Categories
BMW

Elvis lives and he’s a BMW 507!

BMW 507 'Elvis'

Elvis lives! We all knew his death back in 1977 was a conspiracy, but few knew he’s being reincarnated as a true thing of beauty—a BMW 507.

Actually, this is not entirely true, but there is a connection between Elvis Presley and the 507, specifically the car carrying chassis #70079. This was the car which Elvis used during his time in the US Army while stationed in Germany in 1959.

After some searching, the once white sports coupé was uncovered with red paint and in desperate need of restoration. BMW Classic is now undertaking that process and we’re sure the finished article will be number one with music fans and BMW fans alike. Follow the links below for more.

[Source: BMW Classic & Bimmer Mag]

Categories
Audi

NSW Police score an Audi RS4 Avant cop car

NSW Police Audi RS4 Avant

The NSW Police Force has just taken delivery of a brand new Audi RS4 Avant. Fitted with a 331kW/430Nm 4.2 litre V8 engine the latest cop car on the streets can hit 100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

Despite this it won’t be used as a pursuit vehicle, rather it will fill a “community and youth engagement” role with the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command.

“The Audi RS 4 provides an exciting and visible platform for our community and youth engagement activities,” said Superintendent Wayne Starling, Commander of Lake Illawarra LAC.

“Our use of the RS 4 will encourage people of all ages to introduce themselves to local police, using the car itself to help start up a conversation.”

The car is on loan NSW Police, who will retain custody of the RS4 Avant for 12 months. The striking livery was selected by around 800 fans in a competition run on the Audi Australia Facebook page.

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

2016 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé revealed

2016 Mercedes-AMG C63 S Coupe

The wraps have finally come off the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé and here it is! The overall shape of the C Class Coupé is proving to be a bit of an oddity here at AUSmotive HQ.

From most angles the shape looks very good. But from the three-quarter rear it just looks wrong—a bit too much like a GLE Coupé. And if there’s one thing a sporty Merc shouldn’t look like, it’s a bloated SUV.

That aside, the new C63 Coupé kicks goals everywhere else, mostly thanks to its 4.0 litre V8 biturbo. We’ve seen it already in the saloon and estate models and there’s been no tweaks to the key specs. That means the C63 Coupé has 350kW/650Nm and the C63 S (pictured) has 375kW/700Nm. They’re huge numbers!

This coupé is not exactly light, flirting with 1800kg, yet it can still reach 100km/h in only 3.9 seconds (C63 S). Top speed is limited to 250km/h, but can be raised to 290km/h with the optional AMG Driver’s Package (presumably that’s not an extra large set of balls).

As far as styling goes the C63 Coupé has had its wheel arches pumped up. They’re 64mm wider at the front and 66mm wider at the rear. The increased track affords improved handling as well as beefy looks.

Grip is provided by 255mm tyres up front and 285mm at the back. You get 10-spoke 18″ alloys as standard on the C63 and 5-twin-spoke 19″ wheels on the C63 S.

Rear traction is aided by an old skool mechanical limited-slip diff on the C63, while the C63 S gets electronic trickery. Mercedes-AMG says the rear axle has been redesigned for the C63 Coupé and the electronic diff yields more sensitive and faster responses compared with the mechanical version.

The Mercedes-AMG C 63 Coupé will make its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show on 15 September. European sales release will commence from March 2016.

Categories
Porsche

991.2 Porsche 911 Turbo S spied

991.2 Porsche 911 Turbo spied
991.2 Porsche 911 Turbo spied

It’s been a bit over a month since we got an unhindered look at the facelifted Porsche 911 Carrera. Now, we’re getting a look at the 991.2 911 Turbo S, seen here driving around the Nürburgring.

There’s revised styling at the front compared with the 2013 911 Turbo (pictured below), along with updated styling and cooling vents at the rear.

The updated 991.2 range will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show (17–27 September). You can probably expect some official details from Porsche a few days or so before.

[Source: Autoblog]

Categories
Mercedes-Benz Video

VIDEO: Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé teaser

We’re expecting the Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé to be revealed in the next 24 hours; until then here’s a very quick teaser. As you might expect, the car sounds pretty good.

Categories
Safety Issues Video

What kind of driver are you raising?

TAC parental role modelling TVC

The Victorian Government’s Transport Accident Commission (TAC) first made its name in the 1980s and 90s with shocking and confronting television commercials. Here’s a more subtle response alerting us to the example we set for children.

