Following the official reveal of three pictures earlier this month, new images of the 2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta have emerged.
It would seem that the Giulietta is only planned to be built in a five door configuration. Although, Alfa’s familiar disguised rear door handles do give a coupe-like look at first glance. Apart from that there’s not much else to report.
There’s 13 new pics in all, so take the jump to check out the rest.
[Source: Autocar]
Here at AUSmotive we like hot hatches, and the Renaultposrt Clio is one of the better ones around. So it waswelcome news to read that a privately entered Clio 197 will be taking part in the Armor All Bathurst 12 hour next year.
The car will be entered by Richard Gartner with Safe-T-Stop sponsorship. Richard says his car is ready to go and expects to lap somewhere around the 2 minute 40 second mark.
“At the moment all the safety features are added. The car will run on German KW Suspension components, fitted and supplied by East Coast Suspension, Kirrawee. It will also use a Limited Slip differential designed by Drechsler Motorsport in Germany,” explained Gartner.
Richard has extensive enduro experience behind him, including a class win at Bathurst earlier this year, and several outings at the amazing Nürburgring 24 hour race. He will be joined by GT Champion Mark Eddy and the pair are still on the lookout for a third driver.
According to some the Ford Focus RS already has too much power for its front wheels to handle. But German tuner Mcchip-dkr clearly doesn’t think that way. If you hand them your RS, along with €4500, they will return it to you with a new intercooler, enhanced sports exhaust, revised inlet manifold, specialised spark plugs and, of course, they’ll have fiddled with the ECU for you, as well.
Okay, that sounds good, but what are the numbers you ask? How does 401PS sound! Or, in our language, they will boost your car’s standard 224kW up to an extraordinary 295kW. Peak torque also gets a massive rush, going from an already stupid 440Nm to a stupendous 612Nm.
About the only thing modest with this Stage 2 up size is the increase in top speed, which goes from 263km/h to 278km/h. Mcchip-dkr also offers an engine warranty program for extra peace of mind. All this adds up to one very happy meal.
[via WorldCarFans]
Lexus Australia have happily announced they have secured five LFA supercars for the Australian market. With a worldwide production run limited to 500 models that’s a reasonable coup for the local market. However, European pricing has been reported at €368,000. For those playing at home that is 600,000 Aussie dollars. Sure, you can’t always do currency conversions like that to arrive at a new car price, but whatever language you speak, 600K is a lot of moolah for a fancy Toyota.
However, Lexus Chief Executive John Roca reckons he’ll have no problems moving the LFAs off the showroom floor, “The fact that Australia has been allocated any LFA vehicles is testament to the importance of the Australian arm of the global Lexus brand. Our next challenge is managing the allocation process – we are already certain that we will not have enough LFAs to fulfill demand.”
Since announcing they would be winding down Saab’s operations GM has received new interest from parties ready to take on the Swedish manufacturer. Dutch sports car maker Spyker was the last company to have a serious crack at buying Saab and while GM has already knocked them back once, they have launched a new bid.
Spyker’s chief executive Victor Muller claims his company’s new offer resolves the issues raised by GM late last week, “We have made every effort to resolve the issues that were preventing the conclusion of this matter and we have asked GM and all other involved parties to seriously consider this offer.
“We are very confident that our renewed offer will remove the impasse that was standing in the way of an agreement on Friday, and this would still allow us to conclude the deal prior to the expiry of the deadline originally set by GM.”
For their part General Motors have released a brief statement stating, “Following Friday’s announcement that GM will begin the orderly wind down of Saab, GM has received inquiries from several parties. We will evaluate each inquiry. We will not comment further until these evaluations have been completed.”
More news as it comes to hand.
Update: Full statement from Spyker added below.
I wonder if the reason recent climate change talks in Copenhagen were considered a bit of a non-event is related to the arrival of two new “Carbon Black” Aston Martin special editions? Well, despite the company’s efforts with the questionable “Cynical”, Aston is hardly the world’s greenest car manufacturer.
Like the COP15 discussions adding the words “Carbon Black Special Edition” to the DBS and V12 Vantage sounds very promising. However, exactly like the Copenhagen talks, the reality fails to live up to the hype.
The good news, though, is that these special editions don’t come at much of a cost. While firm pricing is yet to be announced Aston say sir will only need to cough up an extra 5% over the existing pricing for the DBS and V12 Vantage.
