Volkswagen AG have reacted to customer feedback by introducing a 5-seat layout for the Passat CC. In European markets the new rear bench seat option is priced at a low €100 (approx AU$155). The new seating arrangement features an asymmetric split option to allow for extra load storage from the boot. All three seats feature head restraints and lap-sash seatbelts.
Volkswagen Australia is yet to confirm local availability of this option.
Another random Google Street View sighting of The Stig. Last year he was spotted at an office block in Hammersmith. Now, he has been spotted on the shores of Loch Ness in Scotland. While that first spotting might have had some legitimacy, given the office block is supposedly the Top Gear offices, I dare say his latest messing with “Nessie” is a well executed prank.
Playing around with the Google Street View sighting you can see it looks like The Stig made his own way there, either by Honda Civic Type R or a Vauxhall Astra. Let’s hope it was the Civic, hey. Whoever is responsible, fair play, it’s a great gag.
[Source: Final Gear]
Following yesterday’s launch of the Mercedes GP Petronas team lead drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg talk up their chances for the 2010 Formula One Season. The clip is available after the jump and Schumacher says he believes his signing for Mercedes GP will be full of “great moments”.
You can find out more for yourself on the team’s new website and YouTube channel.
MINI Australia brings us news that followers of the brand will have already known for a few months now. That is, the exclusive availablilty in Australia of a MINI John Cooper Works Challenge Edition. Essentially the Challenge Edition is a bunch of goodies cobbled together for a bargain basement price. Kind of like a chilli pack on steroids. How does an extra seven grand of kit for $2500 sound? Not too bad, hey.
Only thing is those closely following MINI Australia’s movements would have thought availability of the Challenge Edition had expired which is what their website said prior to Christmas and is still saying today—”only until 31 December 2009″ (see screen grab below).
But with a press statement being launched in time for Australia Day I guess buyers can once again consider taking advantage of this offer. So what does the Challenge Edition consist of?
You start with one ripping MINI John Cooper Works model (hardtop, cabrio or Clubman), which is fitted with the same 155kW engine found in the MINI Challenge racecars. Then, for your extra $2500, you get the full JCW body kit, including the John Cooper Works Carbon spoiler. Also thrown in is a JCW Aluminium cross brace, JCW Alcantara and Carbon steering wheel, JCW Carbon gearshift knob with Alcantara shroud, JCW Carbon handbrake lever with Alcantara surround and unique Challenge Edition badging.
MINI say this offer is only available for a limited time, so if you’re keen, you best get on down to your local MINI Garage to see just how serious they are about limiting this special deal.
Full release and extra images available after the jump.
Mercedes GP has just launched their 2010 season. The event took place at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in front of 600 guests. The livery of the new Silver Arrows features silver paint, raw carbon fibre and the green colour of Petronas, the Malaysian petroleum giant and title sponsor.
Don’t get too carried away, though. The car pictured above is simply a repainted 2009 model Brawn GP machine with the new 2010 car still under wraps for now.
Of course, the hype is all about Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One and here’s a bit of what he had to say at today’s launch, “Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up! I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated.
“We have a World Champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia. I am convinced that MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go.”
After checking out the images online of the new MINI Countryman I’ve been left wondering just how big the car really is. On pure numbers, as the image above shows, there’s not much in it. But in reality those numbers don’t reveal the whole truth.
While the R60 has reasonable storage space when the rear seats are folded down, don’t expect the car to swallow too much luggage in a four-seat configuration.
The squared-off front nose of the R60 Countryman makes the R56 hardtop seem almost wedge-like by comparison. The extra height of the crossover model has all been added below the shoulder line, mostly to aid ride height. On the road, though, the Countryman doesn’t look too topsy-turvy. Check out the video after the jump to see the Countryman in action.
I’m still intrigued by this car and will have to reserve full judgment until we see the Countryman in Australia.
[Source: MotoringFile via Auto Bild]
Porsche have recently released this video teaser of their 2010 911 Turbo. You may recall the new 997.2 Turbo has a stonking 500 horsepower courtesy of its 3.8 litre flat six. But if you want to see a couple of 911s tearing up some tarmac, as well as graphic representations of how VTG, PTV and Dynamic Engine Mounts work, then you’ll need to watch the clip. If said clip doesn’t leave you wanting to go and drive your favourite twisty roads then nothing will.
It’s now a couple of weeks since Ford presented the 2011 Focus at the Detroit Auto Show. With the dust settled, let’s take a closer look at the funky sheet metal carving a new direction for Ford. They call it “kinetic design” and there’s a real hint of Chris Bangle flame surface going on. Not that this is entirely new, as the current Fiesta is also cut from the same cloth.
Look closely at the pic above and the way the rear light cluster extends towards the front of the car. At first glance it looks okay, but picture it on a silver or light coloured car. Is that forward extension going to look just a bit too much?
The fuel cap slotting in underneath is also an interesting solution. Again, at first glance it’s a nice way to tuck the lid away. But would a more conventional round lid, as shown on the Focus sedan, have been a better result? Is “kinetic design” trying a bit too hard?
