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Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque five-door revealed

Range Rover Evoque

Back in September Range Rover showed us the three-door version of the Evoque, now they’re pushing the five-door upon us. The car will be on show at the LA Auto Show next week and you’ll have to wait until mid 2011 to see one at your local showroom. Actually, you might have to wait a few months longer for them to see one Australia.

Initially we were a bit critical of the Evoque, simply because, surely, the world doesn’t need another soft-roader. However, after getting a close look at the three-door at the recent motor show in Sydney we had to admit the Evoque really does look quite good.

If the Evoque tickles your fancy too, then there’s plenty of detail for you after the break.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Yas Marina

Red Bull Racing

There’s just four sleeps to go until the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Just four sleeps until we learn the ultimate outcome of the 2010 Formula One season. Until then one of the main players, Mark Webber, is talking about the hot, new and clean Yas Marina track. With three ideal spots for overtaking, let’s hope this race is exciting and as close as the entire season has been to date. And, of course, that Mark wins and Alonso finishes third, or lower.

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Formula 1 Red Bull Racing Renault

Red Bull Racing – 2010 Formula One Constructors’ Champions

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

To honour Red Bull’s success in the 2010 Constructors’ Championship and the genius of Adrian Newey’s RB6 here is their post-Brazilian Grand Prix press release, accompanied by a short video montage from BBC TV. Of course, there’s more images from Red Bull’s celebrations in the Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures article.

Also joining in the fun is Renault who have just inked a new two-year deal with Red Bull.

[Thanks to Micky for the video tip]

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Audi

Forget the S1, would you believe RS1?

Audi RS1 rumour

The Audi rumour mill has well an truly hit over drive in regards to the hottest version of its A1 platform. First, it was all about the S1. But Audi pulled the pin when they said they couldn’t fit quattro to the little pocket rocket and the car formerly known as the S1 simply became known as the A1 1.4 TFSI. Then, supposedly, Audi said it’s okay everyone, we can fit quattro into the A1, so there will be an S1 after all.

Or so we thought.

Now, the latest word from German rag Autobild says there will be no S1 – the famous Ur Quattro rally-spec name could be protected – instead, there will be an RS1. Only a few weeks ago we had an RS1 rumour pushing a 180kW 1.6 litre turbo theory. Today’s speculation says the RS version will be fitted with the 155kW 2.0 litre from the Golf GTI and, of course, a quattro drivetrain as well.

The RS1 is not due any time before 2012, so it looks like we’re in for at least two more years of will they/won’t they dramaz; probably in line with the RS3 storyline. Oh joy!

[Source: Autobild (translated)]

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Holden Hyundai Subaru Suzuki VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – October 2010

FCAI banner

According to official VFACTS data things pretty much stood still last month in regards to new car sales. That is, sales rose by a tiny 0.1% (112 vehicles) compared to October 2009. Little surprise, then, that most manufacturers have kept quiet.

Although, FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar, tells us not to worry because last October was a ball tearer, “It needs to be acknowledged that sales this time last year were being boosted by the stimulus of the business tax break so it is encouraging to see that the market is maintaining that momentum.”

Toyota rules the roost, as usual, followed by Holden and the Ford–Mazda flip-flop for third has ended in Ford’s favour this month.

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Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

The Brazilian Grand Prix has been run and won. Red Bull Racing have taken the last of the lollies from the Constructors’ jar; well done them, it’s a ripping effort. Sebastien Vettel’s win at Interlagos made sure the Drivers’ race will go right down to the wire, with Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso his most likely barriers between world title success.

Truth be told, the biggest excitement in Sao Paulo last weekend involved poor old Jenson Button and some masked men. The race itself largely sorted itself out after the novelty of Nico Hülkenberg’s pole position had passed.

You can relive the event after the jump. Unfortunately the pics from McLaren are not available in 2000px super sizing. The good news is, all the others are, so get clicking.

Now, bring on Abu Dhabi!

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Audi

Audi RS3 due in April 2011?

Audi RS3 - due in April 2011?

Some new information regarding the greatly anticipated Audi RS3 has found its way on to the German Car Forum. Accordingly we can expect the RS3, in Sportback form only, to be released in April next year. Assuming this is the case, then a public debut for the RS3 at next year’s Geneva Motor Show in March has most likely been locked in by Audi’s top brass.

There has previously been some confusion over the peak power figure of the RS3; rumours in September suggested the 2.5 litre inline five cylinder in the RS3 could get as much as 10bhp more than the TT RS, with the TT RS to receive a similar power upgrade as part of a mid-cycle refresh. However, those numbers could possibly be explained by conversion from bhp to PS to kW, or variations thereof. If the above document is correct, then 340PS = 250kW, which is the same as the TT RS.

The info appears to be some form of internal dealer communication (click on the image above for the full version you check out the full version on the German Car Forum link below), so there is cause to give some credence to the data shown. All we need to do now is keep waiting.

