MotoringFile brings word the MINI Paceman will be going in production in 2012. Plans to build the Paceman were confirmed by BMW board member Ian Robertson earlier this year, but no were dates given.
The Paceman will be built alongside the Countryman at the Magna Steyr plant in Austria. It’s expected the Paceman will be on sale in late 2012. Although the production model will wear a different badge, something starting with C most likely.
[Source: MotoringFile]
The Evo magazine YouTube channel brings us this video of the new Pagani Huayra. It’s only a short clip, but in it we get to see inside the car and its dash layout. We also get to see what effect a 700PS V12 has on the pooch you see above.
We know the new 991 Porsche 911 isn’t too far away; we’re expecting to see it debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. That means it’s now almost run-out time for the current 997 911. On cue, then, Porsche has released details of the 911 Black Edition.
The Black Edition is based on a regular 3.6 litre Carrera model and has black paint, of course, some black detailing inside and a couple of badges to go with. There’s model specific 19″ alloy wheels and plain “911” badging on the back. Porsche say the Black Edition will cost the same as its Carrera counterparts and to help try and give this “run-out” model some cachet it has been limited to 1911 examples.
And, that’s pretty much that.
The oil-rich nation of Qatar; the perfect location for Volkswagen to launch the XL1 concept—a diesel-electric hybrid with a combined fuel consumption figure of just 0.9l/100km and a CO2 rating of only 24g/km.
The XL1 is the latest iteration of the “1 litre” car first premiered by Ferdinand Piech back in 2002. In 2009 we also saw the Volkswagen L1. Where the XL1 differs from those two is in its seating arrangement. The earlier concepts featured inline seating for two, whereas the XL1 uses a more traditional layout to seat two abreast.
Powering the XL1 is a mighty 35kW 800cc two cylinder TDI and a fearsome 20kW E-motor. The total range of the XL1 is around 550km, that’s pretty good from a 10 litre tank. In electric only mode the XL1 has a more modest range of 35km.
The use of carbon fibre and other advanced construction methods helps keep the kerb weight of the XL1 to 795kg. Performance is not blistering, but it’s not too shabby, either, with 100km/h able to be reached in 11.9 seconds. Top speed is limited at 160km/h.
More after the break, including pics and a basic press release. A more detailed release is available for download as well.
These official pics of the Pagani Huayra have been published on the Pagani website. Like the Zonda before it the Huayra is not going to win any beauty contests. Yet, at the same time, it’s just as beautiful. In fact, probably more so.
Maybe it’s because this time around Pagani has little left to prove. We now know they are a cottage industry manufacturer that can take it right up to the icons of Ferrari and Lamborghini. And perhaps beyond.
As expected the Huayra is powered by a twin-turbo 6.0 litre V12. Mercedes has once again provided the engine, via its AMG factory. The Huayra has a peak power figure of over 700PS and maximum torque is beyond a massive 1000Nm. With a dry weight of just 1350kg—distributed 44% to front, 56% to the rear—the Huayra is sure to be both frighteningly quick and razor sharp.
[Source: Pagani]
UPDATE: The official Huayra press release can be downloaded at the end of this article.
Well, Ferrari would have us believe the four-set, four-wheel drive FF created online hysteria when it was revealed a few days ago. Check out their presser after the break.
To celebrate they have released a few new pics. Sadly only the image shown above is of any use, the rest are a disguised development model shown during winter testing. However, in silver and with studio lighting, you begin to get a broader appreciation for the curves featured on the FF; some gentle, some not so.
Autocar brings word that the road version of the awesome Porsche 918 will be offered in one configuration only—the Spyder version. It’s almost a year since we first saw the 918 Spyder at Geneva, but since then Porsche has shown off the tin-top 918 RSR. The latter model, shown at Detroit earlier this month, prompted speculation there would be both a Spyder version and a Coupé model of the road-going 918 as well.
According to Wolfgang Dürheimer, Porsche’s departing board member for development, “The road application of this car is the 918 Spyder. There is no decision taken that the coupé type will be available on the Spyder.
