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Volkswagen

Volkswagen Polo GTI is bang for bucks champ

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Good news for the Volkswagen Polo GTI after its reputation was boosted with the Motor Magazine ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ title.

In a nice coup for the baby GTI, Motor compared the Pogo’s 2011 results against the scores from the previous five years and found the Polo GTI would have won the gong for six years in a row.

The Polo GTI’s success lies in its $27,900 list price (3 door model) where it is able to make the most of its relatively modest 132kW power against more fancied and more expensive rivals in the Motor comparison.

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Motorsports News

Linear Edge plywood laminate racetracks

Linear Edge

This is likely to be the coolest thing you will read today. (Well, unless Mark wins at Silverstone tonight.) Imagine your favourite racetrack anywhere in the world: the Nordschleife, Circuit de la Sarthe, Monaco, Spa or even Australia’s own Albert Park and Phillip Island.

Now imagine some clever clogs cutting out a three-dimensional representation of that track made from baltic birch plywood and laminate. How cool would it be to have that made just for you and delivered right to your door?

Imagine no more and just head right on over to the Linear Edge website. They even do custom orders—Mount Panorama perhaps?

Art and motorsports have rarely been combined so well.

[Source: Linear Edge | Thanks to Dave for the tip]

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Lamborghini

Lamborghini says NO to manual transmissions

Lamborghini Diablo

There’s no chance of ever seeing a manual transmission in any future Lamborghini according to US website Motor Trend. The news follows an interview with Maurizio Reggiani, Lamborghini’s R&D director, who revealed no more than 2% of cars they build today are fitted with a manual box.

Of course, the Aventador LP700-4 doesn’t offer a manual box option and that’s now expected to be the same when the eight-year-old Gallardo is replaced.

The new model is rumoured to be called the Cabrera and Reggiani explains a traditional manual breaks the electronic regime of the modern car. Apparently, then, humans can no longer be trusted to change gears at optimum points.

Perhaps this news is no real surprise. The Ferrari 458 Italia also says no to the charming chrome-gated slots that were once so admired by so many. Lower down the food chain, the Audi RS3 is only offered with an ‘auto’ S tronic as well.

It’s easy to see why a car like the BMW 1M, only offered with a 6-speed manual, has been so widely embraced by motoring journalists and enthusiasts alike.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Categories
Formula 1

Bernie says Formula One is not for sale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKKZde2Ftkw

Here’s a nice little exchange with Bernie Ecclestone who discusses a number of topics, including Lewis Hamilton’s driving style, the success of Sebastian Vettel, the future of Formula One ownership and its broadcast agreement with the BBC. It’s clear the 80-year-old F1 boss is as sharp as ever.

Crucilally, Ecclestone says F1 is not for sale, despite confirmed interest from News Corporation. Ecclestone also says he would consider all options in regards to future television rights, including the possibility of pay television.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

Categories
Formula 1 Motorsports News Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber presented Hawthorn Memorial Trophy for 2010

Alan Gow (L), Mark Webber (R)

Australia’s Mark Webber has been presented with the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy for 2010 following his third placing in last year’s drivers’ world championship.

Presented with the trophy at the 2011 British GP by Alan Gow from the Motor Sports Association UK, Webber joins Sir Jack Brabham and Alan Jones—both three-time winners—as the third Australian to win the prestigious award since its introduction in 1959.

Named after 1958 F1 world champion Mike Hawthorn, who died in a road accident in 1959, the trophy is awarded to the British or Commonwealth driver who places highest in the F1 drivers’ championship.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2011 British GP: Qualifying press conference

2011 British GP

Mark Webber claimed his eighth career pole position after posting the fastest time in qualifying at the British Grand Prix overnight. One Australian leads the field, while another is at the rear, with F1 debutant Daniel Ricciardo setting the slowest time in a weather-affected Q1.

Expectations at Hispania Racing are not so high, of course, and there will be greater things to follow for young Ricciardo.

Webber, on the other hand, will be expecting to win tonight’s race. Silverstone is clearly a place where Webber loves to race, following his famous win last year and at the 2008 British Grand Prix he found himself on the front row for the first time.

Despite hissy fits from Christian Horner and Martin Whitmarsh over changes to exhaust mapping, Red Bull again found a way to lockout the front row of the grid. Webber’s quickest time (1:30.399) was just three hundredths faster than runaway championship leader Sebastian Vettel (1:30.431), who maintains his 2011 record of starting every race from the front row.

Fernando Alonso is the next best in his Ferrari (1:30.516) ahead of teammate Felipe Massa (1:31.124), Nico Rosberg (MercedesGP, 1:31.898) and Paul di Resta (Force India, 1:31.929).

Comments from the first three can be read after the break, along with words from Daniel Ricciardo and HRT.

[Pics: Red Bull/Getty Images & Hispania Racing]

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Formula 1

2011 British GP: Daniel Ricciardo in practice

Daniel Ricciardo, 2011 British GP

Daniel Ricciardo has just finished his first proper day in an F1 hot seat. No longer performing a testing role, but gathering data for his race debut on Sunday. In the two free practice sessions, both marred by inclement weather, the young Aussie soon found out life will be tough in a team with comparatively low funding.

