Knowing there are many fans of the Lancia Delta Integrale among the AUSmotive readership I figured you’d like to know about a new book that has just been released by UK publishing house Veloce. Written by Graham Robson Lancia Delta 4WD/Integrale details the story of one world rallying’s most admired cars. The book totals 128 pages and is available now. More after the break.
The Audi TT RS has some very healthy numbers on its side. Let’s start with the 2.5 litre turbocharged inline five cylinder that produces 250kW of power and 450Nm of torque. That torque is all yours from a low 1600rpm, as well. The TT RS is only available with a six speed manual transmission and Audi reckon it can reach 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.
Nice numbers aren’t they. Then, consider the TT is one of the best looking mid-sized sports coupés on the market and you soon realise Audi could have a real knock out winner on its hands.
A catch. There must be a catch, right?
RS purists will bemoan the fact the TT RS uses a Haldex all-wheel drive system and not a Torsen-based setup, which does have genuine roots to the rally-bred Ur Quattro. They might also have hoped Audi pushed the envelope a bit on the body styling. Where are the beefed up and flared guards seen on other RS models, such as the highly acclaimed B7 RS4?
Take your seat behind the wheel, though, and you soon get a sense this car is something special. There’s the race-inspired Recaro seats, a thick and beautifully styled steering wheel and, of course, all housed in another class leading interior from Audi.
Turn the key, fire up that engine and senses are further heightened by the glorious five-pot growl that lies deep inside the TT RS (listen to the audio sample below).
This is all well and good, but is its bark bigger than its bite? The only way to find out was to head out to AUSmotive’s favourite test route and see how the TT RS fared.
[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/Audi-TT-RS-Drive-Thru.mp3]
Citroën Racing have released their favourite top ten “big air” images from their time in WRC. Some of the images are quite spectacular, as the pic above from Sebastien Ogier in Turkey shows. Check the rest out after the, erm, jump. Make sure you click on each pic for the full 2000px super image.
Ahead of this weekend’s German Grand Prix Red Bull Racing have announced they will adopt a parity policy as they move to put the British GP front wing fiasco behind them.
The team now has enough parts to cover for contingencies ensuring both Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel can race in equal spec machinery. However, if faced with a similar situation to Silvertsone again, where only one part is available, then the driver with the most championship points will be favoured.
Christian Horner explains, “If the component fails through no reason of the driver—and let’s not forget that it wasn’t because Sebastian had smashed the wing, it was a component that failed—then the same rules will apply. But we will work very hard to hopefully not be in that unenviable situation again.”
In further news, it has also been revealed that the revised front wing was removed from Webber’s car as a precautionary measure prior to qualifying at Silverstone. Following the failure of the part on Vettel’s car in the final free practice session the team looked over Webber’s front wing and discovered some ares of concern. The wing was removed and both cars were prepared for qualifying using the old wing design. It wasn’t until half an hour before qualifying that the Red Bull were confident the new component could be used.
Here’s a brief promo for the new Volkswagen Jetta. It is seen driving around the streets of San Francisco. Fortunately for Volkswagen, Steve McQueen was not at the wheel.
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz will appear in the next episode of Top Gear. They will be the guests at the wheel of the Kia Cee’d in the “Star in a reasonably priced car” segment.
The news has just been revealed by Richard Porter on TopGear.com. Porter explains, “Back in 2002 when we were planning New TopGear, we used to reflect on the newly minted idea of a star in a Reasonably Priced Car and cackle quietly to ourselves.
“‘Tom Cruise!’ we would smirk. ‘Tom Cruise in a crappy Korean hatchback!’
“That was the gag: massive A-list celebrities finding themselves shoehorned into the kind of car they’d normally never be seen dead in. The whole thing was deliberately preposterous.”
Episode 5 of Season 15 is shaping up as cracker with an Ayrton Senna tribute scheduled, as well as James May nearing 400km/h in a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport.
