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Top Gear

Top Gear’s new Stig looks just like the old one

Top Gear - New Stig

According to a new Top Gear video the picture above is the new Stig. He looks just like the old one; a marketing/merchandising decision, it would seem.

The latest Stig incarnation was revealed due to Top Gear Live commitments and, so far, the television show is remaining coy about the future of the new Stig making an appearance in Season 16.

Who are they kidding?

After the break you can see the video which was filmed on location at the Stig Farm, where the New Stig was supposedly created. It includes some not so subtle, and rather childish, digs at Ben Collins.

[Source: TopGear.com]

Continue reading “Top Gear’s new Stig looks just like the old one”
Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Jetta R on the cards

Volkswagen Jetta

Last week Volkswagen held the European launch of its latest Jetta saloon in Munich. Same old fare, really. That was until you realised there was a Jetta R on display with everything to show except the official R badging.

Well, that might be stretching the truth a little, but according to Autocar there was Jetta present fitted with a 3.6-litre V6 with an undisclosed power rating. Also featured in this Jetta R-in-hiding was a 6-speed DSG and 4motion all-wheel drive.

The chances of the R’s future appear to lie with consumer demand, “If there are customers asking for it, we will do it,” claims Ulrich Hackenberg, Volkswagen R&D boss, “It wouldn’t be a problem for us. The Jetta’s platform can take four-wheel drive.”

It would seem, then, that this is America’s best chance to jump on the R performance bandwagon, which currently misses out on the Golf R and Scirocco R.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Lamborghini

Lamborghini LP700-4 details emerge

Lamborghini Jota prototype

The above Lamborghini development mule was spied at the Ring in September. Back then it was widely accepted the new Murcielago replacement would be wearing a Jota name plate. Now, though, it seems the Jota badge is out and the big Lambo will be called the LP700-4.

That 700 figure is an obvious reference to the car’s expected peak horsepower (around 520kW), which will be delivered by a 6.5 litre V12. Add to that around 680Nm of torque and all-wheel drive and it should be enough to propel this raging bull to 100km/h in less than 3 seconds, before reaching a v-max of 350km/h.

Clearly, then, Lamborghini aren’t mucking about with this new model. The LP700-4 is expected to shed over 220kg from the weight of the Murci, with a reliance on a carbon fibre body monocoque and light weight body panels to help achieve that aim. Suspension components will be inspired by F1. And, to cap things off, the car will have a 7-speed box that can punch out shifts in around 50 milliseconds.

Well, this is the deal from a supposedly hooked up FerrariChat member anyway. According to him, we’ll find out for sure in March 2011 when the Jota/LP700-4 is revealed for the first time.

[Source: Autoblog | Pic: Pistonspy]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber: “It’s crunch time”

Mark Webber

It’s no surprise that the pressure on Mark Webber will be huge this weekend. But, as a new post on his website testifies, he’s ready and willing for the challenge, “It’s crunch time: we have two races in the space of eight days, at the end of which we’ll know the identity of the 2010 world champion.

“It doesn’t get bigger than this and I feel 110 percent ready for the fight.”

Crucially, and partly on the back of last year’s victory in Brazil, Mark goes into the race full of confidence, “I’ve never been outqualified by a team-mate at Interlagos,” he said.

“I can think of no better time to take another victory than now; you can be sure that I’ll do everything in my power to achieve that.”

[Source: MarkWebber.com | Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

Categories
Porsche

New 991 Porsche 911 spy shots

Porsche 991 911 spy shot

Autoblog brings us a great gallery of images of the 991 Porsche 911 coupé and convertible. Based on these pics, which show development cars mostly free of camouflage, the next-generation 911 is going to be a very nice looking car. A better looking 997, really. Which is just what we have come to expect from Porsche.

With any luck we’ll see the 991 revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (3–13 March).

[Source: Autoblog | Pic: KGP Photography]

Categories
Ford Motorsports WRC

Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor earn WRC Academy drives

First filed 26 October 2010

Brendan Reeves & Molly Taylor

26 October 2010: Young Australian drivers Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor have just been awarded €500,000 WRC Academy scholarships for the 2011 season. Both drivers were selected for the Academy following a successful showing in the recent Pirelli Star Driver Shootout.

The WRC Academy replaces the JWRC category and is a one-make series using Ford Fiesta R2s. There will be 20 competitors taking place in the Academy next year, but only six scholarships were up for grabs.

In addition to the six rounds of racing competition Academy participants will be given expert training for a future WRC career, including diet and mental preparation.

After being told of her success Taylor said, “My focus has always been working towards the WRC, so to be sitting here today knowing that this is actually a reality is surreal. This is just the beginning and the hard work starts now, I’m buzzing!”

