AUSmotive.com – Page 335 – Hanging on for dear life

BMW

BMW 1M Coupe ‘Raze’

BMW 1M Raze

UK tuning house RevoZport has produced a lightweight diet regime for those lucky enough to already have a BMW 1 Series M CoupÃ©. Through a number of replacement and add-on carbon-fibre bits RevoZport reckon their 1M ‘Raze’ is 60kg lighter than when it left the BMW factory.

From the RevoZport website:

Power to weight ratio directly determines a sports car performance. When weight is reduced, speed, brake, lateral and longitude G force are all improved dramatically. The 1M RAZE manage to trim more than 60kg on a 1570kg* 340hp car, a very significant increase.

While some parts are listed as Price On Application (POA), others are quite reasonable. Carbon fibre mirror covers, for example, are US$290. Even a larger piece, such as the replacement roof panel, is not too bad at US$1500. Many of the parts are also suitable for regular 1 Series CoupÃ© models.

A complete list of items available and more images can be seen after the break.

[Source: 1addicts]

Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT5 competition

Post author By Liam
Post date 6 August, 2011
4 Comments on Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT5 competition

Imagine if the getting the keys to the awesome Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG ‘Gullwing’ was as simple as being good at Gran Turismo 5. You don’t have to imagine any longer because Mercedes and Sony have teamed together to turn virtual into reality.

Only trouble is the competition has been run and won. Fifteen contestants from all over the world pre-qualified for the final and were sent to the Red Bull Ring in Austria. There they got time behind the wheel of the SLS AMG and through a series of driving tests a winner was found.

Watch the video and tell us if you think the final event is befitting of the ‘Gullwing’ and a competition based around a driving simulator where the gamer gets to experience some of the best roads and racetracks in the world.

For more on this event check out this official Mercedes blog.

Rowan Atkinson crashes his McLaren F1

Post author By Liam
Post date 5 August, 2011
7 Comments on Rowan Atkinson crashes his McLaren F1

Rowan Atkinson, McLaren F1

Reports from the UK bring word that Rowan Atkinson has been hospitalised after crashing his McLaren F1. Although it has been described that Atkinson “cheated death” he suffered only a minor shoulder injury.

It’s understood the 56-year-old comedian lost control of the car and it spun three times before crashing into a tree then a street ~~light~~ sign. He was able to free himself from the wreckage and was assisted by a witness until emergency crews arrived.

The Sun is quoting a source as saying, “It’s a miracle that he managed to walk away from the crash. He’s a very lucky man.

“The car was a wreck, really badly damaged. Rowan must be absolutely gutted.”

Tags McLaren F1, Rowan Atkinson

Audi

2012 Audi S5 photo gallery

Post author By Liam
Post date 5 August, 2011
3 Comments on 2012 Audi S5 photo gallery

As you know Audi recently gave their A5 range a bit of a mid-cycle refresh. Of course, the S5 received a similar treatment and for your viewing pleasure here’s 60 plus images for you to check out. Included are all three body styles: coupÃ©, cabriolet and sportback.

All models in the S5 range are now powered by a supercharged 3.0 litre V6, curiously badged as a V6T. The engine is good for 245kW and with a frugal approach can sip fuel as low as 8.1l/100km, so Audi reckon.

We sampled the new V6 in the Audi S4 early last year. It’s a fine engine, lacking only in the induction sound lost from the 4.2 litre V8 that we loved in the S5 coupÃ©.

Formula 1 News

Q&A with Daniel Ricciardo

Post author By Liam
Post date 5 August, 2011

Young Australian racing driver Daniel Ricciardo is just three races in to what we hope will be a long and successful Formula One career. Starting with Hispania Racing the 22-year-old has been making steady progress with the equipment available to him. Helping us understand what’s been on Daniel’s mind of late HRT has sent out a Q&A interview which you can read in full after the break.

In regards to Ricciardo’s longer term future, if all goes well, he will be the one most likely to replace Mark Webber at Red Bull Racing. Perhaps as soon as the 2013 F1 season. Plenty of water to pass under the bridge before then, though.

Porsche

More 991 Porsche 911 spy shots

Post author By Liam
Post date 5 August, 2011
2 Comments on More 991 Porsche 911 spy shots

991 Porsche 911 prototype

New spy shots of the soon to be released 991 Porsche 911 have been published by Autocar (follow the source link for more). You can tell it’s the new 991 by the wing mirrors and, of course, the subtle disguise over the lights front and rear.

