AUSmotive.com – Page 370 – Hanging on for dear life

Behind the scenes at the Australian Grand Prix

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 March, 2011
3 Comments on Behind the scenes at the Australian Grand Prix

The Formula One circus has been and gone for another year. Albert Park can once again commence its return to a peaceful public playground. While the set up of the track affects Melbourne for months, the F1 teams, the main show, aren’t even here for a full week.

These images, photographed by Michael Daniel, were captured on Wednesday to Friday of Grand Prix week and give a brief insight into what happens behind the scenes. There’s a few shots of on-track actionâ€”make sure you check out the old 1906 model Bugatti, it’s a wonderful imageâ€”mostly, though, the images have been taken inside the F1 garages while teams set up and go through their routines.

Our thanks to Michael for sharing these images with AUSmotive, we’re sure you’ll enjoy them as much as we have.

Tesla Top Gear

Tesla on the charge over Top Gear review

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 March, 2011
4 Comments on Tesla on the charge over Top Gear review

Top Gear 12x07

Cast your mind back to December 2008. That’s when Jeremy Clarkson reviewed the electric-powered Tesla Roadster on Top Gear. Generally speaking, he praised the Tesla for its rapid pace, but was very critical about the time it would take to re-charge the battery when it went flat.

And it is the subject of the battery going flat that has landed Clarkson and the BBC in hot water. In his review Jeremy claimed the battery could go flat after just 55 miles of travel on the Top Gear test track. The next shot showed the car being pushed into a hangar to be re-charged.

Clarkson also claimed the brakes failed on the test car. He concluded his review by saying, “What we have here, then, is an astonishing technical achievement. The first electric car that you might actually want to buy. It’s just a shame, that in the real world, it doesn’t seem to work.”

Porsche

New Porsche 911 spied in natural habitat

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 March, 2011
2 Comments on New Porsche 911 spied in natural habitat

991 Porsche 911

As each day passes we get closer to the launch of the next-gen Porsche 911. That debut is expected to take place at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. We can thank World Car Fans for these latest spy shots of a barely disguised prototype seen in its preferred environment, the NÃ¼rburgring Nordschleife.

The new 911 will sport a longer body allowing for a more optimum engine placement ahead of the rear axle. While the overall length will grow by 56mm, it’s understood the wheelbase will increase by a more modest 10mm.

The interior, too, will utilise a Panamera-like centre console to further enhance the good progress made inside the current 997 interior.

[Source: World Car Fans | Pics: SB-Medien]

BMW

M5 watch: Testing in the alps

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 March, 2011
1 Comment on M5 watch: Testing in the alps

BMW M5

A couple of weeks ago we brought you video of the next BMW M5 (F10) undergoing cold weather testing. Here is a new clip that runs for a long 29 minutes plus. It’s essentially the extended mix of our earlier post.

So, sit back, relax and enjoy seeing the F10M being put through some very icy paces. It’s expected the new M5 will get its first showing at a private event in Munich in a couple of days before making a full public debut at Auto Shanghai inside the next week.

All that means we should have some hard facts, official or leaked, within the next few days.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Audi

Next Audi RS6 ready to jump the queue

Post author By Liam
Post date 30 March, 2011
4 Comments on Next Audi RS6 ready to jump the queue

Good news for fans of Audi’s RS models with word coming through the next-gen RS6 will be here sooner, rather than later.

With BMW’s next M5 due for a debut showing next month, it’s understood Audi is itching to get the RS6 into showrooms late next year.

The previous RS6 may not have been the sharpest tool in the handling shed, but it made its point on power with the subtlety of a well handled sledgehammer. All thanks to a boosted 5.2 litre V10 good for a stonking 426kW.

We don’t expect Audi will go to the well twice with the V10 and, like BMW, it looks like the RS6 will force feed a smaller capacity V8 to provide the thrills. Amazingly, the 426kW figure from the old model is in real danger with reports of 447kW (600hp) floating about.

[Source: De Telegraaf via World Car Fans]

Green Machines MINI

All-wheel drive MINI hybrid spied

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 March, 2011

MINI Hybrid AWD

Autoblog brings us new pics of a very interesting prototype vehicle, it’s a regular looking R56 MINI Cooper S hatch; regular until you see the dangly bits at the rear of the car. It’s understood the front wheels will be driven by conventional petrol power, while the rears will be driven by electric power.

