Categories
Opel

Opel Astra priced to play with class-leading Golf

2010 Opel Astra

According to GoAuto the Opel Astra, due in Australia in 2012, is expected to carry a $3500 price premium over its locally built Holden Cruze cousin. That’s likely to put the Astra right in the firing line of the Volkswagen Golf.

It;s understood the entry-level Astra will be fitted with a 103kW/200Nm turbocharged four cylinder, with a predicted price tag of around $26,000. That places the model in between the $24,990 Golf 90TSI and $29,490 Golf 118TSI.

Holden’s boss Mike Devereux was talking about the Astra at the launch of the Cruze II. He explained, “The plan for the two brands—Holden and Opel—would be to have intelligent price points, intelligent approaches to content and technology.”

Therefore, we can expect the Astra models to be well equipped in order to offer value for the extra asking price. Devereux acknowledges the Opel won’t dislodge established players Toyota and Mazda from the top of the sales charts and has set his sights on annual sales in the 7,000-10,000 region.

[Source: GoAuto]

Categories
Audi

Audileak: A3 sedan revealed before official debut

Audi A3 sedan leak

Last week Audi teased us with sketches of an A3 notchback concept and announced it would be unveiled at Geneva. Today, ahead of its official debut, four pictures have been leaked.

Using a TT RS-inspired drivetrain, including a tweaked 300kW five cylinder engine, the concept has the go to match its good looks. Expect the claimed figures to read 4.1 seconds for the 0-100km/h dash, despite a somewhat lardy 1540kg kerb weight.

We’ll have the official word from Audi once they hit upload.

[Source: World Car Fans]

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Categories
Formula 1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing Renault

Red Bull Racing confirms Infiniti deal

Red Bull Racing RB7 preview

Red Bull Racing has today confirmed a two-year sponsorship deal with Infiniti. However, it won’t quite be implemented as first reported yesterday. That is, it is a pure sponsorship and technical agreement deal only, the RB7 will still use Renault branded engines and feature Renault branding on the car as well.

So, as well as a Lotus Renault on the F1 grid in 2011 we now have an Infiniti Renault, of sorts. Confusing, hey.

A statement on the Red Bull Racing website reads, in part, “As part of the agreement, Infiniti will have high-profile branding on the car, drivers’ clothing and team kit and equipment. Infiniti will also work with Renault to forge future technical collaboration with us. The team will continue to use Renault F1 engines in 2011 and 2012.”

While Andy Palmer, senior-vice president at Infiniti, explains the worldwide reach of F1 was key to this deal, “Over the mid-term, Infiniti will be simultaneously expanding its global presence and broadening its product range. Given these twin ambitions, it is clear Formula One offers us an unrivalled global communications platform, complementing Infiniti’s ethos of Inspired Performance. We are excited to have the opportunity to enter Formula One together with a world-class team like Red Bull Racing Renault.”

[Source: Red Bull Racing]

Categories
Motor Shows Skoda

Geneva 2011: Å koda’s new logo and VisionD concept

Skoda VisionD

Å koda has gone the extra mile at Geneva by unveiling a new logo as well as a new concept model. The concept, called the VisionD, reveals the company’s design direction for future models. A long wheelbase and short overhangs are the order of the day, according to Å koda, as this will allow for better interior space.

The logo is accompanied by an updated slogan, as well: “The new power of Å koda”

Jürgen Stackmann, the Board Member responsible for marketing and sales, says, “We are keen to express the new power of our brand not only through our future products, but also in the way we present ourselves to partners and customers.

“Å koda is synonymous with attractive cars offering exceptional value for money, countless clever solutions and precisely executed work. All this is clearly reflected by our updated corporate design.”

When you consider the gravity of these announcements the whole affair seems incredibly low key. The concept pics present a nice enough car, but maybe there could have been some more life in the official pics released. Take a look for yourself and see what you think.

Continue reading “Geneva 2011: Å koda’s new logo and VisionD concept”
Categories
Green Machines Motor Shows Volkswagen

Geneva 2011: Volkswagen Bulli concept

Volkswagen Bulli

How cool is this! The Volkswagen Bulli is an all-new Kombi concept that builds not only the model’s 60 year history, but also reignites the flame lit by the too-costly-to-make-but-also-very-cool 2001 Microbus concept.

The Bulli is an electric powered six-seater that has a plug in iPad to drive its infotainment systems. Powered by an 85kW/270Nm zero-emission electric motor the Bulli has a maximum range of 300km on a single charge. The concept can reach 100km/h in 11.5 seconds and has a top speed of 140km/h.

Impressively, recharging the lithium-ion battery can take as little as one hour if a special “electric refuelling station” is used.

Perhaps indicating at a possible hybrid production future the Bulli has also been designed to suit Vollkswagen’s 1.0 litre and 1.4 litre petrol powered engines.

This new concept is reasonably compact in size at only 3.99m long, 1.75m wide and 1.7m tall. Thanks to reconfigurable seating as much as 1600 litres of storage/sleeping space can be achieved as well.

Take the jump to discover more…

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Categories
Lamborghini Motor Shows

Geneva 2011: Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4

Lamborghini Aventador

Well, it’s official, everything we’ve read about the new Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 hypercar has been correct. So, a quick recap is in order before presenting you with the full press release and pictures after the break.

First, the name, in case you were wondering where Aventador originates from it was the name of a bull that earning the “Trofeo de la Peña La Madroñera” for outstanding courage in Spain back in October 1993. So there you go.