The new 911 is due for its first public showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. It’s not too far away now and forgive us if we happen to go into 911 overload between now and then.

[Source: Autocar]

Formula 1

Friday Formula One fun

The 2011 Formula One season is currently having a few weeks off before revving back into life at the Belgian Grand Prix later this month. To help kill the time here’s a fun collection of goofs, gaffs and laughs from the world of F1. It’s been on YouTube for a couple of years, so you may have seen it already. If you have, take another look, we guarantee it will make you smile.

[Source: F1 Retro]

Lamborghini

Lamborghini: Racing towards Frankfurt

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 August, 2011
2 Comments on Lamborghini: Racing towards Frankfurt

At last year’s Paris Motor Show the spectacular looking Lamborghini Sesto Elemento was revealed. Now a new teaser released by Lambo gives hope that we’ll be seeing the Sesto Elemento in some form again at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

We’ve previously reported the carbon origami creation would be on sale in October, so it stands to reason we’ll see it again in September.

Lamborghini’s teaser says they are ‘racing towards Frankfurt’ and with the Sesto Elemento expected to be limited to no more than 20 examples it is quite possible the model will be built in race or track-spec only.

Remember, this car is expected to weigh 999kg, is powered by a 5.2 litre V10 knocking out an impressive 570hp. Bellissimo!

[Source: Autoblog]

Porsche

New Porsche 911 Carrera S teased

Post author By Liam
Post date 4 August, 2011
4 Comments on New Porsche 911 Carrera S teased

If you don’t blink you can see a very brief teaser of the new 991 Porsche 911 Carrera S in the latest promo for computer game Need For Speed: The Run. Check out the promo below.

The glimpse of the 991 is actually pretty lame, but with the new 911 is due for a first public reveal at Frankfurt just over a month from now, we can’t wait!

[Source: Jalopnik]

Porsche

2012 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 August, 2011

Porsche has just updated its entry-level racecar, the 911 GT3 Cup, which will be used in one-make series across the globe in 2012 and 2013. Based on the 911 GT3 RS road car the Cup uses the same 450hp engine. It’s the first refresh for the 911 GT3 Cup since 2009.

The 911 GT3 Cup is also eligible for use in endurance races and a new 100 litre fuel tank has been added to increase range and safety. Deliveries will commence next month and you’ll need around â‚¬162K plus taxes to buy one.

If you want more from your 911 racing experience there’s always the FIA GT3-compliant 911 GT3 R or the top of the tree GT2-ready 911 GT3 RSR.

Tags 911 GT3 Cup, 997 911

Formula 1 McLaren News

Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/6 ‘model’ for sale

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 August, 2011
6 Comments on Ayrton Senna’s McLaren MP4/6 ‘model’ for sale

You’re looking at the world’s coolest sculpture. It’s Ayrton Senna’s 1991 McLaren MP4/6 which was dismantled in 1992 and re-assembled by artist Jay Burridge into the world’s largest ‘Airfix kit’.

The work of art is now up for sale and will be auctioned by Coys at the NÃ¼rburgring on Saturday 13 August. A sale price as high as Â£50,000 (AU$75,500) is expected, so best start raiding your piggy bank now.

This is an incredibly rare opportunity to purchase a McLaren F1 car, or parts thereof, as the auction listing explains:

McLaren have a policy of not selling any cars or parts of cars to collectors and all race cars are dismantled after each race in an autopsy and then used again or disposed of. No one owns a McLaren Formula 1 car or parts of a McLaren Formula 1 car let alone a Senna McLaren and this is a unique opportunity to purchase a piece of automotive history and art.

There’s more detail after the break, including a YouTube clip we found from Senna qualifying at Adelaide in 1991. You can also check the Coys website for more info on how you can buy.

[Pic: Adam Jacobs photography]

Jaguar

Jaguar XE heading to Frankfurt

Post author By Liam
Post date 3 August, 2011

Jaguar XE rendering

The all-new Jaguar XE will be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show Autocar reports. Not only that, insiders are promising the E-type inspired roadster “will blow the rest of the industry away.”

It’s understood Jag wants to make some noise ahead of the car’s 2012 release. A major auto show in Germany where the new Porsche 911 will be the star attraction seems like the perfect opportunity for the British icon to ruffle feathers.

In truth the XE is likely to be priced at around Â£40K and be more of a Boxster rival.

[Source: Autocar]