Meanwhile, Reeves is also happy and grateful for the opportunities ahead, “This is a dream come true for me. I would really like to thank Pirelli and the FIA for giving junior drivers the opportunity to compete for such a fantastic prize. There is nothing else like it in rallying and for them to give young drivers like myself the chance to become a WRC driver, is awesome.”

Well done to Reeves and Taylor and here’s hoping both have a great 2011. Follow the source link below to see a brief video explaining the WRC Academy.

[Source: WRC]

UPDATE 4 November: The WRC Academy video from the source link has been added to YouTube and you can now watch the clip right here after the jump. Thanks to Chris for the tip.

Continue reading “Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor earn WRC Academy drives”
Categories
BMW

New BMW 1 Series (F20) hatch under development

BMW 1 Series (F20) hatch

Development of the next generation (F20) BMW 1 Series hatch is well underway as this video from the Nürburgring shows. There appears to be at least five development cars at the company’s Nürburg facility.

Aside from the evolutionary development of the love it or hate it five door hatch body style there’s not much else to learn from this clip. BimmerFile tells us the F20 1er will be seen in or near production ready form by the end of next year.

Check out the clip after the jump.

[Source: AutoWeek.nl]

Continue reading “New BMW 1 Series (F20) hatch under development”
Categories
BMW

Chris Harris drives 1M searching for the best of M people

Chris Harris drives the BMW 1M Coupé

Chris Harris has just driven a near production-ready BMW 1M Coupé. It was an odd gig, really; BMW flew him from London to Munich for a 20 minute test drive. Knowing his time would be brief, Harris compiled a list of the best things he likes about M-badged BMWs. When driving the prototype he cross-checked the feedback from the car against his “M car” list. He used words “like an M car” a number of times and concluded that he is “really, really excited” by the 1M Coupé and can’t wait to drive a full production version in the near future.

All of these thoughts were recorded to video and you can watch the clip after the break. Some of the audio is not great, but the content is definitely worth the effort. It sounds like the 1M Coupé has the potential to be future classic.

Continue reading “Chris Harris drives 1M searching for the best of M people”
Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen confirms Golf VI Cabrio

Golf VI Cabrio rendering

The Motor Report brings word that Volkswagen has confirmed production for a Golf VI-based cabrio. They’ve even come up with this rendering to show how such a car could look. The soft-top Golf will be built in Osnabrück at the former Karmann factory, which Volkswagen picked up after the body specialists filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Production should commence in 2011 with deliveries for late that year or possibly beginning in 2012. Following a near decade-long hiatus the re-introduction of the Golf Cabrio would likely signal the end of the Eos convertible. Check out the source link below for more.

[Source: The Motor Report]

UPDATE 4 November: A press release from Volkswagen AG has been added below, which confirms a new Golf Cabrio will be built at Osnabrück.

Continue reading “Volkswagen confirms Golf VI Cabrio”
Categories
Formula 1 Volkswagen

Volkswagen rejects move into Formula One

Daniel Ricciardo in Volkswagen powered F3 winning car

According to a report in the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Volkswagen Chairman Ferdinand Piech has decided against entering VW into Formula One. Such a move was previously intimated by a number of sources, including brand ambassador Hans Stuck.

Volkswagen enjoyed open wheeler success last year by powering young Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo in his Red Bull sponsored Carlin Motorsport machine to the 2009 F3 title. It was understood new engine rules for F1, to be introduced in 2012, would provide an ideal opportunity for VW to move into motorsport’s premier category as an engine supplier. Reportedly there was interest from Red Bull Racing and even McLaren to partner with VW.

However, it now appears the Volkswagen Group may focus its motorsport endeavours on the WRC and Le Mans 24 hour race through its Audi and Porsche brands.

[Source: FAZ.net]

Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Interlagos

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

It’s no secret that Mark Webber faces a crucial race at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend. He needs to win, or, ideally, finish ahead of Fernando Alonso to boost his title chances. Even so, he casually says he’s expecting lots of traffic, strange weather and some nice looking women. Here’s hoping there’s a race win in there, as well!

Continue reading “Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Interlagos”
Categories
Mazda

Mazda targets sub-1000kg weight for next MX-5

Mazda MX-5 rendering

Along with the above rendering Autocar brings word that Mazda are aiming to keep the weight of its next MX-5 under 1000kg. A saving of over 130kg on the current model. As usual, we can expect a nice little handler. Further aiding nimble handling is the adoption of production techniques from the RX-8 which will allow the engine to be mounted behind the front axle, while the fuel tank and heaviest parts of the exhaust will be in front of the rear axle.

Mazda is scheduled to unveil its fourth generation MX-5 towards the end of 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show, before its sales launch in 2012.

[Source: Autocar]