“We have always told people interested in the 918 Spyder that it will have a roof concept similar to the Carrera GT’s, with a lightweight carbonfibre panel. A closed car is better for motorsport, though.”
So, it’s open air for the road, with the possibility of a detachable roof of some sort, and a proper hard-top for racing. It’s expected we will see the 918 RSR racing at the Nürburgring 24 hour race later this year, but it’s uncertain if Porsche will be able to gain entry into other events or series in time for the 2011 season.
Dürheimer is on his way to a new three-way position that will see him calling the shots for Bentley, Bugatti and Volkswagen Motorsport. He’ll be a busy lad, then.
[Source: Autocar]
Despite Pagani’s best attempts to string out the reveal of its new supercar, the Huayra, pics of the newest “gullwing” to hit the streets have been published in print and online. The February 2011 issue of Car (Spanish edition) have the Huayra on the cover, with a full story inside.
You can see more after the break. Until official details are revealed later this week, we’re expecting the Huayra to weigh in around 1300–1400kg and to have a 700hp boosted 6.0 V12 to do the huffing and puffing. Should be a real blast!
[Source: Autoblog via Car Advice]
The current contract with Melbourne to host the Formula One Grand Prix expires in 2015. A statement from Melbourne’s Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle, published on the weekend speculates it is highly unlikely the Victorian Government will bid for the rights to host the race beyond the current deal.
Writing for the Sunday Herald Sun Doyle said, “Fast forward to 2015, the year the franchise ends. Though the documented benefits for the city may include hundreds of millions of dollars of advertising value, tens of millions of dollars of local revenue, an event that will draw between 250,000 and 300,000 people over three days will come at a cost that will approach 70 million taxpayer dollars.
“It is the old argument: pay up front but get many times the value of the upfront payment in downstream economic benefits.
“For most events that formula is persuasive. But $70 million?”
Doyle concludes with an even more frank assessment, “My judgment would be: Get ready. Time’s up.”
Ultimately the decision to seek an extension to the current deal rests with the new Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and his government. Controversy and Albert Park have gone hand in hand for most of race’s history in the Victorian capital. Would it be a prudent political move for Baillieu to announce his political leadership with a strong statement by snubbing F1?
So, if Melbourne lost the Grand Prix and it went elsewhere in Australia, would that be okay? What if the race was shipped off overseas for good? Let us know what you think.
[Source: Sunday Herald Sun]
It’s about a week or so since Nasser Al-Attiyah and Timo Gottschalk claimed victory in the 2011 Dakar Rally. If you missed the action, or would simply like to see what the lads got up to, then here’s a photo gallery sourced from Volkswagen Motorsport showing the mighty Race Touareg 3 in action. There’s over 100 pics, so you might want to put the kettle on first!
Mercedes has released this rather cute ad promoting their 4MATIC all-wheel drive technology. Featured in the ad are old time F1 racers and former adversaries Mika Hakkinnen and Michael Schumacher. The only problem for Mercedes is that one of those old timers is still on their payroll.
[Thanks to Wes for the tip.]
Almost six months after revealing its new four-door coupé model Mercedes has now taken the wraps of the CLS 63 AMG version. With a beefy 5.5 litre V8 biturbo this beast has 386kW (525hp) to throw around. Driven by 700Nm of torque it’s sure have more than enough pace for its owner.
Or does it? Apparently not, as there is an optional AMG Performance pack. Here, the engineers have turned the wick on the M157 V8 biturbo from 1.0 bar up to 1.3 bar, resulting in peak numbers of 410kW (557hp) and 800Nm.
Zero to one hundred can be reached in just 4.3 seconds. Surely that’s enough pace for this four-seater. Amazingly, despite such prodigious performance, if you behave yourself, Mercedes reckon you can sip fuel under 10l/100km; just.
So, check out the gallery of pics after the break. There’s also a promo video and the official press release, of course.
[Source: Daimler AG]