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MINI Porsche

MINI v Porsche

MINI v Porsche

This is Jim McDowell, President of MINI USA and former Porsche employee. In the video after the jump Jim presents a challenge to Porsche by daring them to race a MINI. Part PR stunt, part madness but typical of the brash MINI marketing methods employed around the world since the car was launched in 2001.

MINI have proposed a date for the showdown of 21 June, so we don’t have long to wait and see what happens next. The cars to take part would be a MINI Cooper S and a Porsche 911. The track? Road Atlanta, a purpose-built 4km long track conveniently located near Porsche USA headquarters.

For their part Porsche seem interested with Steve Janisse, Porsche’s Media Relations Manager, saying, “Porsche has the most racing victories of any manufacturer out there – 28,000 and counting – maybe we should go for 28,001.”

More info available from facebook.com/MINIUSA.

[Source: Jalopnik via Kilometer Magazine]

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Audi Motorsports

Live coverage of Le Mans 24 hour from Audi tv

Audi tv - Le Mans 24 hour

Below is a YouTube clip advertising live coverage of the 2010Le Mans 24 hour race this weekend direct from Audi tv. Clearly, the coverage will focus heavily on the three R15 TDI bearing the four rings. But, for those of us with limited access to full race coverage this footage from Audi could be a very valuable thing indeed.

Can Audi win their ninth outright victory, or does Peugeot have what it takes to defend last year’s success?

[via The German Car Blog]

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Categories
Formula 1 Red Bull Racing

Webber signs with Red Bull Racing for 2011

Mark Webber

Mark Webber has signed a one-year contract extension with Red Bull Racing that will see him stay with the team for the 2011 Formula One season.

According to Webber negotiations were well underway before the Turkish Grand Prix debacle, “It was an easy decision to remain with Red Bull Racing. We began talking very early this year and were in a position to sign by the Barcelona Grand Prix.

“The decision to extend for a further year was a mutual one; it’s widely known that I’m not interested in hanging around in Formula 1 just for the sake of it and at this stage of my career, I’m happy to take one year at a time.”

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Categories
Audi

2012 Audi A3 speculation

2012 Audi A3 rendering

Here’s a bit of goss about the next model Audi A3. Apparently the Ingolstadt crew are being kept so busy with the A1 and imminent Q3 that the next generation A3 has been put on ice for around 12 months. That means Euro markets will be seeing the next Audigolf in late 2011, maybe.

With increased competition from an extended BMW 1 Series range, as well as improved offerings from the Mercedes A and B Class ranges, the new A3 is expected to once again spawn three and five door variants, along with cabrio and Sportback models.

It seems the new-model-has-to-be-bigger phenomenon will see the 2011 A3 grow to a size slightly bigger than the current Golf VI. The rendering above, if correct, indicates the look of the new car will be a definite case of evolution with the Sportback model shown incorporating an A4-inspired lower belt line and new lighting design.

It’s probably not worth speculating too hard on the expected engine line up the next A3 will bring to market, for the simple fact a lot of fuel consumption and CO2 emission numbers are likely to be shed to ensure the Audigolf is one of the cleanest and greenest cars in its class.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Categories
News Top Gear

Top Gear, Season 15 – UK premiere on 27 June

Top Gear S15 back 27 June 2010

The guesswork is over and it now appears Season 15 of Top Gear will return to UK screens on Sunday 27 June. At least, that’s the tip given in the latest UK version of Top Gear magazine. Should be a pretty reliable source, then. A bit interesting the boys will be back while the World Cup is still underway, but who are we to complain.

There will be just six episodes in this series, with the final episode scheduled for broadcast in the UK on 1 August.

[via finalgear.com]

Categories
Volkswagen

The wolf is mightier than the elephant

VW Amarock TVC

We know that Amarok is the Inuit word for wolf. But we didn’t know the wolf is mightier than the elephant. At least, that’s what this latest television commercial from Brazil is trying to convince us.

The Amarok is now on sale in South America, but Australians will have to wait until the end of the year before they can get first hand look at the vehicle Volkswagen hopes can break the Toyota Hilux.

After the jump you can see the elephant commercial. There’s also another Amarok ad that reminds you never to give the keys to a an old Spanish looking geezer.

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Lexus

A touch of glass

Lexus LFA shatters glass

Lexus have been flogging their LFA supercar on television, billboards and print media of late. Here’s a new gimmick we’re likely to see, in the form of a new TVC (watch it after the jump). There’s no doubting the LFA and its 5.0 litre V10 sounds absolutely fantastic. But do we really care if it can shatter a glass or not? Does it really matter? How many glasses can an LFA break on its way to 200km/h? What is the point?

