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BMW

Front-wheel drive BMW ‘0 Series’ gets green light

BMW '0 Series' sketch - via BimmerFile.com

Autocar is reporting that BMW execs have signed off what was once unthinkable, that is the production of a new front-wheel drive model. They claim their source is none other than BMW Chairman Norbert Reithofe. The newest entry-level BMW, likely to be badged as the ‘0 Series’, will piggy-back off the next gen MINI platform and will be priced below the 1 Series.

This latest news has emerged from the Geneva Motor Show, and follows speculation from December last year. “We will be extending the BMW and Mini brands into the small car segment with new models and variants,” Reithofe told Autocar, acknowledging demand for premium vehicles in the compact segment is on the rise.

BMW intend to counter the new Audi A1, as well as the Smart Forfour currently under development. The next MINI is scheduled for release in 2014, however it is likely that the ‘0 Series’ could be on European roads as early as 2013.

The other interesting tidbit from the Autocar article, is in reference to future 1 Series production. While the quote was not acknowledged to Reithofe, Autocar say a Munich insider told them, “We are looking at alternatives. With the new platform set to support four-wheel drive, it wouldn’t be that hard to use the transmission tunnel for a rear-wheel-drive application.”

[Source: Autocar | Pic: BimmerFile]

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Hyundai Mazda Subaru Toyota VFACTS reports

New vehicle sales report – February 2010

FCAI banner

Monthly sales figures have continued to trend upwards on 2009 data with an increase of 17% (almost 12,000 vehicles) compared to February last year. According to official VFACTS numbers 82,219 new vehicles rolled off showroom floors last month.

Breaking the monthly comparison numbers down further, business sales remain strong, up by almost 23% on 2009 sales. But it was the rental segment that has given a major boost to results for February 2010 with an increase in sales to rental companies of 175%.

There was also a modest 9.3% increase in the number of private buyers taking delivery of new vehicles. FCAI Chief Executive Andrew McKellar says, “Looking ahead, sustaining the confidence of private buyers is the key challenge for the economy.”

“For that reason we continue to be cautious about the impact of interest rate increases,” Mr McKellar said.

Toyota and Holden held their recent traditional placings as the top two selling marques in Australia. However, Hyundai has displaced Ford from third position by boosting their sales to the tune of 8.8%. This is the first time Hyundai has reached a top three position on local sales charts. The news is worse for Ford, too, as Mazda, in fourth place, have relegated the blue oval further down the charts.

Interestingly, the number of manufacturers sending out press releases trumpeting their results is significantly down on January’s efforts.

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Audi Motorsports

Audi updates R8 GT3 racer for 2010

2010 Audi R8 LMS 'Evolution'

Back in 2008 Audi launched the race-going R8 LMS. The car was prepped for the 2009 season ready to race in GT3 categories across the globe.

Indeed, the four-pronged R8 attack on the 2009 Nürburgring 24 hour race almost ended Porsche’s recent domination of the event. The #99 Phoenix Racing entry held the lead for 17 hours until a drive shaft problem cost valuable time. In the end it was the #97 Abt Sportline car that finished in second place, highlighting the impressive debut by the R8. As well as that, the R8 LMS went on to secure three championships and 23 race wins during 2009.

For the 2010 season Audi have made some changes to their go fast machines to ensure they remain capable of leading the field. The ‘Evolution’ updates include revisions to the chassis, suspension and cooling systems. While on-board electronics and the race-tuned exhaust system have been further enhanced.

Customer deliveries of the 2010 spec cars have started, with the US-British alliance of United Autosports being the first in line. If you would like to join them and you have a spare €300K+ burning a hole in your pocket, well, I’m sorry, but you’re out of luck. The 2010 production run has sold out and all customer cars will be delivered before the end of April. If you’re still keen you’ll need to try your luck with the ‘Race Experience’ program or get your name on the list for the 2011 production run.

Owners of 2009 spec R8 LMS cars are able to make the same changes to the 2010 models to ensure they can now race with the latest specification.

Australian race fans will get their chance to see the 2009-spec R8 LMS up close next weekend at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide. Mark Eddy, 2008 Australian GT Champion, is the first private buyer outside of Europe to get his hands on the purpose-built GT3 racer. Find out more on the Australian GT website.

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BMW Motorsports

BMW Z4 GT3 official images emerge

BMW Z4 GT3

Some official images of the BMW Z4 GT3 racecar have emerged and it looks pretty damn impressive, don’t you think. Okay, in a road car sense it’s actually a bit naff with all those wings and diffusers at the back. But, in a purpose built track car sense, bring it on!

If you’re a real BMW anorak you will probably recall that BMW have said they would never fit a V8 engine to the current Z4. Well, they lied. To be fair, the Z4 GT3 will never see full series production, so raiding the parts bin to make a kick arse racing machine can be excused.

Anyway, that engine, yep, it’s pretty much the same 4.0 litre V8 found in the M3 GT2. That means power is around 485hp and peak torque should be nudging 500Nm. There’s also a race-toughened 6 speed sequential transmission to help move things along.

I get the feeling some very wealthy men around the world (and possibly women too) are going to get a little bit excited about driving this car. More details as they come to hand.