Sporting a “Hybrid test vehicle” sticker not much detail is known about the car in terms of power specs and the like. It’s expected the hybrid powered model will hit the market in 2013 with the launch of the next generation MINI.

[Source: Autoblog via MotoringFile]

BMW Video

Do you want to know a secret?

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 March, 2011

Fancy a gander inside a secret BMW production line where all new prototypes are hand built? Lucky for you BMW USA has lifted the lid on this once secret facility, known as Plant Zero.

It’s a little bit nerdy, but hey, if you’re reading AUSmotive there’s every chance you’re a proper car nerd anyway.

We just want to know how they make that crazy 3D puzzle camouflage that you first see at around 2:15 in the video above. That looks pretty wild!

Motorsports Subaru Video

VIDEO: Don’t try this at home

Post author By Liam
Post date 29 March, 2011
1 Comment on VIDEO: Don’t try this at home

Things didn’t go too well for Jimmy Keeney at the Global RallyCross Championships in California on the weekend. As you can see he made a bit of a hash of it. The accident happened after a jump, which seemed to go very well; until he landed.

The good news is that Keeney and his co-driver were unharmed. The Subaru WRX, on the other hand, suffered multiple cuts and abrasions. Keeney’s worst fears were confirmed when doctors advised the damage wouldn’t buff right out.

Check out video footage of the crash after the, erm, jump, I mean, break. Oh, that doesn’t work, either.

[Source: Autoblog]

MINI WRC

MINI JCW S2000 shows promise in Portugal

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 March, 2011

Armindo Araujo

Portuguese driver Armindo Araujo created headlines by mixing it with the higher spec WRC cars on the first day of competition at Rally Portugal.Â Araujo had the honour of making the competition debut in the MINI John Cooper Works S2000 in the event.

By the end of Day 1 the Portuguese was sitting pretty in seventh outright, just 97 seconds behind fifth place. From there, though, a combination of bad luck and mechanical gremlins conspired against hopes of moving further up the time sheets.

Speaking after the event Armindo said, “Obviously I am sad not to have completed the rally in front of my home fans. Despite this I am extremely optimistic looking ahead.

“The set-up of the car was fantastic. Punctures are part of rallying, and the engine has been sent off for analysis. I am certain we can solve the problem quickly. We have plenty of time before the start of the Rally d’Italia on 5th May.”

It’s in Italy, too, that the MINI WRC will make its race debut with Briton Kris Meeke and Spaniard Dani Sordo at the wheel.

[Source: MINI Motorsport | Pic: Brian Butcher via Rally Buzz]

Citroen WRC

Sebastien Ogier wins Rally Portugal

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 March, 2011
1 Comment on Sebastien Ogier wins Rally Portugal

The other Sebastien at CitroÃ«n has made up for his disappointment at Rally Mexico by claiming a comfortable win at Rally Portugal on the weekend. Ogier drove a tactically astute race and finished more than 30 seconds ahead of his more decorated compatriot and DS3 WRC teammate Sebastien Loeb.

Ford driver Miko Hirvonen finished fourth, allowing him to cling onto the championship lead with 58 points, although he now shares that honour with Loeb. Fellow Ford competitor Jari Matti Latvala sits in third on 48 points, while Ogier is fourth with a tally of 41 points.

The next rally will take place in Jordan during mid-April.

There’s more from CitroÃ«n after the break.

Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz Video

Nico and Michael: The drinks are on us

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 March, 2011
5 Comments on Nico and Michael: The drinks are on us

Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher unsurprisingly star in this new promo for Mercedes GP. However, it’s a cameo performance from two-time F1 champ Mika Hakkinen that steals the show. It’s not the first time Mercedes has used Mika in an ad, but this time he delivers a much better punch. Who said the Germans don’t have a sense of humor!

[via Motorcentral]

F1 in pictures Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2011 Australian Grand Prix in pictures

Post author By Liam
Post date 28 March, 2011
7 Comments on 2011 Australian Grand Prix in pictures

Making a return to AUSmotive in 2011 is our Grand Prix in pictures series. To kick it off here’s 93 images from the Australian Grand Prix to get you back in the mood for what will be a long and, no doubt, intriguing Formula One season.