In the last image below, which shows the sedan version from the rear three-quarter angle you get a great look at the creases extending over the wheel arches and the shoulder line along the doors. In theory, the way they run past each other simply shouldn’t work. Maybe it’s the choice of the silver paint and the studio lighting, but there’s something pleasing about the craziness going on there.
The new Focus and the “ONE Ford” global car platform strategy holds great hope for the US carmaker. Despite some reservations I think thew new Focus is a good step forward (on the outside at least). But will this bold new direction pay the required dividends?
Here’s a short and sweet photo gallery showing the Volkswagen Amarok getting down and dirty during the 2010 Dakar Rally. In all 35 Amaroks were used during the event, 20 of those assisting the successful Race Touareg teams, while the other 15 were used by media and race officials. Looks like they had fun.
Arrrrrrrr, ooh arr me hearties. September the 19th (mark it in your diarrry) is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, and for people not inclined to wear pink or buy a bear, these sort of days form an integral part of the calendar year. While your colleagues may applaud your Movember cultivation in the name of charity, some events are best left for the self, an indulgent ego trip for the soul to enlight and enliven the 262nd day of the year. It’s either that or celebrate the Solomon Islands joining the United Nations.
A little research had me reciting some Pirateese with far greater competence than when I nervously entered my fifth form GCSE Oral French exam. The entire charade revolved around me actually speaking another language other than francofied english for the benefit of the Yorkshire exam board, represented in this case by a small Sanyo tape recorder on a desk in a cold, unused classroom. My meek attempt to ask directions to the railway station had my dear French teacher waving manically the direction of the relevant verb tense behind the tape recorder as though it might see him with me moving from present to past like a manic fifteen year old Doctor Who. A charades champion he was not, and a B was, frankly, far greater reward than I deserved, thanks in part to his valiant effort.
The language of Pirate on the other hand revolves around a lot of poor grammar and a lot of ‘arrr’. For example, when stuck for something to say simply utter ‘arrr’. For example:
Pirate One: Me boys n me we was cuttin the ‘ole bunch of lubbers into pieces and sendin’ ’em to Davey Jones’ locker, so we was.
Pirate Two: Arrr.
If only I could have arrr-ed my way to La Rochelle railway station.
Following the leaked images earlier in the week MINI promptly responded by releasing over 50 official pictures, as well as confirming the model’s Countryman name. You can see those images, along with MINI’s press release after the break. As usual, simply click on the pics you like to launch wallpaper-friendly 2000px super images.
The Countryman, previously previewed with the Beachcomber Concept, will be the first MINI to feature their new ALL4 all-wheel drive system. It is worth noting, though, ALL4 remains an option to be ticked at this stage, it is not standard equipment (pending Australian market specification).
MINI’s full complement of engine options will find homes under the Countryman’s skin. That means the about to be updated 135kW Cooper S engine right down to oil-burner from the 66kW One D. The only motor missing from MINI’s kit bag is the very enthusiastic 154kW John Cooper Works option. But, hold the phone, a JCW Countryman may be coming at a later date, along with the growing rumour of a World Rally Championship entry.
Personally, I am pleasantly surprised by the general look of the Countryman. Having said that, it is definitely a car that needs to be seen in the metal to truly judge its proportions. The finer design details set a unique language for the Countryman, while clearly being a part of the MINI range. The detail of the roofline over the Countryman’s C-pillar is very reminiscent of the similar juncture on the MINI Coupé Concept.
Okay, now to address the elephant in the room. Why on earth is MINI making the Countryman at all? “Alec Issigonis” and “turning in his grave” are terms on high rotation since these photos came to be. But would Issigonis really be recoiling in such horror?
Superstition, apparently, has seen Michael Schumacher edge ahead of new teammate Nico Rosberg before a wheel has even been turned. You see, 2009 world champion Jenson Button has taken the number 1 with him to McLaren. This means the new Mercedes-Benz team will be carrying the numbers 3 and 4 during 2010. The team’s first signing, Rosberg, was originally given the number 3 for his car. Since then, of course, Michael Schumacher has walked through the door. It would be normal, then, to assume Schumacher will race in 2010 with the number 4 on his car.
However, Michael has a preference for odd numbers, so we are being told. Seeing as he has won all seven of his world titles racing with an odd number on his car perhaps this makes sense. Therefore, Michael asked if he could swap numbers with Rosberg. Supposedly the younger team member agreed with no fuss. In doing so, has Rosberg merely cemented his junior status both in age and in team ranking?
Maybe it’s nothing, but I reckon this is the first of Schumacher’s inevitable mind games. Shrewd bugger, isn’t he. I mean, Michael won five of his world titles as defending champion, that is, he was carrying #1 on his car, as is the right of the current title holder. So the whole odd number thing is a bit of a misnomer, isn’t it, Yeah, #1 is an odd number, but it’s hardly something to build a superstition on.
Maybe Schumi should ask Jenson if he wouldn’t mind giving up number 1 as well. It’s only fair, chances are Button won’t have #1 in 2011 anyway. And, let’s face it, if you tally up the number of titles won by the other drivers in the field Michael is still three championships ahead. Just give the guy #1 now and be done with it. He deserves it more than the other kids.
[Source: The Guardian]