BMW USA has teamed up with David Bowie for Super Bowl XLV to remind us that diesel technology is no longer the stinking, rattling and unrefined experience we were once used to.
Audi of America has probably just managed to save itself with the punchline to its Release the hounds ad, which aired during Super Bowl XLV. It turns out the prequel, released on the weekend, played the perfect, if slightly oddball, straight man role. This one minute commercial is tighter than the three minute prequel and captures the old luxury angle really well.
First filed 6 February.
News has come through that Lotus Renault GP driver Robert Kubica was injured in a rally accident earlier today.
Internet rumour has detailed varying degrees of injury for 26-year-old Kubica and while we don’t have any confirmed details it is known he is currently under observation in hospital and we believe he is conscious. It’s also understood his injuries are not life threatening.
Kubica was driving a Skoda Fabia S2000 car at the Ronde di Andora rally, near Genoa. It is being reported that Kubica crashed into a church wall. His co-driver was not injured.
An official statement from Lotus Renault GP can be read below. Out thoughts are with Kubica and when we hear more we will let you know.
UPDATE #1: BBC are reporting Kubica has suffered fractures to his right arm and right leg.
UPDATE #2 (1am 7 Feb): A new statement from Lotus Renault GP has been added below which confirms Kubica has multiple fractures to his right arm, leg and hand. Here’s best wishes to Robert for a speedy recovery. It now looks very likely that Bruno Senna will be racing for the team in Bahrain, and possibly beyond.
UPDATE #3 (8am 7 Feb): Video of an Italian TV news report has been added at the end of this article. Word overnight on BBC radio’s World Service was that surgeon’s were hoping to “restore the functionality” of Robert’s hand. A new update from Lotus Renault GP is expected soon. However, it is believed Kubica’s long-term racing career is under threat.
UPDATE #4 (9:30am 7 Feb): Autosport are reporting that Kubica is now expected to be sidelined for the entire 2011 Formula One season. Doctors managed to save his right hand overnight after there were fears it would need to be amputated. It’s expected it will take a week to see if the surgery is a success and, if it is, Kubica could need up to 12 months to fully recover. You can see video of Robert Kubica’s surgeon at the end of this article.
UPDATE #5 (10:45am 7 Feb): A new statement from Lotus Renault GP can be read below. Two teams of doctors spent a total of seven hours reconstructing Kubica’s right forearm which was cut in two places.
[Pic: Pixelrallye | Thanks to Simon for the tip]
The start of the new calendar year has seen a solid result in the new car market with 73,584 new vehicles finding homes. That’s a minor drop in sales of 1280 (1.7%) compared to January last year.
However, it is worth noting that sales in flood ravaged Queensland dropped by almost 2000 (12.8%) compared to the same month in 2010.
According to FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar, “New vehicle sales in Queensland have taken a hit as people concentrate on the flood recovery effort.
“We can expect sales in Queensland to be slower in the short-term but will pick up in the months ahead as people begin to look for replacement vehicles.”
Toyota, Holden and Mazda begin the year as the top three selling marques in Australia.
Congratulations must go to Mazda and its plucky little MX-5 for reaching a total production milestone of 900,000 vehicles. The new high-mark comes 21 years after production of the MX-5 began in April 1989.
In May 2000 total production of the MX-5 reached 531,890 which was enough to earn it the title of “Best selling two-seat sports car” as sanctioned by Guinness World Records. Since then the record has been re-sanctioned as production reached 700,000 and 800,000. Mazda is now seeking to have its new mark acknowledged.
The MX-5 badge is the longest serving in Mazda’s 90-plus year history and it seems like it will be around for a while yet. Nobuhiro Yamamoto, program manager of the current MX-5, said, “Since Mazda launched the original MX-5, it has undergone two complete product redesigns and a series of upgrades.
“Its enduring success is due to the strong support it enjoys from MX-5 fans around the world. Going forward, I will strive to keep the MX-5’s spirit alive while evolving it into a car that will be loved by even more people.”
More after the break.
