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BMW Green Machines

BMW i – Born electric

BMW i launch

BMW has launched a new sub-brand to support its electric powered models. Deciding the new sub-brand should be going places and that it must think different, they have chosen the name “BMW i”. Hyundai and Apple must be over joyed by such nomenclature.

Speaking at the launch in Munich overnight, Ian Robertson, BMW’s Sales and Marketing boss, said, “BMW i represents a new movement in premium mobility. With the introduction of this new sub-brand, the BMW Group reaffirms its leadership as the most innovative and sustainable premium car company. The products and services have been conceived around a revolutionary approach: purpose designed and purpose built for sustainable, premium mobility. It’s a new day in our industry; a new era for individual mobility. This is BMW i – Born Electric.”

The first tangible signs of the new i range will take form in 2013 with the BMW i3 (previously known as the Megacity Vehicle) and BMW i8 (based on the Vision EfficientDynamics concept). Although new concpet models of each are likely to debut later this year.

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Formula 1 News

OFFICIAL: 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix postponed

2010 Bahrain Grand Prix

Due to recent civil unrest and bloodshed the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix has been postponed. It’s important to distinguish between postponed and cancelled. It would seem likely the FIA and Bahrain Motor Federation will try and find a suitable time later in the year to re-schedule the race. The first race of the year will now be held in Melbourne on 27 March.

An official statement from the FIA is listed below:

Grand Prix of Bahrain
21/02/2011

The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile supports the decision of the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit to postpone the scheduled first Grand Prix of the 2011 season due to be held in the Kingdom of Bahrain on March 11-13.

This decision is the outcome of the close co-operation between the FIA, Formula One Management, the Bahrain Motor Federation and the Bahrain International Circuit.

The FIA is Formula One’s governing body and is responsible for the international calendar as well as all matters of safety relating to the stakeholders involved in Grand Prix racing.

The pre-season testing originally scheduled for Bahrain will now take place in Barcelona between 8-11 March.

More detail to follow.

[Pic: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

UPDATE: Further comment is now available at Formula1.com.

Categories
Formula 1 News

Senna movie to screen at Adelaide Film Festival this weekend

Manish Pandey has tweeted to let us know the Australian premiere of Senna is coming soon. Very soon in fact; this Sunday at the Adelaide Film Festival. There will be a repeat screening on Sunday week as well.

Further screenings are scheduled for the Sydney Film Festival in June. General release will follow thereafter.

More details as they come to hand.

Categories
Audi

Audi teases with new A3 “notchback” concept

Audi A3 concept sketch

Audi has given us a great preview of what they’re bringing to Geneva by releasing three sketches of what they’re calling the A3 concept. It’s the best look yet, obviously, of the rumoured A3 sedan. It’s also the first official look at likely styling cues for the third generation A3, which is expected to go on sale in 2012.

Powering this A3 concept is a 300kW five pot, sourced from the quattro concept. Keeping that theme running, the new concept also features a quattro drivetrain and a 7-speed S tronic transmission.

We approve. How about you?

[Source: Audi AG]

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber on the RB7 and the Bahrain GP

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Over at the official Formula1.com website they have a good Q&A interview with Mark Webber about his thoughts on the new RB7. Speaking after his time in the car at a wet Barcelona overnight he said, “Today went well. We’ve done almost 140 laps so you cannot complain about that and we obviously have a lot of data to digest.

“Everything was going a bit better, but that is only because we are learning a huge amount every day. It was a good day. We came here with a plan today of what to do and actually we did more than was planned. We did a whole race simulation and that was really good.”

Check out Formula1.com for the full interview.

Meanwhile, Webber told Autosport that Formula One is not important in the context of the troubles in Bahrain, “First of all I’m really, really sorry to hear what’s happening out there.

“But as always you don’t really know the whole picture if you’re not there. So let’s see what happens. I’m sure the right decision will be made in terms of us.

“We know in terms of Formula 1 and priorities we’re not high on the list, they’ve got other things that clearly should come first. Then if we can still go there and hold a sporting event in a few weeks then it would be great. But if we can’t then it’s not a big deal.”

[Pic: Red Bull Racing/Getty Images]

Categories
Nissan Oh the humanity

Nissan GT-R lights my fire

First filed 20 February.

We’re sad to report on the loss of a Nissan GT-R due to fire. The incident happened near Bukit Tinggi in Malaysia. From the evidence in this YouTube clip appears to be the result of a collision between the GT-R and a Mk6 Golf GTI.

It’s currently unknown if either of the drivers were injured, or if there were any passengers in either car. Fingers crossed those involved escaped unharmed.

As you can see by the parked cars alongside the road it looks like a favoured route for weekend driving with a number of drivers piloting tasty looking machines witnessing the incident.

[Thanks to Jamil for the tip]

UPDATE 21 February: Pics have been added below. [Source: Zerotohundred.com]

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Categories
McLaren

Australia’s 2011 McLaren MP4-12C allocation has sold-out

McLaren MP4-12C

The new Mac is a sell out, already!  Official performance specs for the McLaren MP4-12C were only released last week, and the car is yet to actually go on sale anywhere in the world. However, it’s being reported that the initial allocation of 12Cs for Australia have already been sold. There’s still a few weeks to go until official pricing is announced, let alone a local launch. And the wait list is fast heading towards 18 months.

