Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Polo R speculation heats up

Volkswagen Polo R WRC

As we predicted, the announcement of the Volkswagen Polo R WRC has led to increased hope that a road-going Polo R would be back on the cards.

In a brief interview with Autocar, Volkswagen board member Ulrich Hackenberg said, “You can see how the World Rally Championship programme would increase the probability of an R version of the base model [Polo].”

However, buyers hopeful of buying the feisty pocket rocket may have to wait until 2013 or beyond to see the Polo R. Hackenberg explains, “It is with the rally programme, not before it. I can’t give a precise date, but it’s along those lines.”

Autocar currently suggest the Polo R would be front-wheel drive only. We’d like to live in hope that the baby R model could utilise the Audi S1 all-wheel drive system. However, a front-wheel drive precedent has been set with the Scirocco R.

The final question remaining is will Volkswagen try and find more power from the 1.4l twincharged unit found in the Polo GTI, or will they shoehorn a 2 litre engine in there from a Golf GTI? Either way expect power to be 150kW or beyond.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
BMW

M5 watch: Heart of gold

BMW M5 engine bay

Back when the BMW X6 M was launched we said its only saving grace was the 4.4 litre heart of gold stored beneath the bonnet. Thanks to M5 board we can now get a quick look at the closely related heart of gold powering the F10-based Concept M5.

Still with a 4.4 litre capacity and a couple of turbos, the M5 engine is expected to produce a rather tasty 560hp (approx 420kW) while being more fuel efficient to boot.

[Source: M5 board via BimmerFile]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Adrian Newey talks about Ayrton Senna’s death

Adrian Newey

Imagine you designed the car in which Ayrton Senna was killed; it would be a heavy burden to carry. And so it has proven for Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer at Red Bull Racing and former design guru with Williams F1.

Newey’s creations have won 119 races, seven constructors’ titles and crowned six world champions. They are astounding achievements. On current form it looks likely that two new additions will be added at the end of the 2011 F1 season.

The death of Ayrton Senna continues to haunt Newey, however. In a recent article with The Guardian Newey said he is unlikely to watch the Senna documentary because, “It would not be an easy thing to do.”

Speaking candidly Newey revealed how the death of Senna and subsequent manslaughter charges brought against himself and Patrick Head made both men question their involvement in Formula One.

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Categories
BMW

BMW 1M Coupé gets slow-mo drift

More promo guff as the BMW 1M Coupé continues its worldwide roll out. This time it’s BMW UK providing the entertainment in this well produced clip where the undoubted highlight is the slow motion drift around one minute in. Mind, the higher-speed follow up shortly afterwards is pretty cool too. Shame a promo like this would be banned in Australia.

[via BimmerFile | Thanks to John for the tip]

Categories
Motorsports Renault

Daniel Ricciardo wins at Monza

Daniel Ricciardo

Aussie charge Daniel Ricciardo has so far been impressing during his Friday testing role with Toro Rosso. On the weekend he also earned favour by winning the Formula Renault 3.5 Series race at Monza, Italy.

Ricciardo actually crossed the finish line in second place, but French driver Jean-Eric Vergne was handed a 10 second penalty for cutting a chicane while defending a move from the young West Australian.

After the race Ricciardo explained, “The race was hectic, especially at the start. After that it was a bit frustrating because I never had a clear opportunity to get past. I knew that Jean-Eric was penalised, but if I’d had an opportunity to overtake him before the chequered flag, I’d have taken it.”

Let’s hope we’re soon seeing Daniel Ricciardo on F1 racetracks on Sundays in the very near future. Next year, would be great!

[Source: Word Series by Renault]

Categories
Ferrari Motorsports

P4/5 Competizione to be diesel powered?

P4/5 Competizione

On the weekend the P4/5 Competizione had its second and final race at the Nürburgring before the 24 hour race in June. James Glickenhaus and his team will continue testing, most likely at the Hungaroring, to finalise their N24 preparations.

Mike Frison, respected Nürburgring blogger, and lately Save the Ring activist, caught up with Glickenhaus at the race and had a good chat. Two of the more notable points to emerge from that discussion were plans to race the P4/5 Competizione at Le Mans and Sebring in future.

Makes sense, really, you put all that money into making a racecar, you probably want to tale it around the world.

However, it was the revelation that Glickenhaus would also like to convert the P4/5 Competizione to run a diesel engine to help improve performance. That’s likely to cause a few disturbances of the force down Ferrari-way.

