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Volkswagen

New Volkswagen sedan coming to Detroit

VW US NMS teaser

In the last six months Volkswagen has revealed a new Jetta and an all-new Passat. Both are Only the new Jetta is available for sale in the United States. But, that’s not enough for Volkswagen US who have announced, via their website, they’ll be showing off a “New Midsize Sedan” at the NAIAS in Detroit next week. It will replace the outgoing European-sourced Passat, which is considered expensive and hasn’t exactly lit up the sales charts.

This new toy has been designed with the US market in mind. So expect comfy seats and lots of supersized cupholders, then. It will be built at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga facility, although it will be destined for overseas markets as well, and is expected to be sold for several thousand dollars less than the old Passat.

Categories
Porsche

Save the whale tails

Porsche 911 Turbo spy shot

Here’s an interesting spy shot of what is probably a new Porsche 911 Turbo prototype. With its beautiful, albeit overpriced, 911 Sport Classic Porsche has shown it’s willing to draw on the company’s iconic styling cues. So, then, are we going to see a proper return of a “whale tail” with the new 991 Turbo?

It’s a bit hard to tell from the above pic, but that is clearly one serious bit of camouflage being used there. We’ve seen them before, but the side inlet stickers are quite cute, too.

[Source: Autosavant]

Categories
Pagani

Pagani C9 teaser no.2

Pagani C9 teaser #2

Pagani has released its second of five teaser videos on the Deus Venti microsite. The clips are promoting the new Zonda replacement, codenamed C9, which we now believe will be called the Huayra. Unlike the first teaser, this one makes sense.

It’s expected we’ll be seeing three more teasers at weekly intervals culminating in a full reveal of the new car.

Continue reading “Pagani C9 teaser no.2”
Categories
MINI WRC

MINI WRC team signs Dani Sordo

MINI WRC

Further good news for Prodrive’s MINI WRC program with word coming through overnight that they have signed Spanish ace Dani Sordo.

Speaking about his new contract Sordo said, “There has been a great deal of excitement surrounding MINI’s return to the WRC, so to be part of this new team is a fantastic opportunity for me.”

He will join British driver Kris Meeke who signed on last September. Full details after the break.

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Categories
Pagani

She’s like the wind

Pagani C9 spy shot

Along with a handful of spy shots, Autoblog brings us word that the Pagani Zonda replacement, hitherto known simply as the C9, is likely to be called the Huayra. It’s the name of some South American wind, apparently.

The good news is we should know the name for sure when the C9 is revealed online later this month. We can probably pencil in a raucous V12 engine and we can see that Pagani no longer attends the Shrek school of design. Aside from that it’s pretty much guesswork.

Something we were also left doing after catching up on what is allegedly an official Pagani video teaser of the new model. Check it out after the break and we defy you not to be dumbfounded.

One thing’s for certain, for most readers, sadly, she’s out of our league.

[Source: Autoblog]

Continue reading “She’s like the wind”
Categories
Motorsports Video WRC

WRC is for boys. Group B was for men.

Group B madness

There’s not really much that can be added in written form about the two videos included here. Both focus on the halcyon days of rallying, the Group B era (1982–86).

The first clip runs for seven minutes and includes some super slo-mo footage perfectly complemented by a dramatic music score. The second is for the real enthusiasts and runs for 11 minutes. It features the sound of the Group B cars in all their high-revving glory. You might want to flick the volume to 11 for that one.

You may remember the video we featured last year “This is rallying”, these two clips have been compiled by the same guy. Nice work, hey!

[via Autoblog | Thanks to Richard for the tip]

Continue reading “WRC is for boys. Group B was for men.”
Categories
Porsche Video

Porsche 356: Made by hand

Porsche 356:Made by hand

Here’s a wonderful YouTube discovery, an official documentary showcasing the production of the Porsche 356. Which, in the opinion of AUSmotive, is one of the most beautiful pieces of automotive designs ever produced.

