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Volkswagen

VW Polo GTI spotted in Sydney

Volkswagen Polo GTI

Thanks to AUSmotive reader Brendan for sending in these pics of a new five-door Volkswagen Polo GTI, spotted near Maroubra beach in Sydney. It seems almost certain now that the Pogo will be joining the Golf GTI adidas on the Volkswagen stand at the Australian International Motor Show next month.

The sighting follows news of the basic specification levels and options for the Polo GTI, which have been circulating for a couple of weeks now. Volkswagen dealers are, at this stage, keeping pricing information very close to their chest.

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Volkswagen

All day I dream about Sydney

Volkswagen Golf GTI adidas

The Volkswagen Golf GTI adidas is coming to the Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. Even better, perhaps, is news that you will be able to buy one as well. The list price for this special edition model is $45,990.

Using the familiar and highly successful GTI as a starting point the adidas version includes dedicated badging and interior seat trim, along with unique 18″ “Serron” alloy wheels. Also thrown in are bi-xenon headlights with dynamic cornering functionality, rear LED tail lights (previously only seen on the Golf R) and an RCD510 stereo system complemented with Media Device Interface and Bluetooth connectivity.

The adidas will be available in Candy White or Tornado Red only. In Australia they will also be limited to five-door and DSG specification. More details after the break.

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Top Gear Top Gear Australia

Top Gear Australia – Series 3 returns

Top Gear Australia cast, 2010

Top Gear Australia, Series 3—aka The Channel 9 version—makes its debut on Tuesday at 7:30pm. The new series kicks off with a 90 minute show dubbed “The Ashes Special” which will see the Aussies take on the Poms. Could the new series jump the shark in its very first episode?

Below is the text from the IceTV guide:

“Cricket passions transfer to automobiles when the Aussie Top Gear mavens, Shane Jacobson, Ewen Page and Steve Pizzati, go to England to take on the originals – Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond on their home turf. A bit like the cricket actually.”

Ewen Page also has a preview on the Top Gear website. Let’s hope its not as cringe worthy as it sounds.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Lotus McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Singapore Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Singapore GP

Fernando added to his Italian Grand Prix win to make it a double with victory in Singapore. By doing so he has put himself right at the pointy end of the driver’s title race; he’s now second. Sebastien set the field alight during practice but faltered during qualifying and played second fiddle to Alonso for the rest of weekend, despite having the faster car. But for a couple of Safety Car periods these guys would have led the field home with a minute to spare, they were streets ahead.

Mark struggled during the weekend and started from fifth, but a pit stop gamble after the first Safety Car period inside five laps saw him claw his way into third place after the lead cars completed their stops. After the second Safety Car period Hamilton, in fourth, made a ballsy move to overtake Mark. It almost came off, too, but there was contact between the two and Webber walked away with the luck, while Hamilton was forced to take an early shower for the second race in a row.

Aside from that, the action was a bit light on, save for a few hit and giggle incidents towards the back of the field. Perhaps the only other aspect of this race worth noting is the ease with which Schumacher gets pushed aside by his peer group these days. It indicates the seven time champion continues to struggle with the pace of current day F1 cars.

Recapture the vibe with over 70 images after the break.

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Ferrari Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

2010 Singapore GP – Post-race press conference

2010 Singapore GP

Fernando Alonso bagged consecutive Grand Prix wins with victory in Singapore. It’s his fourth race win for the year—the same as Mark Webber, third place, who leads the driver’s championship by 11 points from the Ferrari driver.

Sebastien Vettel started and finished the race in second place. He looked the dominant man all during practice and most of qualifying, but Alonso showed he is made of the right stuff, performing when it matters most. It also shows that the F10 Ferrari has the ability to match it with the RB6 Red Bull on both fast and slow circuits. This title race is going down to the wire.

The full transcript from the post-race press conference with the podium winners is available below. A Singapore GP photo gallery should be up later today.

[Pic: Red Bull/Getty Images]

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Audi

New info for Audi RS3, RS7 and S1

Audi S1, RS3 and RS7

German publication Auto Bild has published new info and some pricing detail on upcoming Audi models—the RS3, RS7 and S1:

RS3—Rumours and guesswork on when this car will finally see the light of day continue with new suggestions the RS3 will not be launched until the Geneva show in March 2011. Paris could be off, then?! The constant information that does exist is in relation to the engine being sourced from the TT RS; meaning the 250kW 2.5 litre in-line 5 cylinder should have the balls to propel the RS3 to 100km/h in well under 5 seconds. European pricing is expected to be under €50,000.

