements are starting to sink in. It’s been a more mature and measured title assault from the 24-year-old this year, in more ways than one.

The only fight of any merit in 2011 has been the scrap over second place. Were it not for Vettel we’d be salivating over the prospect of having three divers separated by the same number of points (Button 185pts; Alonso, Ferrari 184pts; Webber, Red Bull, 182pts).

At Marina Bay it was the same three men who scrapped it out for the minor placings. Button able to stroll past a customary slow Webber off the line played piggy in the middle; Vettel comfortably ahead and a Webber–Alonso duel behind. The Australian entertaining the purist fan with two stellar moves to overtake Alonso either side of a pit stop undercut.

Another podium for Webber, then, and under any other circumstances we’d be applauding loudly from down under at seeing the Aussie flag among the final ceremonies. Yet, Vettel’s dominance rather makes Webber’s otherwise respectable efforts this year look feeble.

Strange as it may be, you feel we must focus our attention towards the back of the field to find Australia’s next great hope to Daniel Ricciardo (HRT). The young West Australian once again finished ahead of his more experienced teammate Tonio Liuzzi. Webber has paved the way, let’s hope Ricciardo can walk the walk.

Post-race comments from the first three can be read after the break.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Motorsports Porsche

Porsche talks about future motorsport plans

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR

The Manthey Racing 911 GT3 RSR, winner of this year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race, took centre stage at the company’s Frankfurt Motor Show. In this video Porsche discusses the link between its motorsport and road car programs.

Also covered are Porsche’s future racing plans, including the return to the LMP1 category at Le Mans and the expansion of hybrid technology developed for the 911 GT3 R Hybrid.

Head of Porsche Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen is at the microphone and the clip can be seen in full after the break.

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Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing

2011 Singapore GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 Singapore Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel claimed his 11th pole position of the year in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix overnight. On track to defend his 2010 world championship the Red Bull charge posted a best time of 1:44.381 around the Marina Bay street circuit.

Mark Webber (Red Bull) ensured yet another front-row lockout for the team with a time of 1:44.732 (+0.351).

Jenson Button (McLaren) claimed P3 for the race start (1:44.804 +0.423) and finished just five thousandths of a second ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton (1:44.809 +0.428).

The two Ferraris round out the top six, with Fernando Alonso (1:44.874 +0.493) almost a full second ahead of Felipe Massa (1:45.800 +1.419).

Nico Rosberg put his Mercedes on P7 (1:46.013 +1.632) and was the last of the top 10 to set a time. Fellow Mercedes driver Michael Schumacher and Force India pair, Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta, opted to conserve tyres for tonight’s race.

Daniel Ricciardo out qualified his HRT teammate Tonio Liuzzi by four tenths of a second, but they find themselves in the familiar position at the rear of the field.

The tactic of sitting out of the final top 10 qualifying has caused some controversy, but the lead drivers are unanimous that access to a greater number of tyres would eliminate the problem.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Mercedes-Benz

VIDEO: Mercedes C63 AMG Black spied

Pistonspy has come up trumps again with some great footage and pics of the seriously cool Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black. Perhaps the most desirable Black Series yet—in our eyes at least—it’s interesting to see this development car lapping the Nürburgring with a large rear wing.

Turns out that wing is part of an AMG Aero Package, which includes a revised front splitter, among other enhancements. Also being tested is the AMG Track Package, which consists of special 19″ tyres and improved cooling at the rear axle to benefit the transmission.

[Source: Pistonspy]

Categories
Formula 1

Ice cream is gonna save the day

Kimi Raikkonen, 2008 Malaysian GP

A recent visit to the Williams factory by Kimi Raikkonen has ignited rumours suggesting the 2007 world champion could return to Formula One in 2012. Well, since he left the sport back in 2009 comeback rumours have always been around. However, the drums are beating louder this time and it would appear Rubens Barrichello should be afraid.

Of the current Williams driver pairing Pastor Maldonado lines his seat with millions of dollars in Venezuelan oil money; the rookie is safe. That would mean the Brazilian veteran of 19 seasons would be more likely to be cast aside if Raikkonen comes to terms with the Oxfordshire-based outfit.

For his part Rubens is keen to continue in 2012. “Right now is a big time for rumours and there is no point,” he said. “But definitely I want to be racing next year. That’s my point. I feel better prepared than at any other time.”

Unsurprisingly, Rubens says consistency is key, “Williams has unfortunately not given me a good car yet and the moving forward means that we should stick together with a good and better car next year.”

Williams is enduring its worst year in F1 on and off-track. They are desperate to return to their former winning ways and the first step could be taken with a return to Renault power in 2012.

As well, Formula One is set for a new era in 2014 with new engine regulations. Perhaps Williams might see a better mid to long-term future with a 32-year-old winning Finn than a never-quite-good-enough 39-year-old Brazilian.

[Source: Eurosport]