Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari prepares to take the FF skiing

Ferrari FF

In a couple of days there’ll be a steady stream of pics, info and reviews about the new Ferrari FF. The Maranello manufacturer is about to launch it’s first four-wheel drive car to the world’s media (well, except Chris Harris). And, of course, they’re choosing to do that 2350m above sea level in the stunning scenery provided by the Italian alps.

Trouble is, you can only get to the chosen location by ski-lift. Unfortunately for Ferrari, the ski-lift operators couldn’t manage to squeeze the FFs on board. As a result Ferrari has been forced to take the extraordinary step of chartering a few helicopters to do what those pesky ski-lifts couldn’t.

There’s more for you after the break.

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Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Gallardo Tricolore given early showing

Lamborghini Gallardo Tricolore

Like Ferrari, Lamborghini is paying tribute to Italy’s 150th anniversary of unifcation. Not having their own F1 team, though, Lambo has painted some Italian-flag inspired stripes on a crisp white Gallardo.

While the paint scheme is arguably one colour better than the Bicolore, revealed last month, it’s unclear at this stage what state of tune the 5.2 litre V10 engine will be. Let alone the number of wheels asked to do the driving.

We should have those answers and more next week, officially, from Lamborghini.

[Source: Autoblog]

Categories
Formula 1 News Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber to drive F1 car across Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge

Bolte Bridge

First filed 6 March.

On Saturday 19 March, one week before the Australian Grand Prix, Mark Webber will drive a Red Bull F1 car across Melbourne’s Bolte Bridge.

It will be Webber’s second F1 bridge crossing down under, after he drove across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in his BMW Williams back in 2005 (more after the break).

Details are yet to be officially announced, but the HeraldSun says that will happen sometime in the next week. It’s expected all six lanes on the 490m long Bolte will be closed for the early morning runs. The bridge was designed by Denton Corker Marshall and has dominated the city’s western fringe since it opened in 1999.

Last year Webber participated in a similar event to promote the British Grand Prix when he drove around London’s Parliament Square.

[Source: HeraldSun | Pic: Denton Corker Marshall | Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

UPDATE 10 March: Word has come through via grandprix.com.au that the “Red Bull Run” will take place at 9:45am on Saturday 19 March. After the drive across the Bolte Bridge Webber will greet fans at Docklands’ Waterfront City.

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Categories
Audi

Looks like Audi is making a more powerful TT RS “Plus”

Audi TT RS

Word via WorldCarFans suggests Audi has a more powerful TT RS in the works, called the TT RS Plus. Currently the 2.5 litre inline five turbo in the regular TT RS produces 250kW (340PS). According to a screen grab from an Audi parts catalogue (see below) the TT RS Plus, still with a 2.5 litre five cylinder engine, will produce 265kW (360PS). Further information reveals the TT RS Plus will start production in May this year.

It’s possible that Audi may also shed some weight from the TT RS Plus, as it did with the R8 GT. We can only hope that speculation proves correct.

Nothing official from Audi just yet, but when we know more we’ll let you know.

[Source: WorldCarFans | Screen grab: qarsi.de]

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Categories
BMW

BMW USA launches 1M configurator

BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Thanks to BMW USA you can now build your own 1 Series M Coupé. For many Australians this may be as close as they get to owning a 1M, as well. Word coming through to AUSmotive suggests the local allocation of the 1M could sell twice over.

Those of you reading this who have secured a 1M, a word of warning—if you use the configurator above, try not to look at the price—it will hurt. We optioned up our 1M and it came to a feeble US$54,000. You’ll be paying around double that for the same privilege here in Australia.

[Source: BMW USA]

Categories
Motor Shows

White is the most popular car colour at Geneva

Carbuzz infographic

UK website Carbuzz brings us this very cool info graphic, which they claim shows all of the cars on display at the Geneva Motor Show. All 706 of them! Further enhancing the graphic, they have arranged the cars by colour.

With 200 cars in Geneva painted white it is easily the most popular colour on show. That’s almost 30%. Next is silver (133 cars), followed by blue (80), black (77) and on the list goes. Perhaps it’s not surprising that, with only 10 cars, purple is the least popular colour used.

Follow the link below to access the full 6748x7380px graphic.