[Source: Car]

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Categories
BMW

The oldest trick in the world

BMW S 1000 RR tablecloth trick

BMW is at it again with this new video promoting their S1000RR motorcycle. The image above tells you what the trick is, but can the bike make the trick work? Watch the clip below to see what happens next…

[Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

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News

Step back in time

AUSringers - lap of the Ring from 1972

Fans of the Nürburgring Nordschleife will love this AUSringers post, which features a selection of images captured during a tourist lap of the famous course in 1972. The photos were taken by a US resident who lived in Europe at the time. So, why don’t you step back in time some 38 years and see what a traffic free lap of the Ring looked like back in the day.

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Saab

Saab speculation inspires 9-1 rendering

Saab 9-1 rendering

With the immediate future of Saab now secure, plans for a new compact-sized model are emerging. Expected to be badged as the 9-1, the new mini-Saab is creating enough hype for the Photoshop gurus to start speculating what the car could look like.

The new Saab will still continue to draw mechanical inspiration from the GM parts bin and the 9-1 would likely be based on the new Astra platform. With the well established MINI and new Audi A1 in its sights the Saab 9-1 needs to marry style, handling and hype in equal parts if it is to make a lasting mark in this space.

The above rendering is somewhat clunky in parts, but it does give a good idea as to how Saab styling cues may translate to a smaller car.

[Source: Autocar via Autobild]

Categories
Formula 1

Mark Webber drives virtual lap of Bahrain

Red Bull Racing simulator, Bahrain

There’s less than a week to go until the first race of the 2010 F1 season. Bahrain is the first stop this year and Mark Webber helps build anticipation levels by taking us on a virtual lap of the circuit in the Red Bull Racing simulator. Just how will Mark and Sebastien go in the RB6 this year? Webber has shown good pace in pre-season and has been talking up his team’s chances. While, for many, Vettel is a dark horse for the 2010 world championship.

The lap can be viewed in full after the break.

[Thanks to Wes for the tip]

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Categories
Audi

Walter drives down memory lane

Walter Rohrl, Audi Quattro

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Audi Quattro motor racing legend Walter Röhrl has stepped behind the wheel of a beautifully maintained 1984 Group B Quattro for the first time in 26 years. Fortunately the stretch of road chosen for this leisurly drive is the Col de Turini, from the Monte Carlo Rally. And, more fortunately, there were cameras there to catch the action.

Take the jump now to see the clip in full.

[Source: Autocar]

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Categories
Audi Motorsports

Audi launches R8 LMS Race Experience

Audi R8 LMS

Audi have recently announced they will be offering cashed up wannabe racing drivers a seat in an R8 LMS. Two GT3 cars will be prepared by the Joest Racing Team, the guys responsible for six of Audi’s recent Le Mans victories.

Joest will be entering up to six VLN races at the Nürburgring this year, among other activities, and if you have the cash for this “Race Experience” you could find yourself in the hot seat.

“For the first time, the Audi race experience offers customers the opportunity to participate in a race with a professional Audi ‘factory’ team without having to enter into a long-term commitment or to make a high financial investment,” explains Klaus Demel, who is in charge of the Audi driving experience. “I’m very happy that we’ve been able to win Audi Sport and Reinhold Joest’s team as a partners for this project.”

Joest kicks off their VLN season on 24 April, so you’d better start saving your pennies!

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Categories
Toyota

Pot calls kettle black

Toyota Prius

Until now the current predicaments facing Toyota and its damaging recalls, especially in the United States, have been left untouched by AUSmotive. However, a recent tidbit caught my eye and I felt it was worthwhile sharing. And, besides, it’s a chance to poke a bit of fun at Amercians, and as delightful as our good friends Stateside are, it’s always fun to revel in a cheap shot.

US Senator Mike Johanns has suggested a ban on all vehicle imports from Japan be introduced until the Japanese government guarantees their vehicles are free of defects. He went on to say, “I can tell you the American consumer is getting tired of this thing if we are getting substandard products.”

Erm, sorry Mike, but would it be too unfair of me to point out that America is the market leader when it comes to vehicle manufacture of substandard products. Let’s face it, as a general rule, Amercians make crap cars. Substandard is their forte.

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Categories
Green Machines Motor Shows

It’s not easy being green

Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid

If you could sum up the 2010 Geneva Motor Show in one word it would be “hybrid”. No longer the realm of cardigan-wearing Toyotas, the cool kids all got electricity sets for Christmas and have been waiting for the first opportunity to show what they can do. Porsche, Ferrari and Audi are just some of the kids to have flicked the switch at Geneva. Volkswagen, too, not wanting to be left out, revealed their goal to be the world’s premier supplier of hybrid vehicles in just eight years from now.

So what do we make of all this greenwashing by from the flash end of town? I mean, the Porsche 918 Spyder is a car which is said to have the outright raw pace to lap one of the world’s greatest racetracks in a time that would have been deemed unimaginable a few years ago. Especially from a “hybrid”. The 918 has a combined power from its petrol guzzler and ‘leccy motor of some 730hp. Are they having a laugh saying their hybrid sportscar is green? Or is there more to it than that? Remember, in full electric mode, y’know, zero emissions and all that, the 918 can travel a measly 25km.

For an interesting critique on the emerging hybrid sportscar obsession, have a squiz at this opinion piece from Jalopnik. Here’s a quick teaser for you, “These cars won’t save the planet, but they might just get a few rich dudes laid.”