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BMW

Could BMW make a 332kW 1M “CSL”?

BMW 1M CSL rendering

Apparently, by this time next week BMW will have lifted the wraps from its highly anticipated 1 Series M Coupé. But that hasn’t stopped the rumour mill from working overtime and we think most will like the latest 1M news to emerge.

Remember a couple of weeks back when we showed you that screen grab of engine specs, believed to be from an internal BMW source. Well, on that list was an N54B3OTO engine spec listed with 332kW (445hp). That’s a fairly healthy increase over the expected 250kW we will see in the 1M Coupé, right.

Turns out there is a chance that BMW, through a new Performance Program, could be getting ready to make a CSL-style 1M. The theory being this will be a nice little earner for the Munich massive while they’re busy developing the next model M3.

Is it really going to happen; well, we don’t know for certain. But it would be the perfect way to see out the 1 Series Coupé model cycle in 2012, that’s for sure!

[Source: Jon Sibal via BimmerFile]

Categories
Porsche

Really Sideways

Porsche 911 GT2 RS

We all know the RS in Porsche 911 GT2 RS stands for Renn Sport. Or Race Sport if you want to use the English version. However, in Scottish, RS stands for Really Sideways. At least, that’s the conclusion one could make after watching Porsche driving instructor Gordon Roberston thrashing the GT2 RS around Silverstone.

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Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini Estoque gets green light ahead of SUV

Lamborghini Estoque concept

Good news, it looks like the rumoured Lambo SUV has been shelved in favour of a four door saloon. That means the Estoque Concept, first shown in 2008, is now back in the mix.

Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini Chairman and CEO, spoke recently about adding a third vehicle to the model range, “We really have a choice when it comes to an additional model: an SUV or a four-seat four-door. And for me the SUV is a no-go. It doesn’t exist in our price segment, and it’s not a real luxury car.”

“We have opportunities outside the supercar business, and we showed that with Estoque. It had a more enthusiastic response than we had expected,” said Winkelmann. “Even now, people are still emailing me about us making the Estoque.”

[Source: Autocar]

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Categories
Audi

Audi A1 – Australian pricing & specs

Audi A1

Audi Australia previewed the A1 at the Australian International Motor Show in October. Now, they have released full details on the local specification. Dealers around the country have been receiving stock over the last couple of weeks, as well.

To refresh, Audi will be kicking off the A1 with two offerings, both fitted with a fuel efficient 90kW/200Nm 1.4 TFSI. The entry level Attraction, with 6-speed manual, starts at $29,900 and the Ambition model is priced from $32,650. Buyers wanting the 7-speed S tronic dual clutch transmission will need to cough up an extra $2350. A 66kW 1.6 litre TDI will be joining the range in the middle of 2011.

Audi Australia has been a bit light on with images of its next big thing, so you’ll have to make to do with AUSmotive’s images from AIMS to start with. Following the Audi Australia press release is a gallery of images sourced from Audi UK. Keep in mind some of the details and specs in these cars may not translate directly to our market, but they do give a good feel for the A1 in right-hand drive.

A closer look at specifications and options pricing for the Australian market is available via two PDFs, which can be found following the presser.

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Categories
Top Gear

Top Gear Christmas Specials coming soon

Top Gear - 26 December special

Well, the rumour from August has been proved correct; Top Gear has confirmed they will air two specials later this month. The first is scheduled for broadcast on 21 December and, at the time of writing, nothing official has been announced about its content. However, a second special, due to screen on Boxing Day, has been previewed over at the Top Gear website.

As the image above shows Richard Hammond, Jeremy Clarkson and James May have been somewhere very hot. That somewhere is the Middle East, taking in locations such as Kurdistan, Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Israel. The lads are en route to Bethlehem. Well, it is the right time of year for it, I guess. If you don’t mind a spoiler or two check out the BBC promo after the break. The source link below also has more details if you’d like.

As for the earlier special, it’s expected the lads will be back in the United States, most likely with the Top Gear USA crew, and Jalopnik had the scoop (spoilers) a short while back.

[Source: Top Gear]

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Categories
Formula 1

CAMS and AGPC kiss and make up

2010 Australian Grand Prix

The 2011 Australian Grand Prix will go ahead as planned after CAMS announced they have called a truce on their bickering with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC). A letter from CAMS CEO, David Morgan, has been distributed to affiliates which reads in part, “I am very pleased to advise CAMS members that our President Andrew Papadopoulos announced today that we have signed an agreement with AGPC for CAMS to be the sporting Organiser as defined in the Formula One Sporting Regulations.”

Tensions were raised when the AGPC threatened to de-register the role of CAMS as GP organisers if they did not lower the fee charged for running the event.

Now, though, both parties should be singing from the same hymn sheet with Morgan’s letter continuing, “CAMS is delighted to have reached this agreement and looks forward to continuing its role in one of the world’s best Formula 1 events and helping to make it an even greater success.” The full letter from David Morgan can be read after the jump.