[Source: Carbuzz]

Categories
Formula 1 Lotus Renault

They are Lotus

I am Lotus

Group Lotus recently released this video, which can only be taken as the next move in the Lotus v Lotus debacle. From afar, it would seem the potential moral victors, the Tony Fernandes led Team Lotus, will be affected by this promo. The appearance and ongoing support of Clive Chapman, Colin’s son, right at the end will land a heavy blow.

That aside, it’s still an absurd position to see current day F1 drivers who have only ever driven a “Lotus” built by the remnants of a world champion constructor in Renault F1 and powered by Renault engines claiming they are Lotus.

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Categories
Audi

Autocar drive the Audi RS3

2011 Audi RS3

Autocar has just filed its first drive report on the 250kW five-pot Audi RS3. It’s the TT RS for the family buyer, with four doors and reasonable boot space. However, it’s heavier than the TT RS and expected to be less lively.

Here’s a sample of what Autocar reviewer Mike Duff had to say:

“Dynamically the net result is a car that always delivers empirically, but only sometimes emotionally. Let’s start by saying that—out of the box—the RS3 is going to be one of the quickest cars you’ll fire at any chosen backroad.

“But yes, there’s a but—the steering still lacks much in the way of ultimate communication, faithfully conveying inputs, but under hard loadings offering a strangely synthesized feedback in return. On the plus side, it feels both lighter on its feet and more agile than its TT-RS cousin—and it’s also seven grand cheaper.”

More agile than the TT RS? Well, that is a good sign, even if Duff reckons the RS3 lacks emotional appeal. Audi UK has already sold its allocation of 500 cars, as well. Which, sadly, is 500 more cars than we’ll be seeing in Australia.

We enjoyed our test of the TT RS very much, so lament the fact we won’t get the opportunity to drive the RS3 on local soil.

Make sure you follow the link below and read the full review.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
MINI WRC

VIDEO: MINI WRC promo

MINI WRC promo

MINI and Prodrive have been promoting their WRC partnership with this video at the Geneva Motor Show. They say the legend is back. It’s not clear if the Countryman-based racecar will be a success on the world rallying stage, but it is great to see MINI back in the game that’s for sure.

For the WRC’s sake, let’s hope the MINI is a good package. With the recent dominance of the mighty Citroën team and, now, only one credible challenger in Ford, the sport is crying out for more depth.

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Categories
Accessories & Tech Safety Issues Subaru

Eye spy with my little cameras

Subaru Eyesight

Australia will be the first market outside Japan to receive Subaru’s EyeSight technology when it is introduced later this year. The system uses specially mounted cameras near the rear view mirror to monitor the road ahead for potential hazards.

Subaru Australia has been testing the EyeSight technology on local roads for around 12 months and CEO Nick Senior is keen to launch the system, “EyeSight has been a major success in Japan, where more than 50 per cent of Liberty models are now sold with the system.

“We will introduce EyeSight as a standard feature in some Liberty and Outback models later this year.”

Driver aids included in the EyeSight system consist of pre-crash braking, pre-crash brake assist, progressive start control, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, vehicle sway warning and progressive motion monitor. Sounds a bit of mouthful, really, so it might be worth reading the press release after the break for more detail.

Much of the technology is familiar to more expensive cars, but it’s good to see these systems finding their way into more affordable models.

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Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Webber fastest on first day of Barcelona testing

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) set the quickest time on the first day of the final pre-season test window at Barcelona overnight. An extra test program has been added to the pre-season schedule to make up for the delayed and possible cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The teams have already been to Barcelona this off-season, but Webber’s overnight time of 1m22.544s is the fastest set on the Circuit de Catalunya so far in 2011. Webber posted the time during a short qualifying-like simulation before settling in to longer stints later in the day where he was circulating in the 1m27s–1m28s range.

Close behind the Australian were Jenson Button (McLaren, 1m22.910s), Vitaly Petrov (Renault, 1m22.937s) and Sergio Perez (Sauber, 1m24.117s). In fact, Perez posted a faster time than Webber, but it was discounted because he cut the chicane.

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari explains FF all-wheel drive system

Ferrari has released this short video to explain the technology found inside the “4RM” all-wheel drive system fitted to the new four-seater FF “family car”. Apparently, it’s the only car you need if you want make a fast getaway on slippery inclines. This fact is probably helped by the system’s ability to send the power from the 458kW V12 to each wheel individually.

[via My Car Portal]