Categories
Porsche

Porsche 918 Spyder ready for 24 hours of hell

Porsche 918 Spyder

The stunning Porsche 918 Spyder with hybrid drive could be racing in next year’s Nürburgring 24 hour race according to various reports. After coming so close to winning the race this year with the 911 GT3R Hybrid the 918 has the pedigree to give an outright victory a big shake.

With around 500hp on offer from its conventionally powered 3.4 litre V8 from the RS Spyder and a further 218bhp of electric power available Porsche have already claimed the 918 can lap the Green Hell in under 7 minutes and 30 seconds. Put some race slicks on, tune up the suspension a bit and that time should get even more impressive.

Porsche want at least 1000 genuine expressions of interest before the car is built. At last count the number was already at around 900.

The 918 is a great looking machine and it would look even better in all out attack race trim.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Categories
Audi

Audi S1 European pricing accidentally published

Audi S1 rendering

According to reports Audi Spain have inadvertently revealed European pricing for the upcoming Audi S1. This happened when a price list for the full A1 range was published and showed the S1 would have a starting price of €28,360 (approx AU$42,600).

This is interesting from an Australian perspective because the S1 would need to enter the market at around that price point. A $40K+ figure puts it firmly in Golf GTI territory. Although, such a figure would price the car roughly in line with the MINI Cooper S. The MINI John Cooper Works is in the $50K+ price bracket, and can be taken well north of that depending on the number of options chosen.

At this stage there doesn’t appear to be any further news from last week’s info that came wrapped in Polo R packaging.

That means we’re expecting the S1 to be driven by its front-wheels only. It will have a 136kW 1.4 litre twincharged engine and will only be available with a 6 speed S tronic transmission. Apparently space constraints prohibit the fitment of a conventional manual box.

[Source: TopSpeed.com]

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen buys major stake in Italdesign Giugiaro

Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk1

Any opportunity to post an image of the iconic Mk1 Golf GTI is one AUSmotive will grab with both hands. And news of Volkswagen purchasing a major stake in design house Italdesign Giugiaro has provided that chance.

Of course, Giugiaro penned the very first Golf back in the 1970s. The relationship with the Volkswagen Group continued with models such as the original Passat, Scirocco, Audi 80 and more recently the Volkswagen W12 also being designed by Giugiaro. It goes without saying the Italian styling house has also been responsible for numerous Alfa Romeos, Fiats, Lancias and many more.

After taking control of 90.1% of the Turin-based company Volkswagen Chairman Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn said, “A new era in the strategic partnership between our companies begins today. Italdesign becomes a permanent member of the global Volkswagen family. The company will therefore be making an important contribution to our 2018 global growth strategy.”

More after the break.

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Categories
Skoda

2010 Skoda Superb Wagon – Australian pricing

Skoda Super Wagon

Recent vehicle sales may indicate an upward trend in the SUV segment, but Euro wagons will always rate highly on the AUSmotive cool wall. If you need a large family-sized car, buck the trend and get a Euro wagon. They have a je ne sais quoi that cannot be matched by any SUV.

The new Skoda Superb Wagon perfectly fits the estate car mould that says no to bling and just goes about its job without fanfare and without screaming look at me.

Space aplenty, quirky features and an engine range catering for all desires are just some of the attractions with the Superb. An entry list price of $40,990 is also quite a hook for a car of this ilk. That gets you the excellent Volkswagen Group 118TSI four cylinder in Ambition trim. As you move up the price range you can say yes a 125kW TDI ($43,990), and you can even say yes again to the 118TSI, this time in Elegance trim ($46,990). What you really want, though, is the V6 powered 191FSI 4×4 ($57,990).

The V6 is sourced from the very tidy Volkswagen Passat R36 and while marketing forces rob 19kW when the 3.6 litre narrow angle engine is found under a Skoda bonnet it will still provide enough poke to give you one of the coolest sleepers on the new car market today.

A Skoda wagon with a Haldex IV all-wheel drive system that accelerates to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, while sounding as angry as a Rio Tinto executive at a Labor Party conference, well, sign me up!

Skoda have stuffed plenty of kit inside the Superb Wagon, too. Park Assist is one example you will find across the entire range. For more info and a full list of prices take the jump and read what Skoda’s PR team has to say.