Giving the mechanised Aventador its courage is a new 6.5 litre V12 snorting out 515kW (700hp) from its chiselled nostrils. The aggressive exterior design also helps. It looks fantastic, don’t you think; everything a Lambo should be.

The use of a carbon fibre monocoque, plus further use of carbon fibre materials, has helped reduce weight compared to the Murcielago. In fact, the body-in-white weighs just 229.5kg and has a torsional rigidity measured at 35000Nm.

Fitted with a new 7-speed Independent Shifting Rod (ISR) transmission the Aventador can change gears in 50 milliseconds. Which is just what you need while you’re powering away to 100km/h in just 2.9 seconds and on to a staggering 350km/h top speed. Of course, the new bull is kept on its intended path thanks to a Haldex Gen IV all-wheel drive system and new pushrod suspension.

Expect to see the Aventador on bedroom walls of 10 year-olds the world over. Just as it should be. All that’s left to do now is read over the material below and then check out the leaked ordering guide and start dreaming of your own LP 700-4.

Continue reading “Geneva 2011: Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4”
Categories
Formula 1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing Renault

To Infiniti and be conned

Red Bull Racing RB7 preview

News is breaking that Red Bull Racing has just signed off on a sponsorship deal with Infiniti that will effectively give the team free engines. Aside from a few stickers on the car, and a £7 million cheque (the same as the annual budget cap for engines), everything else will stay the same. That is, the engines in the new RB7 will still be made by Renault, it’s only the badging that will change.

Infiniti is the premium brand of Nissan, part-owned by Renault, and this deal follows moves to further promote the brand in European markets. It’s understood the deal will be announced at the Geneva Motor Show, possibly as soon as tomorrow.

[Source: F1 Fanatic & BBC]

Categories
Audi

Audi developing lightweight R8 ‘NF’ model

Audi R8

Over at MotorTrend they’re talking about a new lightweight Audi R8, codenamed the NF. Lighter even than the R8 GT, which has 100kg stripped from it, the new NF will rely heavily on the use of carbon fibre. The image above is a regular R8 being used as a prototype in the development of the NF.

Where it gets really interesting is reading how Audi has been crash testing cars made with carbon fibre panels. While there’s not a lot of detail, it does seem the lighter and stronger carbon fibre could have a future in broader automotive mass manufacturing.

Typically, carbon fibre shatters into tiny shards on impact as this old clip from USF1 shows. Whereas the stuff Audi has been testing does not.

The information came after a tour of the Audi Lightweight Design Centre at the company’s Neckarsulm facility. Audi was cagey with details and ensured that none of the journos on the tour had any way to record words or images. The pic above was released by Audi themselves.

At this stage there’s nothing available via the regular Audi AG press portal, but if we stumble across anything we’ll let you know. As for when we might see this Audi R8 NF, we’re not sure exactly, but pencil in 2014 for now.

[Source: MotorTrend]

Categories
Video

VIDEO: How they change tyres in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian motoring community is back to entertain us once again. This time, there’s no singing, just a few crazy stunts. You have to ask though, in a country with strict alcohol and drug policies, where on earth did these guys get the gear they must have been on to carry out this stunt!

[via Jalopnik]

Categories
MINI WRC

Making a faster and more reliable rally car is ‘really bloody difficult’

David Lapworth, Technical Director at Prodrive, has dropped in via YouTube to complement our recent update on the progress of the team’s new MINI WRC.

The 2011 WRC season continues next weekend with Rally Mexico. Meanwhile, Prodrive has just 67 days to go until their Countryman-based racecar makes its WRC debut on 5 May at Rally d’Italia.

Categories
Fiat

Abarth 500 esseesse en route to Australia

Abarth 500 esseesse

More than two years have passed since the Abarth 500 was released in Europe but the car, in its hottest essesse form, has now been confirmed for Australia.

The news emerged a couple of weeks back and demand for the fiery 117kW/230Nm pocket rocket has been very strong with the first shipment already selling out.

“While we are amazed by the demand for the Abarth 500 Esseesse, it isn’t a huge surprise,” says Andrei Zaitzev, General Manager for Abarth in Australia.

“The Abarth 500’s Australian arrival was delayed by demand in Europe, which meant that there was already pent-up demand here. The announcement that we would launch with the rare, high performance Esseesse version sent an extra rush of people to our dealerships wanting to be amongst the first on the road in an Abarth 500.”

Let’s hope the sting in the tail for those who have already expressed an interest to buy isn’t an overinflated price tag!

A note at the end of the press release says we’re not allowed to call the Abarth 500 a Fiat, but what the hey, we’re going to file this under the Fiat category anyway.

Continue reading “Abarth 500 esseesse en route to Australia”
Categories
BMW

BMW M5 might have a manual box after all

According to BMW specialist website BimmerFile the new M5 won’t be fitted with a conventional automatic transmission. It’s only a bit over a week ago that fears emerged the F10-based M5 might be fitted exclusively with an 8-speed slushbox.

Thankfully, the rumour has since been put to bed with BimmerFile quoting a BMW exec flatly denying the M5 will be fitted with an automatic box.

So, what transmission will the M5 have? It’s quite likely that BMW will adapt one of its DCT transmissions and the possibility of a trad manual self-shifter also remains. Bravo!

[Source: BimmerFile]