Categories
Audi

Audi S5 Sportback – Australian pricing & specs

Audi S5 Sportback

Audi’s very svelte and very attractive S5 Sportback went on sale last week. Audi has set the list pricing for this car at $129,300.

For your money you get the same excellent 3.0 litre supercharged V6 engine from the S4 saloon. With that comes the same power specs, too; 245kW and 440Nm of torque.

It’s a ripping engine that offers plenty of poke through the entire rev range. In the S4, at least, it’s also well matched the the 7-speed S tronic transmission. Which is a good thing, because there is no conventional manual box on offer for S5 Sportback in the Australian market.

Mr Uwe Hagen, Managing Director of Audi Australia, said “the S5 Sportback is a great addition to our unique A5 Sportback range. It is not only practical enough for daily use, it is also sporty and fun to drive.”

Audi has modest sales expectations for the S5 Sportback, hoping to to sell around 10 per month. Full details and a nice gallery of local images have been kindly offered by Audi Australia and you can see them all after the break.

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari throw 599 GTO keys to evo

Ferrari 599 GTO

We’ve already seen a couple of videos featuring the hugely desirable Ferrari 599 GTO. But another one won’t hurt, will it.

This time it’s Chris Harris from evo behind the wheel. Adding another dimension is some in-car footage filmed around Fiorano with Ferrari test driver Raffaele de Simone (last seen lapping a 599XX around the Nürburging in under 7 minutes). De Simone offers further insight into Ferrari’s aims for the 599 GTO.

In his written review Harris says this about the 599 GTO, “The project’s main aim was to reduce understeer, and it certainly works – on track it has far more front axle grip than a GTB. It’s less forgiving though: set-up for ultimate lap-time, it punishes indecisive or clumsy inputs.”

For a car with a magnificent V12 roar like this, you’re better off watching the videos, you can check them out after the break.

[Source: evo]

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Categories
Audi

Audi RS3 looks certain after new prototype images emerge

Audi RS3 prototype
Audi RS3 prototype

After endless teasing, it now appears certain that Audi will make an RS3 hyper hatch following the sighting of this test mule at the Nürburgring recently. If the deep TT RS inspired front grille wasn’t enough of a giveaway, then take a peak at the back of the car. There you will see the possibility of a high-mount air brake. In the lower valance you can see a crude cut-out on the right hand side likely to house one of the twin exhaust tips featured in Audi RS models.

There doesn’t seem to be much else in terms of pure speculation about the RS3 just yet, but expect more news to filter out soon. We can only assume an RS3 would be powered by the cracking 2.5 litre five cylinder from the TT RS. It’s also interesting to note the supposed RS3 mules spotted to date have all been five door Sportback versions. With talk the next RS4 could return to an Avant only layout, perhaps we can begin to assume the RS3 will not be available in three door coupé form.

There’s some good pics available over at Autoblog, so make sure you pop on over for a squiz.

[Source: Autoblog]

Categories
Safety Issues

And they all lived happily ever after

Embrace life - Sussex Safer Roads Partnership

Sometimes the simplest ideas make the most effective statements. This is especially the case with the Embrace Life road safety commercial, launched as part of the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership in the UK.

The ad first aired in January this year and has since received over 9 million views on YouTube. More recently the ad was shown last night on ABC television program The Gruen Transfer. Background information about the production of the ad is available on the Alexander Commercials website.

Writer and director Dan Cox explains his thought process, “I wanted to create a visual metaphor addressing how a single decision in a person’s day can greatly influence both their own and their loved ones’ lives. Choosing to film the story inside the family living room represents the feelings many people equate with their own car, in that it represents a level of safety and protection from the ‘outer’ world. So to create the emotion of this dramatic moment, I wanted to tell the story using slow motion to allow the audience the time to be drawn into the film’s world and to let them connect with and project their own feelings onto the scenario playing out before them. I wanted to give the audience the time to breathe, to absorb our message and using slow motion was the right technique to allow this to happen.”