RS7—Understood to be powered by a new 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8, which will offer 550bhp (410kW) to the world. The RS7 is said to be revealed at the Frankfurt show in September 2011. The car would then go on European sale shortly after at around €110,000.

S1—Just when you thought it was safe to stop thinking about this car a new rumour has emerged. The latest word suggests the 210bhp (155kW) 2.0 litre turbo from the Golf GTI will be stuffed under the bonnet. There’s no mention of quattro from the Auto Bild article, but you can expect that to be included given earlier news regarding the front-wheel drive “S1 lite”.

[Source: Auto Bild via The German Car Blog]

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Ferrari

Ferrari SA APERTA revealed ahead of Paris

Ferrari SA APERTA

Ferrari has lifted the lid on its latest 599 incarnation, otherwise known as the SA APERTA. The SA badging is a nod to Sergio and Andrea Pininfarina whose company has strong links with Maranello. Further honouring Pininfarina is the fact the SA APERTA will be limited to just 80 examples, acknowledging the 80th anniversary of the Italian styling house.

In basic terms this car is 599 GTO “Barchetta” and features a 6.0 litre V12 engine. That engine is good for 670PS (500kW). A soft top cover is available, but it sounds like it will be more use for giggles than serious protection.

We’ll see more of this car at the Paris Motor Show in a week or so. Oh, if you would like to buy one of these stunning SA APERTAs, well, you can’t. They have already sold out.

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Ferrari

Here’s your chance to buy a Ferrari F40

Ferrari F40

I’m guessing most AUSmotive readers have, at some point in their lives, lusted after a Ferrari F40. I know I certainly have. I also know some readers have been lucky enough to get up close and personal with the last of the Ferraris built under the watchful eye of Enzo Ferrari himself.

Now, you can buy the car you see here in these pictures. The F40 will be up for sale this weekend at the Historics at Brooklands auction. It’s expected to sell for around £280,000–320,000 (approx AU$465,000–530,000).

Only 1315 F40s were ever made, so this is a rare chance to get your hands on one. The example up for grabs was built in 1989 and has a travelled mere 10,500 miles. Who wants to chip in?

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Porsche

A look inside the new Porsche 911

Porsche 991 911 interior spy shot

The new 991 Porsche 911 is still some time away, but this spy shot from Edmunds Inside Line gives us a great early look inside the car. It looks nice enough and well made, of course, but there’s just a wee bit going on with that Panamera-esque centre console.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

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Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes SLS AMG wins Golden Classic Steering Wheel award

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Gullwing

The gorgeous and incredibly desirable Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG has just been won the inaugural Golden Classic Steering Wheel award, presented by German publication Auto Bild Klassik.

Attracting over 30% of the vote the SLS AMG was judged a “Classic of the future” in the Sports coupés and convertibles category. The new Gullwing finished ahead of eight other competitors, including the Audi R8 Spyder, Ferrari 458 Italia, Maserati GranCabrio, McLaren MP4-12C and Porsche 918 Spyder.

In other SLS AMG news the GT3 racing version will be making its racing debut in a VLN event at the Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend.

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Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque gets early showing

Range Rover Evoque

Well-to-do urban hipsters of the world are smiling today following the release of new information from Range Rover about the company’s “smallest, lightest, most fuel-efficient Range Rover ever.”

You and I will call it the Evoque, but the hipsters will probably stick with SLMFERRE. The Evoque will have its first public showing in Paris at the end of the month.

Does the world really need a new two-door urban assault vehicle, or do Range Rover simply need to lower the emissions output of their fleet? You be the judge.

Secretly, though, it does look pretty cool, don’t you think? But don’t tell anyone. And if you do want to save some shred of credibility, don’t, under any circumstances, get the front-wheel drive version.

Full details after the break.

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Citroen WRC

Citroën previews new DS3 WRC

Citroen DS3 WRC teaser

Citroën has offered a brief video tease of their new DS3-based WRC weapon. It’s not much, of course, just a 34 second YouTube clip. But you do get glimpses of the car’s twin deck rear spoiler and dashboard layout. The side profile above is shown for about one second, as well. The full reveal is set for 30 September, so stay tuned for more details then.

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