According to the YouTube caption the doco was filmed at Zuffenhausen in the early 1960s. The Super 90 engine is discussed and putting all those things together suggests these are 356Bs that are being built.

The film has been split into five parts and runs for around 40 minutes. However it is well worth the investment in time to watch all the clips. If you do you will be rewarded with some fascinating footage of old skool production techniques.

Porsche employed a stringent quality control regime and seeing how laborious that was is a real eye opener. In today’s era of highly automated production manual checking like that would not be cost effective. The three-man transmission installation technique shown in Part 4 is also, thankfully, a technique now consigned to the history books.

Continue reading “Porsche 356: Made by hand”
Categories
Motorsports

More ways to keep up to date with Dakar 2011

Carlos Sainz, Dakar 2011

If you want to keep up to date with Dakar 2011 here’s two methods you might consider. Firstly, the official Dakar Rally YouTube channel is posting daily highlights; clips from Stages 1 and 2 can be viewed right here after the break.

Those who prefer to sit on their couch can tune in to the SBS TV highlights show broadcast at 5:30 every afternoon (thanks to Tim for the tip). If that timing is not suitable for you, then fear not, you can watch the extended highlights at your leisure online via the SBS Dakar website.

Volkswagen also has a free Dakar 2011 App available on the Australian iTunes Store. There is an official Dakar 2011 App available, too, but only via the French iTunes Store and, of course, not it’s in English anyway.

Continue reading “More ways to keep up to date with Dakar 2011”
Categories
Porsche

Another 991 Porsche 911 rendering

991 Porsche 911 rendering

French website L’Automobile brings us some new renderings of the upcoming 991 Porsche 911. The front view is pretty much the same as we saw last August. This time, though, you get a look at the backside of the new 991.

Most other details for the next-gen 911 remain as reported last year. So, we can expect the wheelbase to be increased by 75mm or so, allowing for improved engine mounting and rear seat room. A weight loss of some 50kg is anticipated, along with a better aero package and the use of efficient technologies such as stop-start and brake regeneration. The interior layout will draw heavily from the Panamera, as well.

The latest speculation suggests the 991 will debut later this year at the Frankfurt IAA in September.

[Source: L’Automobile | translated]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz Video

V8 powered Mercedes B55 lights ’em up

If you want to see and hear what happens when you stick a 388hp V8 into a shopping trolley then here’s the video for you. The Mercedes-Benz B55 one-off creation is one mum’s car you could take to the Summernats and actually gain some genuine street cred!

So, the B55 can do tricks in a straight line, but can it go around corners with any degree of competence? Maybe with rents for testing days at the Nürburgring heading for a 500% increase Mercedes might not be so keen to find out!

[via Autoblog]

Categories
BMW MINI Motorsports Volkswagen

Dakar 2011 underway – follow it live

MINI Countryman Dakar promo

Dakar 2011 is underway and after Stage 1 it looks like business as usual with defending champion Carlos Sainz and his Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 in the lead, holding a 90 second advantage over the X-Raid BMW X5 of Stéphane Peterhansel.

Of course, X-Raid are the guys responsible for the MINI Countryman which is making its Dakar debut. So far things don’t appear to be going as smooth as their promo piece, with the big little MINI almost one hour behind Sainz.

You can watch the X-Raid MINI promo via Facebook. But, more importantly, you can keep up to date with Dakar 2011 via live timing on the official website and also with regular updates on twitter.

Categories
Bugatti

Bugatti planning A8 derived saloon

Bugatti Galibier Concept

Reports from Germany suggest Bugatti will end its sportscar production in favour of a return to luxury saloons. It is understood the next Bugatti creation will be based on the Audi A8 and should come to life in 2014.

At last year’s Geneva Motor Show Bugatti presented the Galibier Concept (pictured above). The Galibier is the most recent four-door saloon from the famous marque and no doubt gives us an idea as to what Bugatti has in mind.

While the all-conquering Veyron has a projected production run of just 300, it is expected the company’s next foray will result in much higher numbers.

[Source: Spiegel Online | translated]

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