You can see the commercial below—it’s a poignant safety reminder that delivers its message with a positive message, rather than demonising the audience.

For me, the strong emotional pull of the ad made me consider other aspects of road safety and driver attitude. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well.

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Categories
Top Gear

Top Gear – Season 15 trailer

Top Gear - Series 15 preview

Great news for Oscar’s mum and dad; they’ve been featured in a new preview for Series 15 of Top Gear. The new season kicks off this weekend and you can see the latest BBC2 promo right here on AUSmotive. There it is, just after the jump.

If you’d rather not listen to a couple of screaming loons, then take a peak at the Top Gear blog where you can discover the Chevrolet Lacetti has been axed and that the crew had a big meeting and decided to try a bit harder this time around.

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Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Valencia

Mark Webber

Mark Webber is back to tell us all about the nice weather and the relaxed racegoers he expects to find at the European Grand Prix this weekend. He also manages to find the time to take us on a virtual tour of the Valencia track.

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Categories
Safety Issues

Skaifey says

Mark Skaife

One of Australia’s most successful racing drivers, Mark Skaife, recently put his reputation on the line to promote his views on improving driver behaviour. He aired his thoughts a couple of weekends ago on Channel 7’s quasi-tabloid television program Sunday Night.

Skaife’s three main steps to safer roads include accredited driver training, in a bid to prevent parents from teaching their kids bad habits; improved road infrastructure, as well as more consistent road signage; and government incentives to encourage the purchase of newer and safer cars for young drivers.

This is a massive issue and one that can’t be satisfactorily resolved on this humble blog. Some of Skaife’s views have genuine merit, while some are a little ill-considered. For example, while an increase in freeway speed limits might be worth considering if certain measures are in place first, Skaife should have known that mentioning anything with 140km/h in it would send self-righteous critics into an absolute tail spin.

After all, we live in a country where an international advertising campaign from BMW featuring a car sliding around at low speeds in a closed warehouse was banned for fears it would encourage hoon behaviour. At the same time, so long as you’re advertising flavoured milk, it’s deemed okay to speed down a country road in your ute while your girlie is hanging out of the window and your mate jumps on to a truck.

Anyway, you can watch Skaife’s original piece after the break. And, if you can bear the sight of Mike Munro, there is also a follow up interview featuring Skaife and current member of the National Road Safety Council, Wayne Gardner.

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Categories
MINI Porsche

Porsche > MINI

MINI v Porsche

For those of you who have been following the MINI v Porsche challenge you’ll be pleased to know the results are in. The course was announced a couple of days ago and MINI USA provided a makeshift motorkhana style track for its Cooper S to take on the Porsche 911. Despite this attempt to tailor a course to in favour of the MINI’s excellent handling characteristics the result was predictable, as the grab above from the video shows.

You can watch the full race after the jump, including a pre-race interview with each of the drivers—Brad Davis (MINI) and Corey Friedman (Porsche). At this stage there’s been no official response from the man who started it all, MINI USA President, Jim McDowell. He has one last chance to save face, let’s see what he comes up with.

Over the years MINI’s marketing across the world has been first class; mostly cheeky, witty and engaging. This stunt, though, well, let’s hope it is only MINI USA that has jumped the shark.

[via Autoblog]

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Categories
Audi

Audi RS4 back on the wagon?

Audi RS4 rendering

The latest RS talk from Audi has centred around the RS5 coupé. However, news is now emerging of a return for the famed RS4 badge. This rendering was published to the carspyshots website quite some time ago and clearly shows an RS4 sedan.

But, according to a recent post on Fourtitude, the RS4 will be Avant only. Given AUSmotive’s love for all things Euro and wagon this makes me a very happy bunny. Unofficially, I had heard the future for the RS4 might not be good, especially following the launch of the RS5.

