Categories
Video

On thin ice

Thankfully, driving on ice is not something we encounter too often in Australia. But, if you do ever have to drive in such conditions the above clip, filmed at Paignton in the UK, offers an insight into how quickly it can go wrong. The footage also show what not to do.

Maybe this whole clip is a hoax, maybe not. If we accept the footage at face value then, according to the comments posted by the YouTube host, what may appear amusing in a short 35 second clip, was anything but at the time the clip was filmed. Apparently the driver of the car was warned not go out on the roads beforehand, but, well, the results speak for themselves.

[via Jalopnik]

Categories
Fifth Gear

Fifth Gear looks set for 2010 comeback

Fifth Gear set for 2010 comeback

According to former Fifth Gear presenter Jonny Smith, it looks like the other British TV show will be making a comeback in 2010. Smith posted the above tweet on Christmas morning (Australian time) and it makes quite a clear statement indicating Fifth Gear will be back.

News emerged in October that Fifth Gear would be cancelled, and the rumour was soon confirmed by Channel Five execs. If the show does return it will be interesting to see if there have been any format changes, or, more importantly, staff changes. Lose Tim Shaw and you have yourself a pretty handy lineup, really.

While it it may be true that Top Gear warms the hearts of more car fans across the globe, I believe Fifth Gear does have a place. If you agree, don’t forget you can get your fix by watching Fifth Gear Web TV.

Categories
Top Gear

Top Gear (Boxing) Day

Top Gear - Season 12

A quick reminder to AUSmotive readers with access to Foxtel that BBC Knowledge will be celebrating Boxing Day with almost 12 hours of Top Gear. This will include all eight episodes from Season 12, which ends with the Vietnam special. If this sounds like fun for all the family, then check the online schedule now, the special starts at 11:30am on Saturday.

Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Q&A with Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher interview with BBC

It’s almost 24 hours since Michael Schumacher put pen to paper with Mercedes GP and media outlets the world over have been clamouring for information. One of the first to get an interview with Schumacher was the BBC, that interview has since been uploaded to YouTube and can been seen below, after the jump.

One piece of info which was missing from the Brawn GP statement was the length of Schumacher’s contract. It was understood that Michael had signed a one year deal with Mercedes, however in an interview with Formula1.com, Schumacher confirms he has a three year deal to drive with the Silver Arrows.

Schumacher also revealed plans to stay on with Mercedes after his driving tenure expires, “Regarding the driving, the time frame is three years. There was never any intention to do a one-off. There will be an option after that to be brand ambassador for Mercedes, which would make sense in a way.”

Michael also confirmed that the invitation to race for Brawn took place in November, when the rumour-mill first began to gather momentum. He also revealed that Mercedes’ intention to buy into Brawn GP was known at the time, “At the end of November I got a call from Ross concerning an option to go racing again. Having got that call from him and the information that Mercedes will be involved, that did it.”

The Mercedes GP sponsorship deal with Petronas makes a lot more sense, too, as they clearly would have known Schumacher was coming back.

Formula1.com also has a brief Q&A with Ross Brawn available, so make sure you check that out as well.

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen Scirocco gains specialist import approval

Volkswagen Scirocco R

According to the latest Register for the Specialist & Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) Volkswagen’s Scirocco is eligible for low level imports. A similar process was used for the Nissan GTR, by which a company called GT Compliance was able to import small numbers of GTRs to Australia prior to Nissan Australia introducing the car.

It is unclear as to who is behind this application, but one can certainly see a scenario where an independent party is prepared to bring the Scirocco down under while Volkswagen Australia cools it heels.

It is worth noting that eligibility under SEVS does not mean the car automatically complies to Australian Design Rules (ADRs). The SEVS website states: “The fact that a vehicle is included on the Register of Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles does not guarantee it will be able to gain approval to be plated. A vehicle may not be able to satisfy specific ADR requirements even though it meets the requirements set out for eligibility on the Register.”

According to the ruling only the Scirocco 2.0 TSI and Scirocco R have been approved. The 2.0 TSI uses the the same 155kW engine found in the current Golf GTI. The Scirocco R uses a 195kW engine, which is closely related to the Audi S3.

There has been a lot of talk about the Scirocco, one month it’s coming, next month it’s not coming. Volkswagen Australia representatives have been quite guarded about it all. AUSmotive understands the decision on importing the Scirocco rests with Volkswagen Australia. That is, there would be no obstacles presented by Volkswagen AG in Germany if they decided to add the car to its local lineup.

AUSmotive will keep an ear to the ground on this development and will pass on any news as it comes to hand.

You can view the Scirocco’s SEVS ruling HERE, or a screen grab is available below.

[Thanks to Mark for the tip]

Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

It’s official: Michael Schumacher joins Mercedes GP

Michael Schumacher signs with Mercedes GP

Finally, it has been officially announced that Michael Schumacher will make a comeback to Formula One with Mercedes GP. A strong rumour first broke early this morning stating Michael had signed a deal to drive with the Silver Arrows and this has just been confirmed on the Brawn GP website.

Rumours first began about a month ago, after it was revealed that Schumacher was seen in discussions with Brawn and Mercedes officials at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Since then it seems anyone who has anything to do with F1 has piped up to have their say on Schumi’s return.

The move reunites Schumacher and Ross Brawn, a combination that has won seven world championships (two with Benetton, five with Ferrari). In the statement provided via the Brawn website, here is what the two men had to say:

Michael Schumacher: “MERCEDES GP PETRONAS represents a new challenge for me both in a sporting and a personal context. It is a new chapter in my racing career and I am really looking forward to working with my old friend Ross Brawn and my companions from my days with the Mercedes Junior Programme. I am convinced that together we will be involved in the fight for the Formula 1 World Championship next year and I am already looking forward to getting back onto the race track. For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many years when I began my Formula 1 career and now I can hopefully give something back to the brand with the star.”

Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Schumacher watch: I just can’t get enough edition

Schumacher is coming back!

Michael Schumacher is about to stand on top of the world and start screaming, “I just can’t get enough!” Of course, he can’t get enough of Formula One and now it seems the Mercedes GP rumours are about to come true.

Almost two weeks ago it was reported that Schumi and Mercedes GP had reached a verbal agreement that paved the way for the seven-time world champion to return to Formula One. Overnight the BBC declared that the deal has been signed off by both parties and an official announcement is expected in days.

Schumacher’s deal is believed to be for one year, with options to extend if both parties agree. It is understood Michael will earn £6.2M (AU$11.3M) in 2010.

Now, the big question remains, can Schumacher add to his 91 Grand Prix victories, and, more importantly, can he achieve the ultimate and claim an eighth world crown? His reunification with Ross Brawn, the man who was by his side for all seven of his World Championships, will give Michael confidence to go all out aiming for all out success.

How will Schumacher cope with a number of the sport’s young stars? Will the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso and Sebastien Vettel be starstruck, or will they simply say, move over old man, you’ve had your turn?

Only one thing is certain, beyond any doubt, the 2010 Formula One season will be fascinating on so many levels.

[Source: BBC & TimesOnline | Thanks to Sean for the tip]

Categories
Formula 1

All roads lead to Rome

Rome secures F1 street race

According to several media outlets Bernie Eccelstone has confirmed the city of Rome has secured a seven-year deal to host a Formula One Grand Prix. The new circuit would be a street track and the first race is due to be held in 2012.

Rome’s addition to the F1 calendar will not come at the expense of the traditional Monza fixture. This means there will be two races held in Italy.

The possibility of a street race in Rome first attracted attention in May this year. But it was thought Bernie Eccelstone was not too keen on the idea.

The final track layout is yet to be confirmed, but a proposed circuit guide, built around Via Cristoforo Colombo, is available on YouTube and can be seen after the jump.

[Source: PlanetF1, The Motor Report, F1 Fanatic]

Categories
Top Gear

I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like

Top Gear 14x05

Internet criticism has led to Top Gear‘s Executive Producer, Andy Wilman, to write an article defending the show. In line with the old adage about criticising art it would seem many an internet fan doesn’t know much about producing a television show, but they know what they like. And, according the the masses, they don’t like Season 14 of Top Gear which is more than half way through its current run.

Wilman admits that the crew has been up against it this series, “Personally I’ll be glad to see the back of it. We’ve done some good stuff this series, but we were too rushed and too knackered to get everything right.”

He also understands that they may have pigeon-holed the three presenters too tightly, “I do believe we’ve now got the presenters playing to their TV cartoon characters a bit too much – Jezza the walking nuclear bomb, Richard the daft Norman Wisdom, and James the bumbling professor.”

But Wilman also explains that the show’s philosophy is to never die wondering if a new idea will work, “it is just us pushing in a different direction, because we’re still very much obsessed, as a team, about attempting new things with cars on TV.”

At the end of Season 13 there was much talk that it marked the end of the road for Top Gear. While that turned out to be more internet scuttlebutt, Wilman does reveal the end of the show will happen sooner, rather than later, “It’s fair to say this incarnation of Top Gear is nearer the end than the beginning, and our job is to land this plane with its dignity still intact.”

If you’re a fan of the show and haven’t already seen Wilman’s blog, take the time to follow the link below, it’s a very worthwhile read.

[Source: TopGear]

Categories
McLaren

Jay Leno gives McLaren MP4-12C thumbs up

Jay Leno in the McLaren MP4-12C

Top Gear fans will recall Jay Leno was in Britain earlier this year waxing lyrical with Jeremy Clarkson. It seems while he was at the Top Gear test track he also got some time inside a McLaren MP4-12C. As one might expect, this encouraged Leno to wax lyrical some more. This time about the new McLaren supercar, as his article for The Times reveals, “Being in the McLaren made me feel like, if Colin Chapman, the Lotus founder, were still alive, I was in a car he would have made.”

He continues, “It felt extremely nimble, precise and accurate. All the things a Lotus is famous for but in a package that is uniquely McLaren. I love the fact it has fought tooth and nail to get every ounce of weight out of this car and under 3,000lb (1.3 tons). It’s a revelation in this day and age.”

Take the jump now to see video of Jay’s joyride.

[Source: TimesOnline]

Categories
GM Saab

Spyker extends Saab offer

Spyker logo

You may remember from yesterday that Spyker put a deadline on their latest offer to buy Saab from GM. It now appears that deadline was as flexible as a Saab convertible.

The Dutch manufacturer has just issued a brief comment stating, “Spyker has been in contact with GM today, and continues to develop its proposal for the purchase of Saab. Spyker has extended the validity of its proposal therefore until further notice.”

Categories
Aston Martin

Aston’s One-77 development is up to speed

Aston Martin One-77

Aston Martin are boasting that development of their One-77 supercar is currently up to speed. In fact, they have even put a figure on that speed—220.007mph to be exact. No, I don’t really believe the 007 bit is anything other than a marketing gimmick, either.

Still, 220mph is bloody quick, in modern lingo that’s 354km/h. Mind, with a 7.3 litre V12 engine at one’s disposal you’d expect some pretty healthy numbers. True to form the One-77 is on track to be the fastest Aston Martin ever.

Aston have been conducting high speed testing in southern Europe, although they don’t say where exactly, and the 220mph run was achieved as recently as last week. Dynamic testing is scheduled for early next year.

Deliveries of the ultra exclusive coupé will commence in mid 2010 and will be limited to just 77 examples—hence the name.