It’s expected the Australian pricing for the McLaren MP4-12C will be around $500K, or around the price of a small hatchback less than a Ferrari 458 Italia. Go Auto is reporting more than 30 buyers have placed deposits with local McLaren Automotive dealer Trivett. That’s enough sales to exhaust Australia’s initial 2011 allocation, due for delivery in October, and means half of the 2012 inventory has been sold as well.

McLaren Automotive’s regional director for the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, Ian Gorsuch is rapt with the take up of the 12C down under and said, “Effectively for much the same price as the opposition, you’re getting a car with far better performance and far better useability but also more exclusivity, because we will not produce the same amount as Ferrari. We purposefully want to produce less cars – that’s our business model.”

Based on current demand Gorsuch expects the full 2012 allocation for the Australian market to be sold out soon too. Best get in touch with Trivett today, then!

[Source: Go Auto]

Categories
Formula 1 News

Future of Bahrain Grand Prix remains uncertain

2010 Bahrain GP

“A lot of people would slag us off if we went for supporting a regime that kills its own people,” is how one anonymous senior F1 figure bluntly assessed the current situation in Bahrain to staff reporters at Reuters.

This follows an official travel warning issued by the UK Foreign Office. The statement reads, “Following violence over recent days, and most recently on the evening of 18 February, we advise British nationals to avoid all but essential travel to Bahrain.”

Adding further detail the statement explains, “There is a general threat from terrorism in Bahrain. Terrorists continue to issue statements threatening to carry out attacks in the Gulf region. These include references to attacks on western interests, including residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.”

Speaking to Autosport, Lotus Renault GP team principal, Eric Boullier, said, “As a team principal, my only concern is the safety of my people.

“Now I am concerned that if the FIA or FOM say we’ll go and race there, I’ll need some guarantees that obviously the security is guaranteed for my people.”

The final pre-season test window is scheduled for Bahrain on 3–6 March, ahead of the opening Grand Prix on 13 March. It appears unlikely that the test session will go ahead, although an official decision has not been made.

An alternative pre-season test could see the teams return to Barcelona. However, Pirelli executives are concerned this might leave them exposed as they already have tyres and equipment en route to Bahrain.

Categories
Green Machines Rolls-Royce

102EX displays spirit of electricity

Rolls-Royce is getting in on the electric vehicle lark with a new model called the 102EX, a Phantom-based concept which will debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

At the time of writing there are no plans for series production, according to Rolls, instead the 102EX will be sent on a world tour to gauge public reaction to the use of alternative technologies.

From the following press release, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Rolls-Royce CEO, says, “We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment. With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.

“I must be convinced that any alternative drive-train we choose for the future delivers an authentic Rolls-Royce experience.”

Further adding to the electric experience is a new website—www.electricluxury.com—designed to broaden public comment to the concept, as well as being a platform to deliver further news on the 102EX.

UPDATE 21 February: Video added at the start of this article.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

VIDEO: On-board with Red Bull Racing at Jerez

Mark Webber

The third pre-season test window is currently open at Barcelona. For Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel is at the wheel today, after setting the fastest lap yesterday. Mark Webber will take to the track tomorrow and again on Monday.

Meanwhile, Nextgen-Auto bring us these fantastic videos of the RB7 in action, filmed at the previous test sessions in Jerez. A variety of camera angles are provided and you also get a good look at the movable rear wing on the Red Bull. The clips go for quite some time, too, so set aside some time and enjoy your Sunday morning at 18,000rpm.

[Source: YouTube]

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Categories
Volkswagen

The Germans have a word for it

We like this new ad from Volkswagen Australia. It’s been on high rotation of late, so we’re sure you’ve seen it. If not, check it out now and let us know what you think.

VW train spotters will notice the Amarok features in the ad and although it is yet to be launched down under you’ve only got a few weeks to wait until you can pick one up at your local dealer.

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

2011 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG photo gallery

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

We must have been getting our nails done, or something, when this material was released by Mercedes-Benz a couple of weeks back. But, such is the goodness of AMG product we would hate you to miss out. So here are 33 pics of the refreshed C63 AMG range. We’ve started with the estate because, well, a hot Euro wagon is pretty much as good as it gets in our book.

Power from the 6.2 litre V8 remains at 336kW (or 358kW if you tick the AMG Performance option). However, the revised C63 introduces a new 7-speed AMG Speedshift MCT transmission, which has been nicked from the SL63 AMG.

Also new on the C63 AMG are numerous cosmetic changes, including the now obligatory LED DRLs. Other visual tweaks include, among others, a revised front grille, a new aluminum bonnet and an updated rear apron.

In Australia, the C63 AMG is a relative performance bargain and its no surprise to learn Mercedes has sold 17,000 of these cars worldwide. But, really, you want to see the pics. So check them out after the break.

[Source: Daimler AG]

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