Although, with BMW offering a sedan version of their all conquering M3 you can’t imagine Audi leaving this niche unexplored; the previous B7 model RS4 was widely acclaimed as the best RS4 yet. So, will the RS4 be back at all? Will it be wagon only? And do we really have to wait until 2013 to discover the answers?

[Source: Fourtitude]

Categories
Top Gear Australia

Top Gear Australia names cast for 2010

Top Gear Australia cast, 2010

We knew Top Gear Australia was going to be produced after the switch to Channel Nine, but, until now we didn’t know who would host the program. Well, apart from a dodgy Shane Warne rumour. As you can see Steve Pizzati (left) is back, and is the only of the former SBS hosts to keep his job.

Joining Pizzati is comedian Shane Jacobson (centre) and journo Ewen Page, who just happens to be editor-in-chief of Top Gear Australia magazine and the topgear.com website.

Self-confessed revhead Jacobson, best known for his lead role in the movie Kenny, is cockahoop at his new gig, “I like many different types of cars, so now that I’m getting the chance to drive plenty of fast cars on other people’s insurance, let me just say I’m as happy as Elvis in a room full of burgers.

“But the people who pay the insurance aren’t quite as excited. I think they feel like Guy Fawkes has just been given the keys to an explosives factory – and they’re right.”

Meanwhile, Page is keen to be taking on one of the few roles in he hasn’t tried during his career in motoring media, which is approaching its fourth decade, “I’m aiming to bring a more urbane, intellectual feel to the show. I will be testing Saabs exclusively, wearing black turtleneck sweaters and featuring in extended stories on the car and its role in modern society. Or doing burnouts in a Falcon ute.”

As for Pizzati, he seems to be his usual vibrant self, “Eat + sleep + incessant travel + seriously cool driving = my life, but I am currently trying to remove the first three parts of the equation.”

No news yet on when the new series will go to air; on his Transmission blog Ewen Page says filming is just about to begin, so we’re a few months away yet. Can commercial television turn Top Gear Australia into something fair dinkum Top Gear fans will genuinely embrace? Not sure about anyone else, but while I wish the new crew all the best, I’m not holding my breath.

[Source: TopGear.com]

Categories
BMW

BMW 507 – eBay offers a genuine classic

BMW 507 - eBay find

Every now and then eBay turns up a genuine motoring icon. This listing from the US of an incredibly rare BMW 507 is one of those examples. Just 253 of the aluminium skinned coupés were made by BMW. All were hand built and were powered by a 150hp 3.2 litre V8. The example on sale is in excellent condition, with the only real negative being the make-shift head unit install.

Back in the 1950s when the car was made its achilles heel was its price and this was the reason for its low production numbers. Although, it did count motorsport legend John Surtees and the King, Elvis Presley, among its owners. The cost of the car can never hide the 507’s gorgeous shapes and lines, though; it ranks in the AUSmotive annals as one of the most beautiful cars ever made.

Today, though, its rarity simply drives used prices up. This eBay listing is proof of that, with the current bidding at US$500,100. The auction ends tomorrow.

After the break you can see more photos as well as the text detailing the car’s history, which has been copied from the eBay listing.

[Source: eBay US | Thanks to Jono for the tip]

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Categories
Hyundai MINI

Hyundai v MINI

Hyundai v MINI

There’s big news for those who have been following the MINI USA challenge to race a Porsche 911. Like Porsche, you might have stopped worrying about the try hard Jim McDowell, even though there have been developments since our last update—including a Rocky IV spoof.

Back to that big news, well, the article title kind of gives it away I guess, but Hyundai have thrown their hat into the ring and have laid down a counter challenge to race MINI. After the break you can see the YouTube reply from the Korean upstarts who still have a lot to learn in Slick Marketing Presentations 101. (Although, the Hyundai Top Gear spoof was very well put together).

That said, in their 3.8 litre V6 Genesis Coupé, Hyundai might have already prepared a match for the best MINI can offer around Road Atlanta. It seems this desperate PR stunt originally launched by MINI won’t go away, so let’s wait and see what happens next…

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