Volkswagen has added to its Star Wars-themed Super Bowl ad by creating a YouTube microsite to promote the new New Beetle. Click on the image above to watch the ad in full.
Williams Grand Prix Holdings has confirmed it will be launching an Initial Public Offering on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The IPO will consist of up to 27.39% or 2,739,383 existing shares.
Sir Frank Williams will retain his majority shareholder status and therefore his controlling interest of Williams F1.
In January Williams F1 released a statement from Sir Frank Williams which read, in part, “It is also my desire that the team is in good shape to go on racing long after I am gone. To that end, it is prudent and necessary to plan for an ownership structure that will enable Williams to be an independent Constructor, owned and staffed by people committed to Formula One and to the sound business practices which have supported us over three decades.
“I have concluded that the option which will best achieve this is to broaden our shareholder base with public shareholders, while having a stable core of long-term investors closely involved in the running of the team. This will ensure stability, good governance and will, I believe, enable us to attract and retain the best people and partners.”
The factory-backed Audi assault on the Bathurst 12 hour has borne fruit with the team crossing the line in first and second place. The only major drama faced by the Audi R8s was which car would cross the line first.
The #8 car, with Darryl O’Young at the wheel, was leading by just under a minute with around 10 minutes left to race when it needed to pit for a quick fuel stop. However, O’Young was able to maintain his winning position and rejoined the race with 15 second margin.
In the end, despite Craig Lowndes setting a new Bathurst 12 hour lap record (2:09.0861), the Australian crew in car #7 had to settle for second place and a dream finish for the Audi team.
Claiming the final podium place was the #29 VIP Petfoods Porsche GT3 R led by Tony Quinn. A cracking result from a local team that has solid European enduro experience.
A three hour highlights package of the race is scheduled for broadcast on OneHD at 7:30pm, Saturday 19 February (check your local guides).
The Rennlist forum is a great knowledge-base for all things Porsche. It can also be a great source for some accurate inside info. We can’t vouch for the accuracy of the following info, but if correct it appears the next Porsche 911 GT3 could change the game somewhat, insofar as the pure GT3 template is concerned.
Here’s a list of expected features of the 991 GT3 as posted by “rosenbergendo”, a current GT3 owner who claims to have secured the info from a senior Porsche motorsport employee at the recent Daytona 24 hour race:
- 4.0 litre motor with 480hp (45hp more than 3.8 litre in current GT3).
- Engine to be mounted further forward, improving chassis balance and essentially making this a mid-engine car in everything but name.
- Double clutch PDK transmission available as an option, to be known as PDK-S.
- Expected weight loss of 80-90kg over current model.
- No hybrid technology will be sourced from GT3 R Hybrid.
The PDK and engine placement info will be sure to upset the purest of pure Porsche GT3 nuts. That’s if they have managed to overcome the loss of the GT1-based “Mezger” engine block.
[via GTspirit]
Word has come through that Force India will follow the Team Lotus approach and release details of its 2011 Formula One car online. Known as the VJM04, the car will be revealed on Tuesday and will make its real-world debut later in the week when F1 testing resumes at Jerez.
At the recent test window in Valencia the 2010 Force India machine regularly found itself at the pointy end of the field. They’ll be hoping the new car can take off where the old one left off.
[Source: PlanetF1]
Earlier in the year Audi of America took on the highly regarded Mercedes-Benz S Class to advertise its A8 saloon. It was an unconvincing effort at best.
Undeterred, though, Audi is back at it again continuing its esoteric attacks on Mercedes and BMW. There is moderate comedy value in this longer approach and it remains to be seen if the punch line, to be aired during Super Bowl XLV, will land a knock out blow.
Volkswagen has released these new pics of their updated Tiguan following the “leaked” image published on the official VW website on Friday.
Almost 600,000 Tiguans have been sold around the world and we reckon the tweaked styling we see here will only increase demand. Full details of the “technically and visually refined” Tiguan will be released at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.
More pics after the break, all available as 2000px super images, and press releases from Volkswagen UK and Volkswagen AG can be seen below.