Categories
Formula 1 News

News Corp confirms Formula One interest

2011 Chinese GP

Last month’s story about News Corp considering forming a consortium to buy the rights to Formula One has suddenly become more serious with confirmation that the, erm, wheels are in motion.

News Corporation and Italian investment company EXOR released a joint statement which reads, “EXOR, one of Europe’s largest listed investment companies, and News Corporation, the global media group, confirm that they are in the early stages of exploring the possibility of creating a consortium with a view to formulating a long-term plan for the development of Formula 1 in the interests of the participants and the fans.

“Over the coming weeks and months, EXOR and News Corporation will approach potential minority partners and key stakeholders in the sport. There can be no certainty that this will lead to an approach to Formula 1’s current owners.”

EXOR is controlled by the Agnelli family, who have close ties to Ferrari. Indeed, the company owns 30% of Italian car giant Fiat, owners of Ferrari, as well as a 60% stake in Juventus football club.

[Source: Autosport]

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: Australian pricing

Lamborghini Aventador

We received a nice tip off yesterday, and we want to share it with you, but just make sure you are prepared. So, are you sitting down?

$789,000!

That’s a very big number. Thankfully, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 is a very big car; in all senses of the word. In size, in power, in performance and, of course, in stature. There’s no denying the big Lambo has presence.

Mind, that big number is only the bare bones manufacturer’s list price. If you want metallic paint you’ll need an extra $4300; make it another $8000 if you want to pick a colour from the “special” range, like the Arancio Atlas pictured above. Of course, no self-respecting Aventador buyer would sign on the dotted line before having a long hard think about choosing a matt paint scheme, before deciding that $27,000 is probably just a bit too excessive, even for a Lambo.

Continue reading “Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: Australian pricing”
Categories
Alfa Romeo Video

VIDEO: Zagato TZ3 Stradale in the garage and on the road

Here’s a brief video showing the Alfa Romeo TZ3 Stradale by Zagato. The clip starts off in Zagato’s factory near Milan and ends up with some tame driving footage. Looks like they may have been taking photos and capturing video for promotional puposes.

There’s only going to be nine of these cars built, so while it would have been great to see the driver push the limits of the Dodge Viper ACR running gear in the TZ3 Stradale, we may have to wait until the customer gets their car first.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Categories
BMW

M5 watch: All-wheel drive model confirmed

BMW Concept M5

Autocar is reporting its earlier rumour that the new BMW M5 would have an all-wheel drive model in its lineup has now been confirmed by BMW insiders.

While BMW is yet to provide official technical specifications, Autocar is also stating the F10 M5 will have 552hp on tap from its twin turbo 4.4 litre V8. The four-wheel drive M5 will most likely follow some time after the initial launch of the rear-drive M5 and is said to be offered to counter all-paw models from Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Formula 1 Renault

Bruno Senna’s day out

Bruno Senna

Last weekend there was a World Series by Renault event held at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. A perfect excuse, really, for Lotus Renault GP reserve driver Bruno Senna to get out on track in his F1 car between racing action to lay some rubber and entertain the crowd.

The kick here is that young Bruno recorded his antics on his mobile phone while out on track. The YouTube description even includes this delightful disclaimer, “Video made with my phone camera during the demo at Spa! Please note I drove within safe limits and not flat-out. Don’t use your phone and drive!!”

After the break you can see the view from inside and outside the car.

[Source: Lotus Renault GP]

Continue reading “Bruno Senna’s day out”
Categories
Alfa Romeo

Zagato TZ3 Corsa and Stradale

Zagato TZ3 Corsa and Stradale

Italian design house Zagato is celebrating the centenary of Alfa Romeo by releasing a pair of retro-inspired TZ3 models. The Corsa model (pictured top) is a one-off, paying homage to Alfa’s racing history. The Stradale will see a small run of nine models and uses a Dodge Viper ACR chassis, including its 450kW 8.4 litre V10. The Corsa is based on Alfa’s own 8C Competizione—a car currently copping a pasting from the Old Stig—and is fitted with a 4.2 litre V8.