Or is this simply a chance for Lexus to claim that the LFA can do something better than Ferrari, Porsche and even Mercedes-Benz. Audi, at a pinch, too. Because, price aside, Lexus is going to have its work cut out to convince supercar buyers of those established brands that the LFA offers something better.

Though, to be fair, The Motor Report did tell us last week that all 500 LFAs have been spoken for. Including the five examples bound for Australia. Mind, the latest from Autoblog says you might still be able to secure an LFA if you ask nicely.

With a €370K asking price, one can only imagine the horror of Australian pricing. Based on that Euro figure, you would expect local pricing for the LFA to be north of $600,000!

[via TopGear]

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Categories
BMW Motorsports

BMW Art Car by Jeff Koons to race at Le Mans 24 hour

17th BMW Art Car - Jeff Koons

BMW and Jeff Koons have unveiled the latest addition to the BMW Art Car range. The seventeenth in the series will race in next weekend’s Le Mans 24 hour race.

The bold colours and strong graphic nature of Koons’ design were inspired by images of racecars, speed and explosions. Koons says his Art Car evokes bursting energy, motion and power. It should look fantastic on the racetrack.

“These race cars are like life, they are powerful and there is a lot of energy,” said Koons. “You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy. There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car – it’s really to connect with that power.”Koons was named as the artist chosen to produce the latest BMW Art Car back in February and both he and BMW have been on a tight schedule to ensure the car is ready for Le Mans. The artwork was applied with specially designed adhesive vinyl. Wearing number 79 the M3 GT2 will be driven by Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Dirk Werner.

More from BMW after the break, including a couple of videos, pictures and text.

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Categories
Alfa Romeo Safety Issues

Five stars for Alfa Romeo Giulietta

Alfa Romeo Giulietta

The cute Alfa Romeo Giulietta has recently been awarded a 5 star crash rating by Euro NCAP. With an overall score of 87 points from a maximum of 100 the Giulietta ranks as the safest car in the compact class.

In 2009 Euro NCAP raised the bar on what is required to achieve a 5 star rating and the testing is still on a upward sliding scale. By 2012 the testing regime will have reached its toughest measure. The good news for Alfa is the Giulietta just tested has achieved a high enough score that will ensure its maximum rating will still be achieved.

Crash testing rates four main criteria: Adult Occupant, Child Occupant, Pedestrian Protection and Safety Assist. In those categories the Giulietta scored an almost perfect 97% for Adult Occupant protection and a very high 85% for Child Occupant safety. Pedestrian Protection was rated at 63% and a score of 86% for Safety Assist shows the car’s on board electronic safety systems are very effective.

More from Alfa Romeo and Euro NCAP after the break.

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Jaguar Motorsports

Jaguar XKR GT2 prepared for Le Mans

Jaguar XKR GT2

There’s a bit over one week to go until the 2010 Le Mans 24 hour race and the chaps at Jaguar are celebrating their 75th anniversary by entering an XKR GT2.

It is the company’s first appearance at Le Mans for around 20 years and Managing Director, Mike O’Driscoll says, “Motorsport has always been important to Jaguar. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation stone in our history and our success in the late 80s and early 90s reinforced our reputation as one of the great sports car manufacturers.

“As we look to the future with our new range of high performance ‘R’-branded cars – the XKR and XFR – we aim to make the Jaguar brand synonymous with motorsports once again. It’s good to be back.”

The XKR GT2 has been prepared by the JaguarRSR team and will be driven by Marc Goossens, Ryan Dalziel and Paul Gentilozzi. Featuring a supercharged 5.0 litre V8 with over 500 horsepower the Jag will be doing its best mixing it with the likes of the BMW M3 GT2 fresh off its Nürburgring 24 hour success.

More after the break.

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Categories
Formula 1

Hit me baby one more time

Webber & Rosberg crash, 2006 Brazi GP

With all the drama, tantrums and petulance of the last week its time to take a lighter look at intra-team contact in Formula One. Well, lighter in the sense of that well known formula: comedy = tragedy + time.

Mark Webber again takes centre stage in this story. And, again, he was shunted off track by his teammate. The team was Williams, the race was the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

After the jump you can see a replay of the contact between the two drivers. Also included is a written account of what happened. It is believed the report was originally sourced from autosport.com. The kick is at the end when Webber delivers a wonderful dose of dry Australian humour.

[Thanks to Wes & Sean for the tips]

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