[Source: German Car Forum | Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake given green light

Mercedes-Benz Shooting Break Concept

Mercedes has just announced its very cool CLS Shooting Brake concept will become a production reality in 2012. The concept was first shown in April this year in Beijing at the Auto China show.

Now that the four-door coupé is set for production Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars is a bit excited, “In 2004, Mercedes-Benz established a new vehicle segment with the four-door Coupé CLS and created a design icon. 170,000 customers around the globe show how enthusiastic this car has been received by the market. The decision to build the CLS Shooting Brake underscores the leading role of Mercedes-Benz in regards of innovative passenger car concepts and design – and that is exactly what the customers expect from us.”

The Shooting Brake will be built on the same production line as the CLS and the E-Class sedan at Sindelfingen.

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Aston Martin

Aston Martin makes a Top Gear video

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420

Aston Martin has gone all Top Gear on us with this new video of the V8 Vantage N420. It’s very much in the theme of the closing piece Jeremy did on the V12 Vantage to close out Series 13. This version from Aston is a perfectly brilliant way to start the day, so crank up the volume and enjoy!

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BMW Green Machines

BMW turns vision into reality

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics

BMW has recently announced it will be turning its Vision EfficientDynamics concept into a full production model. The concept version first saw the light of day at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. The road going version will be headlined by BMW’s ActiveHybrid technology, which in this instance translates to a 3 cylinder turbo diesel with a hybrid synchronous motor at the front axle and a full-hybrid engine fitted at the rear. All those bits add up to a peak power figure of 241kW (328bhp).

Other numbers of note are the claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds, a supposed fuel consumption figure of just 3.76 litres per 100km and CO2 emission rating of 99g/km. The car is fitted with a lithium-polymer rechargeable battery that can be charged in two and a half hours. This is a good thing, too, because the total range available in full electric mode is only 50km. However, the total range of the car, including 24 litres of diesel, is around 700km.

Those following more closely will have been kept up to date on this model at the dontblogaboutthis website, where more info can be found. After the break you read BMW’s press release along with some more pics and a repeat performance of the company’s explanation of the Vision EfficientDynamics concept.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2010 Brazilian GP – Post-race press conference

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix

So it was another Red Bull Racing one-two in Brazil this morning, with the young German Sebastian Vettel taking the win to keep his title hopes well and truly alive. Australia’s Mark Webber came home second and is still the closest man to Ferrari’s Fernando, some eight points behind. Alonso, third, simply needs to finish second or better at next weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to become the youngest man to be crowned a triple World Champion.

The Constructors’ Championship was decided in Sao Paulo with the maximum points haul for Red Bull enough for the Milton Keynes based outfit to deny the chances of McLaren. Cast your mind back to the bits and pieces that were left over from the old Jaguar team at the end of 2004 and consider their reincarnation as Red Bull Racing is now the best team in F1; very impressive given the resources and history of their closest opponents. As Team Principal it is fair and reasonable that Christian Horner was on the podium to claim the team’s trophy, perhaps, though, it should have been Adrian Newey; without him the RB6 may not have been the dominant car in season 2010.

Clearly Fernando Alonso is the odd man out in the picture above, will it be him, or one of the Red Bull men with the broadest smile after the season finale?

You can gauge the thoughts of all three contenders with the full transcript from the post-race press conference below.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Formula 1

Incredible performance puts The Hulk on pole in Brazil

2010 Brazilian Grand Prix, Nico Hulkenberg, pole position

A genuinely good news story emerged in the world of Formula One at the Brazilian Grand Prix early this morning when Williams driver Nico Hülkenberg claimed an incredible maiden pole position. It is the first time since the 2005 European Grand Prix at the Nürburging, exactly 100 races ago, that a Williams has started from first on the grid.

While all three qualifying sessions were affected by wet weather it was the final session that gave Hülkenberg the opportunity to shine. With around four and half minutes left in Q3 the Interlagos track was finally ready for slick tyres and all 10 participating drivers came in to change. Initially, the grip provided by the slicks left the drivers on a knife edge. But with each lap the line became drier and the times began to tumble.

So much so that with just 13 seconds of qualifying remaining it was Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso who held provisional pole (1:15.989). In the end his time was only good enough to secure fifth place on the grid, as Lewis Hamilton (McLaren – 1:15.747), Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing – 1:15.637), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing – 1:15.519) and Hülkenberg all went quicker.

Hülkenberg, though, timed his run to perfection and effectively had one more lap than the rest of the field. With only four seconds left in the final session the young German posted the quickest time. A time unable to be beaten by the two Red Bulls following close behind. And with the track conditions on the improve The Hulk improved on his provisional pole time to register his best time of 1:14.470 to lead the field by over one second.

It’s great for F1 to see the emergence of a new talent and it must be remembered that Hülkenberg is in his rookie season fighting to secure a drive in 2011. Meanwhile, the potential unpredictability of having a first-timer on pole with five men behind him still in the hunt for the World Championship means this will be one race worth getting up at 3am for!

A press release from AT&T Williams can be read after the jump, along with the full text from the official FIA post-qualifying press conference.

[Pics: Williams/LAT]

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