Categories
Audi

Is Audi making an RS version of the R8?

Audi R8 GT RS?

This Audi R8 was recently photographed at a service station near the Nürburgring in Germany. It’s a bit of an odd one. Are those red markings on the body work part disguise, or part bad taste? Is that lower front splitter an aftermarket add-on, or a work in progress? Are they really new exhaust exits up high, coming straight from the engine bay? Speaking of which, could there be an even more powerful V10 underneath that plastic engine cover?

But, a bigger question remains; is there really scope for yet another, driver focused, iteration of the R8 given Audi has already give us the R8 GT? Maybe this could be a rear-wheel drive only beast to take it up to the Porsche GT2 RS.

So, we have a lot of questions about this car, let’s hope Audi has some answers for us soon.

[Source: Auto Express | Pics: autoscoop.biz]

UPDATE: Word on the tweet says this car may simply be an MTM development prototype, rather than Audi being up to any new tricks. I thought there were too many unanswered questions on this one.

Continue reading “Is Audi making an RS version of the R8?”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren Mercedes-Benz Red Bull Racing Renault

2010 Italian Grand Prix in pictures

2010 Italian Grand Prix

Fast Fernando fled the field at Monza to send the tifosi into raptures. Button teased them for a moment with a banzai move on the first lap. Massa fumbled about with an over excited Hamilton, before taking no further part in any racing action on his way to the last podium step. Vettel cried about his engine dying before finding the on switch and coming home in fourth. This, mind you, after completing almost the entire race of the soft tyres.

Britney outperformed that Michael bloke, yet again. Aussie Mark fluffed the start, yet again, but scored enough points to find himself at the very pointy end of the drivers’ title race. So pointy, in fact, he is out in front. Mind, his arch rival in fifth place, is within striking distance. So this is one title race that will go down to the wire.

Pedro de la Rosa won’t be winning any races. Rumours suggest Monza is likely to be his last F1 outing after being shown the door in favour of Quick Nick (Heidfeld) who is back for a third try at success with Sauber.

There’s sixty plus pics for you all after the break, which should keep you happy until the sun goes down in Singapore in a couple of weeks time.

Continue reading “2010 Italian Grand Prix in pictures”
Categories
Ferrari Formula 1 McLaren

2010 Italian GP – post-race press conference

2010 Italian Grand Prix

The Italian Grand Prix finished as it started, at least as far as the podium is concerned. Fernando won the race after starting from pole position. He didn’t have things go all his own way, though, with Jenson Button, starting from P2, getting the jump on Alonso and snatching the lead on the first lap. Pitting after Button, Alonso made the most of his free air to claw back enough time to take the outright lead after the pitstops. Felipe Massa, in third, seemed to have a trouble free race.

The full transcript from the official post-race press conference featuring the podium winners is available after the break. Stay tuned for the usual photo gallery to follow in the next 24 hours or so.

Continue reading “2010 Italian GP – post-race press conference”
Categories
Caterham

Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco

Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco

Caterham has released a new entry-level special edition called the Roadsport 125 Monaco. Based on the iconic Lotus/Caterham 7 the cars of today haven’t changed a great deal in over 50 years.

The Roadsport 125 Monaco is powered by a 1.6 litre four cylinder Ford engine. As the name suggests the engine offers 125bhp (approx 93kW). It’s not a lot, is it. Consider, though, the car weighs just 550kg. Fitted with a 5 speed manual transmission the Roadsport can accelerate to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds.

Any genuine link to Monaco is tenuous, at best, you’d think. But the car looks the business and driving it through the tunnel on the Grand Prix track would be a great way to start a day attacking the hills and winding roads around the French riviera.

Continue reading “Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco”
Categories
MINI

MINI to reveal new design concept ahead of Paris

MINI concept

The Paris Motor Show is just three weeks away now. As usual, manufacturers will begin filtering through news, teasing us about all the the fancy shiny products they will have on show. MINI, however, will be going one better by revealing whatever it is underneath these covers in an exclusive preview to be held in London on 23 September.

Even better, if you are a UK resident you could be there. Check out the MINI Facebook page for more details on that.

As to the car that might be under wraps, well, it’s a bit hard to tell really. It’s clearly not a Coupé Concept based model. The biggest hint appears to be given at the front. Take a look at the headlights. A little bit Countryman? Could it be a JCW Countryman, perhaps?

UPDATE 11 September: Hmm, perhaps that first image has thrown us off the scent. The Facebook page has been updated with a sketch that indicates it could be MINI’s first attempt at making a scooter. Yes, seriously! See MotoringFile for more.

Continue reading “MINI to reveal new design concept ahead of Paris”
Categories
Bentley

The new Bentley Continental GT, now in video

Bentley Continental GT

Following the release of images of the new Continental GT from Bentley you can now feast your eyes on a new video clip. Despite ending somewhat abruptly the footage has a great blend of imagery featuring production and design techniques interwoven with the big GT driving around the Ascari race track.

Continue reading “The new Bentley Continental GT, now in video”
Categories
News

Ferrari Virtual Academy

Ferrari Virtual Academy

Reckon you know your way around a computer game? Then the Ferrari Virtual Academy is for you. Ferrari reckon their engineers, in conjunction with Fernando Alonso, Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella, have created a simulator that is just like driving their F10 Formula One car, well, virtually.