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Categories
BMW

BMW Z4 sDrive35is – Australian pricing

BMW Z4 sDrive35is

When the BMW Z4 sDrive35is was announced it was remarkable how many of the car’s key stats were on par with the Audi TT RS. Well now we can add another one—price. With a starting list price of $129,900 the top range Z4 is a few grand cheaper than the TT RS. In regards to power and torque, both cars offer 250kW and 450Nm.

The Z4, though, includes a few party tricks in its kit to help it trump the TT RS. On paper, anyway. The sDrive35is can momentarily utlilise an overboost function on the 3.0 litre straight six twin turbo engine to push torque to a peak figure of 500Nm. While Audi is known for their S tronic double clutch gearbox it is an optional extra on the TT RS. With BMW’s new hero roadster a 7-speed DCT is all yours with the standard asking price.

Making the most of that nifty DCT is a launch control feature which should make it a doddle to perform repeated sprints to 100km/h in BMW’s claim of 4.8 seconds.

Helping to differentiate the most expensive Z4 in the range from its cheaper models is a tiny little “s” at the end of the model designation. Seeing as most punters will probably miss that you best point out the aluminium wing mirrors. Y’know, just like on the TT RS. Also, there is a more aggressive front spoiler, part of a more comprehensive M Sport Package.

After driving the Z4 range earlier this year AUSmotive is pretty sure the chassis can handle the extra kilowatts on offer from that little s. Of course, BMW has no doubts that it can, and you can read their spiel after the jump.

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Categories
Volvo

Volvo fantasy league

Volvo C30 Polestar concept

You know how those fantasy football league things work. You try and cram Rooney, Drogba and Torres up front, with Terry, Vidic and Vermaelen down back. In the midfield you somehow have to find the cash for Lampard, Fabregas and Gerrard. It’s a tough ask, to be sure, but Volvo have had a crack at doing the same thing with their C30 Polestar Concept.

You’ll remember the car first showed its bright blue face at the Gothenburg Motor Show last month. In case you missed it, up front the fireworks are provided by a 400bhp 2.5 litre turbo in line five cylinder. Yes, that’s right—four hundred horespower! Defence is bolstered by Brembo brakes and race-inspired Ohlins suspension. Mid-field distribution is handled by a specially tuned Haldex all-wheel drive system.

Sounds stark raving mad, doesn’t it. So how does it drive? Well, I’m glad you asked, because the Euro motoring press have just been handed the keys, pointed to a closed track and told to give that Swedish smurf a jolly good seeing to.

Autocar reckon: “On Volvo’s tight, cresty test track in Gothenburg it delivered an impressively lashed-down driving experience, with massive adhesion, telepathic steering and a neutral chassis balance that makes it easy to find the sweet spot between understeer and (mild) oversteer.”

Top Gear says: “It is fast. Worryingly fast. One of the very quickest small things we’ve ever driven. Polestar says the C30 recorded a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds… and that was going easy on the transmission. They reckon a full-bore test would see it go close to four seconds flat. It’ll lap Volvo’s test track quicker than an Evo X… and within a few seconds of Volvo’s C30 touring car.”

Impressive. It’s not all fun and games though with reports suggesting the car is a little off production standard. Which is possibly why we may never see this Concept make it into Volvo showrooms. As a vehicle to announce the Polestar brand as Volvo’s in-house tuning specialist, though, the C30 Polsetar Concept is kicking goals from all over the park.

There’s a new video after the break, too, which is pretty much the same as the one already posted here, but with English sub-titles for the Swedish interviewees.

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Categories
Porsche

Quick review of the quick Porsche Boxster Spyder

Porsche Boxster Spyder Here’s another video review of the Porsche Boxster Spyder. It’s a 90-second effort with thanks to Autocar. It’s no surprise that the result is quite promising. It’s also no surprise the manual roof cops some criticism. Check out the clip below.

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Categories
BMW

More news on the front-wheel drive BMW

BMW front-wheel drive rendering

Last week Autocar brought us more news on the future of the front-wheel drive BMW range, including this Alfa-esque rendering.

The latest info suggests the front-wheel drive BMW will actually be badged as a 1 Series, and not 0 Series as first expected. It won’t replace the existing rear-drive platform, rather, from 2013 you’ll be able to order your 1 Series with front or rear wheel drive.

While the above image relies on some guesswork the expectation is the front-wheel drive 1er will look quite different to its rear-wheel drive sibling.