[Source: TopGear.com | Pic: imdb.com]
This weekend Mark is thinking about a lot of German drivers on the grid, a huge history and repeating his 2009 success. A matching pair of German Grand Prix victories at the Nürburgring and Hockenheim would make a nice set, don’t you think.
Back in January Audi revealed the Detroit showcar Audi e-tron; a concept model derived from the R8-based e-tron first shown at Frankfurt in 2009. The day after the baby e-tron was revealed speculation began, suggesting the concept model could be the first glimpse at a new “R4” sports coupé. Now, a new report from Automobile Magazine suggests the R4 may actually be an R5. Yes, that five does indicate the possibility of an inline five cylinder engine; think Audi TT RS.
Apparently the R5 carries the internal code name “Mimo”, derived from the German term for mid-engine or “mittelmotor”. The model, or variations thereof, would likely be shared across the Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen brands.
Indeed, it is believed that Porsche could undertake much of the development work for the car under the “9X1” codename. For Porsche “Mimo” would present a 21st century 356 and would be positioned below the Boxster.
The full report from Automobile Magazine is worth the read and includes a drive report of the electric powered showcar, as well. Make sue you check it out.
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
Earlier this year Volkswagen Australia launched a new Golf wagon model. It’s the first time such a variation of the familiar Golf platform had been offered down under. And, well, it looks a bit of an afterthought. Clearly not one of VW’s greatest triumphs in automotive design.
This new rendering from Car and Driver, then, gives new hope to those who like a bit more practicality in the Golf-sized segment. They reckon this is what a new Jetta wagon might look like. Or, more to the point, it’s probably what the next Golf wagon will look like. The article states the next “SportWagen” will remain based on the Golf VI chassis. Remember, the Jetta is now an independent model line.
Whatever the underskin origins of this new Estate car, one thing is certain, it is shaping as being a vast improvement over its predecessor.
[Source: Car and Driver]
This molten mess you see was once a gorgeous Ferrari 458 Italia. If you thought last week’s bbq case was a sorry sight, well, this disaster has taken things to a whole new level.
According to the post on the Wrecked Exotics website this 458 was another French roast. Allegedly the car was having an ace time flying up a mountain pass right up until the point the car’s engine caught fire. The end result, as you can see, was remarkable.
[Source: Wrecked Exotics via TopGear.com]
For every Chris Harris there is a Jeremy Clarkson. That is, for every person who will always find something positive to say about a Porsche 911, there is always someone to find the negative.
Clarkson is well known for his dislike of all things 911, too. This following comment is a perfect example of that, “I don’t remember what sort of 911 I drove first, but I’d heard so many horror stories about the wayward handling that I didn’t dare go more than 4 mph. Which meant I had more time to examine the ridiculously basic dashboard, and the heater controls which appeared to be connected to nothing at all.”
However, has Jeremy seen the light? Maybe be has, “But then along came the new GT3 and I won’t dwell on the whys and the wherefores, but I loved it. Not liked it. Loved it.
“Despite the aesthetic shortfalls, and the fact it’s a 911, this is a great car. It goes round roundabouts like nothing I’ve ever driven. In a test of pure handling and grip, it would be a match for anything. And it only costs £86,000. That’s just shy of half what you’d pay for a Ferrari 458. Half.”
Was the 911 GT3 really able to turn Clarkson’s opinion around 180 degrees? Follow the link below to find out.
[Source: TopGear.com]
Chris Harris from Evo has just filed a report on the stonking Porsche 911 GT2 RS. He’s rated it five stars. Sure, he might be a bit of a Porsche fanboi at heart, but here’s how he explains his thoughts, “This is a remarkable car. Veyron aside, it’s the fastest road car I’ve driven – but it’s completely useable and it still involves you in the process. Want.”
Make sure you follow the link below for the full review. There’s at least one GT2 RS coming to Australia, too. It will be in the calm guiding hands of Jim Richards. He’s selling not one, but three race-prepped 911s to help pay for it—I bags the 997 GT3 RS!
[Source: EVO]