The simulator is available for download now and can be purchased in two stages. The first stage (€14.90) gets you the basic set-up along with the Fiorano circuit. The second stage (€9.90) adds the Mugello and Nürburgring circuits.

Once you’re experiencing just what it is like to be an F1 superstar you can register your times and take part in an international tournament. As usual Mac users will have to stick to playing with Photoshop, this seems to be a PC-only experience.

More after the break.

Continue reading “Ferrari Virtual Academy”
Categories
Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson talks about the Ben Collins fallout

Jeremy Clarkson

As well all know Ben Collins was The Stig. The fallout from Collins’ decision to out himself has been massive. For one it’s cost him his job. But it also looks like it has cost him a few friendships, as well.

Jeremy Clarkson was interviewed by internet-only TV station WitneyTV. It’s a low budget community-based outfit covering news in the West Oxfordshire region of England. Now, though, they are reaching a worldwide audience.

Here’s a few quotes from the interview:

“It was a shock. It was horrible, actually. I liked him. He came around to my house, and had drinks, and all that time he was writing a book.”

“TopGear is damaged, but not out.”

“If you’re watching this children, greed is bad.”

“Put it this way, he’s history, as far as we’re concerned. He’s sacked.”

You can see a trailer for the interview after the break, or follow this link for the full interview (Episode #17, fast forward to the 27 minute mark).

[Thanks to Richard for the tip]

Continue reading “Jeremy Clarkson talks about the Ben Collins fallout”
Categories
Opel Vauxhall

Vauxhall GTC hot hatch concept

Vauxhall GTC Concept

Okay, the Holden Cruze hatchback is not a bad looking car. But the current model Astra looks better. As it currently stands there are no plans from Holden to bring the current Astra down under. That’s a shame, really, because it means we probably won’t get to see this new GTC hot hatch on our shores.

The pics here are of the concept model that will be revealed at the Paris Motor Show in a bit over two weeks from now. Concept model or not, this car looks almost production ready. Save, perhaps, for the 21″ wheels.

It looks quite smart, too. Vauxhall/Opel have not confirmed any specs just yet, apart from a few details on suspension and that it will be powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged four cylinder.

More after the jump.

Continue reading “Vauxhall GTC hot hatch concept”
Categories
Formula 1

FIA confirms 2011 F1 calendar

Formula One

The list of races for the 2011 Formula One season was released by the FIA overnight. There will be 20 races in all, making next year’s calendar the longest in F1 history. Some of the details revealed in the leak following the Hungarian GP have proved to be off the mark.

Bahrain will again host the season opener (13 March), with the Australian Grand Prix to follow a fortnight later (27 March). The order of events then continues to loosely follow what we’ve seen to date in 2010.

Four back-to-back races have been confirmed: Malaysia–China (April), Spain–Monaco (May), Germany–Hungary (July) and Japan–Korea (October).

There have been 19 races scheduled this year, all maintain their GP status into next year. The new race for 2011 is the inaugural Indian Grand Prix (30 October), it will be the third last race on the calendar. Following that race will be a trip to Abu Dhabi (13 November), before Brazil once again hosts the season finale (27 November).

So, 20 races, hey—is this starting to become a few too many? No in-season testing. Reduced number of engines. Ever-tightened budgets. Yet, more races, meaning more television revenue coming in to the sport. Hmm, is there something not quite right about this?

A full list is available after the break.

Continue reading “FIA confirms 2011 F1 calendar”
Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Monza

Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing

Mark has dried himself off after a rain-soaked race at Spa and is now ready to tear through the forest at Monza ahead of this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix. He’s also on the lookout for leaping tifosi, beautiful food and a lot of history. Check it out after the break.

Continue reading “Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Monza”
Categories
Bentley

The new Bentley Continental GT

Bentley Continental GT

Back in 2003 Bentley launched a new Continental GT. It was one of the first models to emerge under Volkswagen ownership. It was a great looking car. It had a big, demanding presence, while having some of the nicest curves in the game. That’s a picture of it above. Looks great, doesn’t it. Well, as it happens, that is actually the new Continental GT. Yep, it’s a brand spanker.

So the gentlefolk at Crewe have taken the evolution path, then. And why not, this new Continental GT looks fantastic. To be fair, the car looks even more svelte than before. The iconic crease lines over the wheel arches are what gives this grand tourer its classic shape, perfectly complemented by the well crafted roofline.

The GT is still powered by a 6.0 litre W12. Manufacturing improvements now see that lump producing 423kW (575 PS) and 700Nm. The GT still looks big, so it should come as no surprise, then, that she tips the scales at 2320kg. Despite that, when coupled with a new ZF 6-speed auto and Volkwagen Group’s Torsen all-wheel drive system, the GT can reach 100km/h in 4.6 seconds. That’s a couple of tenths quicker than a BMW M3. If you keep your right foot buried into the floor, you’ll reach 160km.h in 10.2 seconds.

Continuing the bold statements made by this car is the fuel consumption. It’s very bold, actually. The overall combined rating is 16.5l/100km. But I guess sir won’t be too fussed by trivial matters of his Bentley’s fuel consumption.

Coming in late 2011 is a high-output, high-efficiency V8. That sounds suspiciously like the terms used to describe the engine in the Audi RS5. Coming up after the break are more pics and an extensive press release with thanks to the Bentley PR department.

Continue reading “The new Bentley Continental GT”