BMW don’t expect the front-drive 1 Series and the MINI to steal sales from each other. They refer to the Volkswagen Group’s success with the Golf and Audi A3 models as an example of two similar cars appealing to different buyers. Speaking about the BMW-MINI market segments a BMW insider has said to Autocar, “Our research shows BMW and MINI appeal to different buyers.”

Prototypes of the front-drive BMW should be on the roads in about 12 months from now. Expect lots more speculation between now and then, too.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Lamborghini Motorsports

Lamborghini Super Trofeo driver survives horrific crash at Brno

Super Trofeo crash @ Brno

The driver of this Lamborghini Gallardo competing in a Super Trofeo race in Brno yesterday has survived with relatively minor injuries. Unconfirmed reports suggest the lucky driver escaped with a broken arm and first degree burns to his legs. (See update below.)

Such injuries would usually be cause for concern, but take a look at the series of images after the jump and you will understand just how fortunate this guy is to be alive. It’s a sickening crash. Fortunately the impact happened on the main straight and Czech Republic marshalls and safety officers were quickly on the scene.

As well as the images below you can also see a YouTube clip of the accident. More images can be seen by following the source link.

[Source: foltyn.cz | Thanks to Chris for the tip]

UPDATE: Here is a link to an official statement from the Super Trofeo website. It reads, in part: “The driver of car number 22, Giorgio Bartocci, was taken to hospital following an accident at the start of the first race of the weekend.  He remains in intensive care in hospital in Brno, where his condition is currently stable.”

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Categories
MINI

MINI gives Countryman an early preview

MINI Countryman preview

Earlier in the week MINI gave journos from around the globe a sneak peek at the new MINI Countryman. Yeah, I know, must be another lost invitation in the mail for AUSmotive. Anyway, MINI didn’t muck about either, sending the hacks out on a track with the most powerful Cooper S version, and fitted with the company’s new ALL4 all-wheel drive system.

So, is this just a big lard arse that will damage the excellent reputation BMW has forged for the MINI brand? Here’s a snippet from the MotoringFile review:

“So here it is. My chance to rip the Countryman apart for being overwrought and overweight. When it was first announced no one at MotoringFile hid their feelings of disdain for the idea of a MINI crossover. Why? It was against what we all knew the brand to be. But more than anything it was an affront to the performance mind-set that so many of us have when it comes to these small cars. And yet I’m sitting in Munich after just driving a pre-production R60 trying to conjure up the adjectives that best describe how shockingly good the car really is.”

Sounds promising. Well, for those readers who can get past the fact that MINI are a) making a crossover and b) making a proper mid-size car at all. There will be a lot who won’t. And that’s probably fair enough, too.

The MotoringFile article is quite detailed and includes some great information on the new Countryman, so do check it out if this car floats your boat. Below you will see more images from the preview. Also included is MINI’s press release from Munich. Not sure why the cars are wearing camouflage given official images of the Countryman were released in January, but there you go.

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Categories
Top Gear

“Oscar, we think we’re about to pass Top Gear!”

Top Gear spied during motorhome challenge

If AUSmotive’s calculations are correct there’s around 56 days until Series 15 of Top Gear goes to air. So what’s in the pipeline for the next season? Well, a couple of weeks ago a YouTube clip surfaced featuring the lunatic parents of Oscar and, as it happens, Jermey, Richard and James. Some say Oscar is as real as The Stig and Nürburgring shaped nipples. All we know is Oscar’s mum and dad eat lunacy for breakfast. We also know there will be a motorhome challenge in the upcoming series.

If you’re game, check out the video after the break.

[Source: Top Gear]

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Categories
McLaren

Sydney named as location for McLaren Automotive dealership

McLaren showroom rendering

McLaren Automotive have just announced the locations for their initial dealership rollout. The good news is Australia is on the list. Well, Sydney is, more specifically. The bad news is the Sydney showroom will be launched in the second of two stages.

There are plans for 35 dealerships around the world to begin with. The first stage will see 23 locations open across Europe, North America, South Africa and the Middle East in the second quarter of 2011. No firm dates have been given for expected opening dates for the second batch, although Dealer Principals will be appointed later this year.

Locations included in the second stage of dealerships include Sydney, Hong Kong and Tokyo from the Asia-Pacific region. Also joining the party will be Spain and further additions to the United States and the Middle East.

The first car to grace the new McLaren showrooms will be the MP4-12C. The eagerly anticipated 12C will make its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July.

Full details available from McLaren after the jump.

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