The connection between Zagato and Alfa itself is 90 years strong and these new TZ3s are great interpretations of former classics. There’s more pics after the break, as well as the official press release from Zagato.

Continue reading “Zagato TZ3 Corsa and Stradale”
Categories
Volkswagen

Pleasure before business?

Volkswagen dealers across the country are just starting to fill their showrooms with the new Passat. Judging by reader comments on AUSmotive the car hasn’t made a great first impression. We wonder if this quirky TV commercial will help?

Categories
Formula 1 McLaren

Ayrton Senna F1 image archive

Ayrton Senna, 1991 Belgian GP

Motorsport Retro brings word of some very tasty archival pics of Ayrton Senna’s racing career. The collection has been sourced from the Cahier Archive and if you follow the source link below you can see more great pics like the one above. Better still, if you check out the Cahier Archive website, you can buy prints of the images you like.

[Source: Motorsport Retro | Pic: Cahier Archive]

Categories
BMW

2012 BMW 3 Series spied

BMW F30 3 Series

Bimmerpost brings some good spy pics of the next-generation BMW 3 Series. With a wider track and lengthened wheelbase the F30 3 Series introduces design cues from the current F10 5 Series. Also to be introduced are slightly squared off “angel eye” LED daytime running lights, a move away from the current familiar circular shapes.

It’s expected a concept model or some official detail will be released towards the end of this year, before the F30 makes its full debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012. The F32 coupé is expected to be introduced in 2013. Of course, the next 3 Series will also see the introduction of a GT “hatch”, which should also be on track for Geneva in 2012.

There’s more pics available by following the links below, so make sure you check them out as well.

[Source: Bimmerpost]

Continue reading “2012 BMW 3 Series spied”
Categories
BMW

BMW 1M Coupé really makes its mark

BMW 1 Series M Coupe

A couple of weeks ago we showed how the BMW 1 Series M Coupé was beginning to make its mark with owners. Since then the press reviews have started rolling in and it’s all good news for the baby M.

First, 1addicts brings news that German rag Sport Auto has run the 1M through one of its famous track tests at Hockenheim. The result? A best lap time of 1:14.1. That’s one tenth slower than a manual equipped Porsche Cayman S. Impressive, hey? Well, consider this; it’s one tenth faster than an E92 M3 with DCT.

Autocar said: “The longer you spend at the wheel of the M Coupé, the more you come to appreciate its overall ability. Its focus is perhaps a little broader than we’ve come to expect from BMW M… It’s not a junior M3, as many suggested it would be. No, it has its own distinct character and, in real-world terms, is a good deal faster than its more expensive sibling.”

Car said: “The 1-series M is a proper M car, no doubt… It’s definitely not a hotted-up 135i, and now we’re looking forward to the future of M.”

Inside Line said: “Let’s not extend the suspense any longer. The 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is a fantastically compelling machine. It is fast… It has a truly brawny engine that sounds great at wide-open throttle, handles with all the precision expected of a car wearing the evocative M badge, and is super practical given its performance brief.”

Yeah, you’d like one too?

[Pic: Sport Auto]

Categories
Motorsports

Karl Reindler and Steve Owen talk about their firery crash

Here’s a couple of videos featuring Karl Reindler and Steve Owen talking about their dramatic crash in the V8 Supercars event at Barbagallo Raceway on the weekend. Amazing that both drivers were able to escape relatively unharmed.

You’ll see the bandages on Riendler’s hands where he has suffered second degree burns, but he expects to be racing again at the next round at Winton three weeks from now.

Continue reading “Karl Reindler and Steve Owen talk about their firery crash”
Categories
Ferrari

How to drive a Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari 458 Italia

Ferrari recently published this instructional video to YouTube for the 458 Italia which explains, “how to absolutely control the car with a maximum of driving pleasure on the track and on the road.” All you need is 3 minutes 42 seconds, some cheesy sound effects and some dramatic music. Hmm, no mention of how to activate the fire extinguisher.

Continue reading “How to drive a Ferrari 458 Italia”