In other Australian Grand Prix news, Qantas has renewed its sponsorship for the 2011 race. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said, “Qantas has been associated with the Australian Grand Prix for 25 years and we are especially looking forward to next year’s event with Qantas as the Premier Partner.”

Next year’s Australian Grand Prix will run across the weekend of 24–27 March and will follow Bahrain as the second race on the 2011 F1 calendar.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images | Thanks to Mick for the tip]

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Categories
Nissan

MY11 Nissan GT-R does 0-100 in 3.0 seconds

Nissan GT-R

The arse end of a Nissan GT-R is all you’re likely to see if the driver chooses to plant their foot. When details of the updated 2011 GT-R were released performance data was not published. But when you have a trump card like this up your sleeve, why not make a song and dance about it.

Nissan completed their testing in Japan during mid-November and recorded two 0–100km/h runs of 3.0 seconds on consecutive days. The weather was fine and sunny, with temps in the mid-teens.

Three seconds flat! Surely, the Nissan GT-R has to rank as one of the best bang for buck cars you can drive off a showroom floor.

[via autoblog]

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Categories
Ferrari Motor Shows

Ferrari 458 Challenge debuts at Bologna Motor Show

Ferrari 458 Challenge

It was back in July that we first heard about the new Ferrari 458 Challenge, Maranello’s ready-to-race supercar based on the 458 Italia. Since then we’ve seen a couple of test videos showing the car in action, first at Fiorano, then at Monza.

The key numbers for the 458 Challenge are 419kW at 9000rpm, 540Nm at 6000rpm with a top speed of 310km/h. It’s also the first of Ferrari’s track-only creations to feature an E-Diff to help keep things in check. Joining this electronic wizardry is the F1-Trac system which features two settings calibrated using data sourced from Ferrari’s F1 and GT racing programs.

There’s more pics and Ferrari’s official press release waiting for you after the break.

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Categories
Lancia New Stratos

New Stratos – Technical specifications

New Lancia Stratos

Technical details of the New Stratos have been published on the car’s official website. They tell us the F430-based sportscar tips the scales at 1247kg and a staggering 540hp (375.4kW) is produced from its 4.3 litre V8 at 8200rpm. Peak torque is on offer at 3750rpm and is rated at over 500Nm.

Weight is distributed 44:56 front to rear providing an good base for well tuned chassis balance. The brakes are supplied by Brembo and there’s 398mm six-pots up front and 350mm four-pots at the rear.

The donor chassis has been shortened by 200mm and a roll cage has also been fitted. Body panels are carbon fibre, which has been used extensively for the interior, as well.

Performance figures—aside from very quick—are yet to be announced and will be coming soon. In the meantime you can read the full tech data after the break.

[Source: New Stratos]

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Categories
Porsche

How close is a Porsche GT3 Cup to a 911 GT3 RS?

Porsche GT3 Cup

Autocar brings us another interesting video via their YouTube channel. Ever wondered just how close the track only Porsche GT3 Cup is to the road going 911 GT3 RS? Well, so have they. And what better place to compare the two than at Silvertsone. Copse, Maggotts and Becketts before a mini-relax along Hangar Straight. There wouldn’t be too many better experiences to be had in a car.

It’s actually not really a pleasant sound, but the noise made by the sequential gearbox is pure delight. We know that’s a bit of a contradiction, but we also expect many will know exactly what we mean.

It’s fair to say they could have upped the excitement levels in this video, but it’s worth watching all the same.

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Categories
Formula 1

FIA confirms F1 team lists for 2011

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

The FIA has released a confirmed list of teams and drivers for the 2011 season. Following the news from overnight, we can now add Pastor Maldonado to the vacant Williams seat, which leaves nine drives still up for grabs.

Interestingly, Toro Rosso is shown as having no drivers confirmed, despite team boss Franz Tost already on record as saying Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi will return next year.

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Categories
Formula 1

Faster Pastor

Pastor Maldonado

Williams F1 has just confirmed 25-year-old Venezuelan driver Pastor Maldonado will drive for them in 2011. Maldonado will take the seat vacated by Nico Hulkenberg and joins veteran Rubens Barichello.

Maldonado first caught the attention of Sir Frank Williams in 2007 when the driver won at Monaco in his debut GP2 season. Earlier this year a run of six vitories on end helped Maldonado pocket the GP2 championship.

He drove for Williams on all four test days at the recent young driver testing held immediately after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Sir Frank is happy to have him on board, “We are very much looking forward to developing his talent over the winter and a fruitful season with him next year.”

It’s closing in on three decades since a Venezuelan has driven in F1, the last man to do so was Johnny Cecotto, who would be familiar to touring car fans thanks to his time driving for BMW. Maldonado is looking forward to seeing his country represented in Formula One again, “I will be doing my best over the winter to prepare myself, and I know the team will be working hard to ensure a successful season. 2011 will be the first time in nearly thirty years that a Venezuelan has driven a Formula One car so I will be looking to get some good results in return for the support my country has given me to help get me to this position today.”

You can learn more about Pastor Maldonado in the Q&A interview included with the official Williams press release after the break.

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