[Source: Mike Frison | Pic: Facebook]

Categories
BMW

BMW 1M Coupé gets the drift

BMW 1M Coupe

The BMW 1M Coupé is currently doing the rounds with the US media and Axis of Oversteer were on hand to see what all the fuss is about. As you can see they soon discovered the 1M is good for power sliding (there’s more in the video after the break). However, it was their no-nonsense review of the car that is also worth reading. Here’s an extract below, make sure follow the source link for more:

  • Is it good? Yes, very.
  • Does it go? It’s got loads of thrust as turbos do.
  • Does it grip? Quite a lot and you can really feel the M Diff doing its thing.
  • Does it slide? Well, yes but it takes some firm provocation.
  • Does it stop? Better than the M3.

[Source: Axis of Overtseer]

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Categories
Top Gear

Top Gear Series 17 is going to be electric

Jeremy Clarkson & James May

UPDATE 9 June: Top Gear, Series 17 is due to start on 26 June.

Jeremy Clarkson and James May were recently spotted at the University of Lincoln chasing some free electricity. Filming a segment for the upcoming Season 17 of Top Gear the lads were caught out while driving across the UK using a Nissan Leaf and a Peuegot iOn.

It’s understood their all-electric cars had run out of battery power and laid idle in Lincoln for several hours while their lusty steeds regained charge. A brief video capturing Jeremy and James in their plight can be seen after the break.

There’s some debate as to the start date for Series 17. Some rumours are suggesting a possible premiere on Sunday 19 June. However, word straight from the source says, “No news of exactly when the new series will be on your screens, but it will be towards the end of this year.”

[Source: The Lincolnite]

 

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Categories
Ferrari Motorsports

P4/5 Competizione ready for Nürburgring 24 hour

Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

James Glickenhaus, wealthy American businessman, is not content with his own custom built Ferrari creation, the P4/5 by Pininfarina, so he’s making a racing version. Not just that, his new privately funded creation is designed to tackle the Nürburgring 24 hour race in June. The P4/5 Competizione, based on a Ferrari F430 Scuderia, has been under development for a while now and with the N24 not that far away the team’s preparations are almost complete.

Here’s a few pics of the car in its raw carbon fibre state and racing decals sourced from the team’s Facebook page. Also included below is some video of the car in action in at a recent VLN race at the Ring. The driver lineup is not too bad, either, and includes former F1 drivers Nicola Larini and Mika Salo.

We’ve never been too sure about the look of the P4/5, but we give Glickenhaus his dues for living the dream.

[Source: Facebook & YouTube | Thanks to Obi for the tip]

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Categories
Porsche

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS

Not content with eleventy billion iterations of its iconic 911 range Porsche has managed to eke one more model from Stuttgart. This one is called the Carrera 4 GTS. It’s the all-wheel drive version of the rear-wheel drive Carrera GTS released towards the end of last year.

On offer from the 3.8 litre flat six is a very tidy 300kW. With the wider track at the rear the two-wheel drive model already has oodles of grip, but this all-paw version raises grip levels further still.

We may mock Porsche for creating a new take on the 911 whenever a half-baked idea enters the brain of someone in their marketing department, but the truth is, they’re bloody good cars. And like a fine wine of the same vintage that may differ slightly from bottle to bottle, you want to sample them all!

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Categories
Formula 1 News

“Senna” tickets on sale via Sydney Film Festival

Ayrton Senna

A quick shout out to Sydney readers to let you know you can now buy tickets online for the screening of Senna at the Sydney Film Festival on Sunday 19 June. Adult pricing is $17 and the movie will be screened at the State Theatre.

For those who cannot make it to this viewing, the general release of the film commences on 11 August, so you won’t have to wait too long.

[Source: Sydney Film Festival | Thanks to Ricky for the tip]

Categories
Aston Martin

Aston Martin and Zagato reunite

Aston Martin Zagato teaser

Back in 1961 Aston Martin combined forces with Italian coachbuilder Zagato to create the DB4GT Zagato. Now, to mark 50 years of that collaboration, history will repeat with the two companies working in partnership on a new model to be revealed at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in Italy on 21 May. Proving this new car will be true to its racing heritage it will race at the Nürburgring in a four hour VLN race on 28 May.

Assuming both the reveal and race bring encouraging feedback from the well-to-do-set there is a chance the new Aston-Zagato will be offered as a limited series production model.

Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman explains their new ownership structure has allowed the freedom to re-unite with Zagato, “Our designers are able to collaborate with a broad spectrum of organisations and individuals to seek new and exciting ideas and inspiration due to Aston Martin’s independency.

“Working with Zagato again in 2011 is inspirational for the team – certainly DB4GT Zagato is one of my favourite ever designs as it is with many of the designers in our studio. We can create a truly modern Aston Martin interpretation which stays true to the historical routes of the relationship with Zagato.”

Aston’s press release is available after the break along with a small gallery of images showcasing the DB4GT and the DB4GT Zagato.

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