From the YouTube description:

The truth is that your kids learn more from your behaviour than you think they do.

Positive role modelling by parents of 5-12 year olds has the potential to have a huge influence on their child’s future driving behaviour.

The TAC has used this key piece of research to develop this, our latest campaign and the next stage of our long-term Parents and Road Safety Strategy. The goal of the strategy is to reduce road trauma for young drivers in their first months of solo driving and beyond.

Instilling safe driving behaviors and attitudes from a young age is key to achieving this goal.

You can watch the ad below.

Categories
Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupé leaked

2015 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe

Last week Mercedes-Benz released images and details for its new C Class Coupé. It stands to reason then that we all want to know about the hot AMG version, the C63. Well here’s a first look thanks to these leaked images.

Power will come from the same 4.0 litre V8 biturbo found in the C63 sedan and estate. The full reveal for the coupé version should be later this week, so we won’t have too long to wait for the full monty.

[Source: zero2turbo | Thanks to John for the tip]

Categories
BMW

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R revealed

BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R

This is the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R and it is pretty damn awesome. Inspired by the iconic 1970s 3.0 CSL this 21st century concept was revealed at the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach last weekend.

It’s little more than eye candy with scant technical details offered. That leaves us with grand statements from BMW’s top brass.

Adrian van Hooydonk, Senior Vice President BMW Group Design: “Motor racing is all about the ability of cars to mesmerise, about the unbridled joy of driving. Back in 1975, as today, winning races came down to how man and machine could work together. Technical innovations have taken the effectiveness of this partnership to ever great heights. And with the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R we’re aiming to show how much closer the driver and car can grow in the future.”

Karim Habib, Head of Design BMW Automobiles: “Both inside and outside, the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage R is primarily a reflection of its function. The exterior and interior design is based around the requirements of motor sport as far as the car and driver are concerned; aerodynamics and driving dynamics on the one hand, the most direct connection between driver and machine on the other.”

If you think you’ve seen something like this from BMW before, you’re right. In May this year the BMW 3.0 CSL Hommage was presented at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. We reckon this R version, with BMW Motorsport livery, looks a lot better.

Enjoy the pics after the break.

Categories
BMW

BMW Concept M4 GTS revealed

BMW Concept M4 GTS

BMW turned up to Monterey Car Week with this Concept M4 GTS. It’s a preview of a harder core M4, it’s still a road car but it will have more of a track focus.

Mostly we’ve got a lot of photos and not much technical detail. We do know that the turbocharged six cylinder engine will feature a water injection system designed to reduce the temperature of the air in the intake manifold. In turn this allows increased boost pressure for the turbo leading to improved peak power and torque.

The system has been fitted and tested on the Safety Car used for the MotoGP series and clearly BMW is happy with the results so far.

For extra bling the rear lights on the Concept M4 GTS feature OLED technology. The compact installation height of the lights along with the ability to illuminate individual light modules independently offers a few tricks for designers.

Overall we reckon this concept looks pretty good. The reworked aero package is not too over the top and the rear wing is almost tasteful. Check out the images below and see what you think.

Categories
Aston Martin Video

VIDEO: Aston Martin Vantage GT12 review

Aston Martin Vantage GT12

Chris Harris has already driven the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 in full race mode and now we have his review of the GT12 road car.

Pro tip: turn up the volume to 11!

Categories
Audi Video

VIDEO: Audi R8 V10 Plus review

MY16 Audi R8 V10 Plus

Audi has upped the ante with its second-gen R8 by releasing its most powerful version at launch. That’s the R8 V10 Plus, which produces 449kW/560Nm thanks to its normally aspirated and free revving 5.2 litre engine.

The current entry level R8 V10 is good for a still very healthy 397kW/540Nm, but when you can have more power, well, you take it!

Which is exactly what Dan Prosser from Evo has done. He reckons the first gen R8 was a wathershed moment for Audi, but was it a fluke, or is this new model even better?

Categories
Audi

Audi Australia confirms RS3 Sportback pricing

Audi RS3

Back in May we told you a new RS3 would cost you $78,900 plus on road costs. Now, in August, Audi Australia has confirmed as much.

For now, there’s still no mention of the optional RS Performance Packs, but your local dealer will have all that for you now if you like. We expect the PR department will come good with a press release when the RS3 is launched here in October.

A brief listing of standard equipment is listed below.