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Ferrari Ford Pagani Porsche Top Gear Volvo

Top Gear – Series 16 preview

Volvo C30 Polestar

Season 16 of Top Gear is scheduled to premiere on BBC2 on Sunday 23 January. The Top Gear website has just published a preview of what we can expect to see in the upcoming series [click here to watch].

While the Pagani Zonda R, Ferrari 599 GTO and Ariel Atom 500 V8 will be great to see in action. It is a Volvo that AUSmotive is most looking forward to. It’s not just any old Volvo, either, but the 400hp all-wheel drive C30 Polestar Concept. That’s it above; looks fantastic, don’t you think.

The equally wicked Ford Focus RS500 also gets a thrashing around the Top Gear test track, and seeing that benchmarked against the C30 Polestar will be very interesting.

Also previewed in the teaser clip is a retro shootout featuring the awesome Ferrari F40 and Porsche 959, which should warm the hearts of Generation Xers who would have grown up with posters of these cars on their bedroom walls.

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Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Mercedes-Benz MINI Rolls-Royce Volkswagen Volvo

E-Class surprise leader in “shaggin’ wagon” poll

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

A recent UK report has revealed that 54% of British motorists admit to having sex in a car. And it seems the older you are the more likely you are to find paradise by the dashboard light. Almost 40% of over 55s interviewed claimed sex in a car was fantastic, compared to just 13% of those aged between 18 and 24.

The raunchy research was carried out by the appropriately named Autoquake.com, an online retailer, and CEO Dermot Halpin says, “We’re surprised that so many of drivers have used their cars as mobile bedrooms, and impressed that the older generation are leading the way.”

A top 10 list of sexy cars was compiled as part of the study. The wide open spaces of the Mercedes E-Class Estate proved a worthy, if surprising, leader in the poll. Shaggin’ wagons have gone a bit upmarket since the 70s it seems. The full list is available after the break.

We’re sure readers won’t be surprised to learn no Toyota made the top 10. Which begs the question, just what is that feeling they keep going on about; loneliness, perhaps?

If you’ve enjoyed a few extra “services” between scheduled intervals, leave us a comment and tell us all about it!

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz trainees create B55 bombshell

Mercedes-Benz B55

Following news that Mercedes-Benz is preparing a cooking A-Class AMG model to compete with the BMW 1M and Audi RS3 comes this official release of a one-off V8 powered B-Class.

The “B55” offers 388hp of power and 530Nm of torque from its 5.5 litre bent-eight. Beginning its life as a rather modest front-wheel drive B 200 CDI, the rear-wheel drive B55 beast was created by trainees at the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. The idea first came about after training foreman Andreas Würz said the words, “Actually it should be possible to fit a V8 into the engine compartment.”

With a classic Q-car brief Würz and 12 trainees set about building a genuine bahn-stormer able to be used as a daily driver. Understated looks, a smart interior and 7-speed auto transmission should help there.

Building this Frankenstein creation wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. Using a rear-axle from a W120 E-Class was sure to present some problems, of course.

Würz explains, “The V8 power unit fitted amazingly well, and we were even able to use the original engine mounts. There were serious problems with the steering, but here too, harmony was restored with a number of modifications.

“The exhaust system was a clever combination of various replacement part items, and took the form of a twin-pipe system emerging at the centre of the rear end. This is where the one-off, christened the B 55 gets its typical, burbling sound – once the ignition key has been turned, all heads in the vicinity are guaranteed to swivel simultaneously in the direction of the B-Class.”

Further raiding of the AMG parts bin for brakes and 18″ wheels completed the job.

[Thanks to Derek for the tip]

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Motor Shows Porsche

Porsche to start 2011 with world debut at Detroit

Porsche 918 Coupe rendering

Porsche has confirmed it will be bringing “an important show debut” to the NAIAS in Detroit later this month. What we don’t know for sure is what that model will be. Current speculation says it will be a 918 Coupé; a model sitting above the 911, but below the 918 Spyder, which debuted at Geneva last year.

AutoBild has published a couple of renderings showing what the 918 Coupé might look like. Obviously there is a strong link to the stunning Spyder on which it is based. Reports say the Coupé version could be powered by a twin-turbo V8 with 600hp+ on tap. Nice!

The 918 Coupé should be just the thing to get Porsche into a ringside battle with the Ferrari 458 Italia and imminent McLaren MP4-12C. Just a shame we probably won’t see a production version of the new Porsche until 2014.

We should have all the answers on Porsche’s new model once the NAIAS news breaks in a bit over a week from now. More after the break.

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F1 in pictures Formula 1

The 2010 Formula One season in pictures

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

The addition of photo galleries following each Grand Prix during the 2010 Formula One season was something new to AUSmotive this year. To help celebrate Christmas with you all here is a handy reference page that provides links to the galleries for all 19 Grands Prix.

It’s intended as a small present to say thank you to our loyal readers out there. Stay safe and all the best for 2011.

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Mercedes-Benz

Into the light of the dark black night

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

Blackbird fly!

Mercedes-Benz Australia is singing about selling its 1000th AMG vehicle for 2010. The honour goes to the stunning matte black SLS AMG “Gullwing” which premiered at the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October.