In Free Practice 1 Ricciardo finished 24th out of 24 runners, 1.2 seconds behind teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi. The 22-year-old improved his standing in Free Practice 2, placing 23rd, 0.2s ahead of Liuzzi.

Speaking afterwards Ricciardo said, “I’m a bit more familiar with the controls now in the Hispania Racing car and hopefully the weather tomorrow is a bit drier and we can then do some proper testing in order to be ready for qualifying.

“It’s another race car so I’m always trying to learn and find the best compromise for it and the best way around the race track so I think today was not a bad day for that. I think I’m learning ok, quite quickly and as long as I keep progressing I think it will be a good weekend and a good 2011.”

After the break you’ll see 30+ pics of Ricciardo’s first couple of days with HRT, along with slightly odd YouTube clip and official press releases.

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Audi BMW

VIDEO: Audi RS3 v BMW 1M

Audi RS3 v BMW 1M

English mag Auto Express has just put the 250kW all-wheel drive Audi RS3 on the drag strip against the 250kW rear-wheel drive BMW 1 Series M Coupé. Two German pocket rockets; it’s a race both cars were made for.

It was a dry day with great conditions for a 400m shootout; 7-speed S tronic against 6-speed manual, which do you think was quickest? Watch the video after the break to find out.

For added background Auto Express has also filed individual reviews of both cars in the past and we’ve included those below for you as well.

[Source: YouTube | Thanks to Matt for the tip]

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Categories
Aston Martin

Aston Martin confirms V12 Zagato production

Aston Martin V12 Zagato

Aston Martin’s reconnection with Zagato is now complete following confirmation 150 new V12 Zagato models will be built for road use.

Only revealed in May, the V12 Zagato has already led an action-packed life. At the Villa D’ Este Concours in Italy the car was awarded gongs for design in both concept and prototype classes. Before they even had time to polish the trophies Aston was at the Nürburgring with Zig and Zag ready to push out a combined 48 hours of endurance racing on the world’s toughest track.

The V12 Zagato will be handmade at the company’s Gaydon headquarters with orders for the aluminium/carbon fibre creation now being taken. It’s a case of first in first served, so pass the hat around and see if you can muster up £330K and change, because that’s the price of admission.

Powered by a 380kW 6.0 litre V12 the new Aston Zagato is sure to become a modern-day collector’s item. In fact, Chief Executive Dr Ulrich Bez, pretty much guarantees as much, “Such style, exclusivity and fastidious craftsmanship ensures it will be one of the most highly coveted models in Aston Martin’s 98-year history. A fabulous celebration of the iconic DB4GT Zagato, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the V12 Zagato is the perfect inspiration for the next 50 years of Aston Martin.”

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Categories
Audi Motorsports

VIDEO: Audi relives its tenth Le Mans victory

Audi R18 TDI at Le Mans

As you will recall the 2011 Le Mans 24 hour race was a genuine roller coaster for the Audi team. Two of its three cars crashed out in daunting and spectacular fashion, leaving just one R18 TDI to take up the fight against the Peugeot 908s.

We know the final result, of course, and Audi’s tenth win at La Sarthe will be remembered for a long time. You can relive the race through the eyes of Audi Motorsport thanks to a finely produced documentary clip after the break.

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Categories
MINI

MINI JCW Countryman spied at the Ring

MINI Countryman JCW

Motor Authority brings us some great pics of a MINI JCW Countryman doing its required Ring schooling before final graduation. We don’t think it’s the Countryman WRC we’re hoping for. However, the JCW version is likely to be fitted with plenty of juicy bits at the factory thanks to increased production capabilities at the Countryman’s Manga Steyr plant.

Those juicy bits include 19″ alloys, a JCW bodykit and a few more ponies from its 1.6 litre turbo four cylinder. In fact, rather than simply boosting the current 155kW JCW engine, there’s talk MINI may introduce a new donk altogether with peak power starting at around 160kW. If they do fit a new engine, let’s hope they can find their way past 170kw, at least.

There’s a remote chance official info will be confirmed by MINI later this year, but don’t get cross if you have to wait until 2012.

[Source: MotoringFile | Pics: Motor Authority]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black announces itself

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black

Images of this car have been emerging on websites around the globe. The car, we are told, is the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black and it magically appeared at a Mercedes event at the Le Castellet circuit in France. As if AMG wasn’t already enough, Benz goes back in black to turn the dial way past eleven.

The snorting bonnet and muscular wheel arches give the first clue that something special lies beneath. Confirmed details are scarce right now, but in the case of the C63 AMG Black, special is a 6.2 litre V8. It produces around 490hp or, if you got a bonus this month, you can have 520hp thanks to the even Blacker version, otherwise known as a Performance Pack.

Predictions say 100km/h will be knocked off in about 4 seconds, let’s be daring and say 3.9 might be achievable. After all there’s E-Class bits, including a slippery diff in the back and a fancy MCT gearbox at the front to help wage an ongoing war between rubber and asphalt.

Production of this model won’t be limited and when Mercedes-Benz releases final confirmed details we’ll bring you the word. Remember, once you go Black…

There’s some more pics after the break and a nice reminder from Jeremy Clarkson as to why the AMG Black series is worth the fuss.

[Source: SpeedFans via Motor Authority | Thanks to Shane for the tip]

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