The car has since been christened “Blackbird” and it was the first time anywhere in the world an SLS AMG in that colour scheme had been seen. Apparently, AMG has agreed to ensuring it stays that way too, promising never to recreate the designo magno Night Black and red combination.

What a great Christmas present. You can read the official release after the break.

Oh, that bright orange C63 AMG from the motor show is making a name for itself, as well. It will be up for auction after completing official duties at the 2011 Australian Grand Prix.

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Audi Top Gear

Audi says: “No RS4 for you!”

Audi RS4

Here’s one story we had hoped we wouldn’t need to tell. Audi has no plans to build an immediate successor to its almighty RS4. AUSmotive heard this information several months ago, too, but we were hoping we were being led down the garden path. Despite earlier rumours to the contrary, it appears we weren’t.

Supposedly the 331kW RS5 is deemed to provide enough RS thrills on the current B8 platform (or derivative) of the current A4.

Assuming this latest word is correct, it need not mean the end of the RS4 nameplate forever. There have been two RS4 models created by quattro GmbH, one built on the B5 platform (2000–01), the other, and perhaps best of the RS models made to date, built on B7 architecture (2006–08). With any luck, we’ll see a B9 RS4 around 2014, give or take a year.

To remind you why RS4s are the business, even if the B5 wasn’t quite the real deal, you can access a couple of clips after the break.

[Source: Car and Driver]

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News

Sabine Schmitz joins Save The Ring campaign

Sabine Schmitz

The future of the Nürburgring Nordschleife is under threat thanks to some less than helpful and reportedly dodgy private management. While Sabine Schmitz might be all smiles and happy Christmas wishes in the above picture, she has just published a new video message to help promote the Save The Ring campaign.

In her message Sabine says, “I have to tell you something on behalf of the Nordschleife. We have really big problems here and to save the Ring, especially the Nordschleife, you have to inform yourself…

“We need your help very, very urgently. There are things happening you can’t imagine.”

Check out Sabine’s message in full after the break and don’t forget to join the Save The Ring group on Facebook. The Info page has more on this developing saga.

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BMW

25 years of the BMW M3 in video

BMW E30 M3

Back in July BMW released a press statement to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of their almighty M3. AUSmotive followed by trawling through BMW’s press archives to bring you an image gallery befitting such an occasion. Now, BMW has just released a new video to its official YouTube channel which celebrates, yep, you guessed it, 25 years of the BMW M3.

Check it out after the break.

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Audi Bathurst 12 Hour

Craig Lowndes to drive factory Audi R8 LMS at Bathurst 12 hour

Team Audi Penfold

Some ripping news for local Audi fans, with word from Speedcafe telling us that Audi Race Experience Team Joest will be sending two 2010 spec R8 LMS machines to compete in the 2011 Bathurst 12 hour.

Team Joest is effectively the Audi factory team responsible for the company’s nine Le Mans 24 hour victories. This is big news for local endurance racing. Lowndes will be joined by fellow V8 Supercar driver Warren Luff and Australian GT racer Mark Eddy. Of course, Eddy is already known to Audi after competing this year at the wheel of a 2009 spec R8 LMS (pictured above).

The second R8 will be crewed by Audi sportscar regular Marc Basseng, WTCC driver driver Darryl O’Young and 2009 FIA GT3 European Champion Christopher Heis. As you can see Audi means business.

“Racing in the Bathurst 12 Hour has been on the ‘to-do’ list for some time,” said five-time Bathurst 1000 winner Lowndes. “The R8 looks like a fantastic car and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel in February.”

The 2011 Bathurst 12 hour is scheduled for the weekend of 4–6 February.

[Source: Speedcafe]

Categories
Audi

Latest word on the Audi RS7

Audi RS7 rendering

Now that the Audi RS3 is done and dusted the lads from quattro GmbH are reportedly concentrating their efforts on an RS7 model, based on the A7 Sportback.

Wearing the usual Audi RS warpaint, or should that be stealth disguise, it’s understood the RS7 will be powered by a 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8. Sounds pretty good. And so does the near on 600hp expected from that engine.

The quattro system will likely steal a few ideas form the RS5, including the crown differential and torque vectoring. It’s being reported the RS7 could debut late next year. We’re not so sure about that timing and would prefer you to pencil in 2012, or even 2013. We used to a few years of teasing from Audi, after all.

[Source: Road & Track]

Categories
MINI Challenge

2010 MINI Challenge – Round 7, Sydney

2010 MINI Challenge

They say all good things must come to an end, and for those who like watching MINIs fanging around Australian race tracks that’s exactly what has happened. Following BMW Australia’s decision to withdraw its support for the category, despite beginning with a five-year plan back in 2008, the Round 7 action at Sydney’s Olympic Park was the last MINI Challenge race on local soil for the foreseeable future.

Chris Alajajian led the points table before the final round of the year at Homebush and he had to fend off the category’s most consistent competitor and reigning champ, Paul Stokell, to wrap up the title. “The Chris” was good enough to do just that and in doing so became the third man crowned Australian MINI Challenge champion.

To see how he did it just watch the highlights package after the break.

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