For your money you’ll get unique Carbon Black exterior paint and a few other cosmetic tweaks. The V12 Vantage gets a slither of carbon fibre on the side vents, too. Obsidian black leather with contrast stitching also features on both cars. Audiophiles can get their jollies with a 700w Premium Audio in the V12 Vantage, while DBS buyers will get to brag to their mates that the have the Bang & Olufsen Beosound system. Impressive, huh.
Actually, it seems the only change of genuine merit are the carbon fibre and kevlar seats which save 17kg each over the regular pews.
Orders can be made now, although pricing won’t be confirmed until next month. Overseas deliveries are scheduled for March 2010 and according to The Motor Report Australia is in line to receive four Carbon Black models. Yes, just four.
More after the break.
UPDATE 25 January 2010: Mercedes GP Petronas 2010 season launch
Mercedes GP have been quick to pounce on the sponsorship scraps left by BMW’s withdrawal from Sauber by picking up title sponsorship from Petronas, the Malaysian oil and gas giant. That means the simple name of Brawn GP will be replaced in 2010 with the rather long winded Mercedes GP PETRONAS Formula One Team.
Quick mockups of proposed livery have been uploaded to the Brawn GP website and a second image can be seen after the jump.
Ross Brawn and Nick Fry can hardly believe their luck, given this time last year they were faced with the very real prospect of having to sack all of their 700 strong staff after Honda quit F1. Of course, we now know the two men were able to take control of the team, saving it from obscurity. Then the fairy tale season that was 2009 happened and now the team has emerged as one of the strongest teams on the grid. And that applies no matter if you’re talking, financially, technically or in regards to tactical ability.
It would seem that only the Schumacher comeback can now complete this stunning transformation. With Nico Rosberg locked in already, Nick Fry has said that Mercedes GP will not be announcing their second driver until early 2010. How much of that is bluster is unknown, but it is worth noting that Schumacher’s 41st birthday is on 3 January. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Anyway, back to this Petronas deal, Brawn, as you’d expect is very chuffed with today’s news, “Everyone at Mercedes GP is delighted to confirm our long-term agreement with PETRONAS and we look forward to working closely with our new partner in the future.”
Brawn continued, “Our plans for the new season are progressing well, as is the development of our 2010 challenger, and we look forward to seeing the car run in the new Silver Arrows and PETRONAS livery at the Valencia test in February.”
The full statement announcing the sponsorship agreement between Mercedes GP and Petronas can be viewed below.
“We will work closely with the Saab organization to wind down the business in an orderly and responsible manner. This is not a bankruptcy or forced liquidation process. Consequently, we expect Saab to satisfy debts including supplier payments, and to wind down production and the distribution channel in an orderly manner while looking after our customers.”
And with those words, GM Europe President, Nick Reilly, brings to an end General-Motors’ 20 year ownership of Saab. More seriously, those words also announce the demise of the Swedish brand after buyout talks with Koenigsegg and, more recently, Spyker could not be finalised.
The motoring industry needs brands like Saab. It needs a company that is prepared to present alternative thinking to the market. Of course, a lot of that sometimes oddball thinking had been homogonised by GM, but there was always a glimmer of hope that the old Saab could break through.
GM has extinguished that last glimmer of hope. The motoring world is now a poorer place.
Or is it? Already a movement to save the company has started. But can Rescue Saab come to the party and provide a genuine solution?
A full statement from GM can be read after the jump, along with a short gallery of images to pay respect to the other Swedish car company.
Ooh, it’s getting closer now. Oh yes! Michael Schumacher and Mercedes GP are about to spend the night together to consumate the most eagerly anticipated F1 comeback of all time.
It’s only a few days since Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo gave his approval for Schumacher to leave his advisory role with Ferrari’s road car program. Well, now, good old Luca has come out with this piece of oh-my-god-this-is-actually-going-to-happen-gold, “I hadn’t spoken to him [Michael] since Abu Dhabi but I spoke to him yesterday [Wednesday],” di Montezemolo said, in reference to Schumacher’s F1 comeback.
“He phoned me and he told me that there is a very, very, very strong possibility [of racing for Mercedes-Benz]. Having said that, it is not 100 per cent decided. But that is what he said yesterday morning.”
But, there’s still more!
Schumacher’s personal PR assistant at Ferrari, Sabine Kehm, has left the building. Gee, I wonder where she might be going?
But, there’s still more!
It is being reporter that Schumacher’s manager, Willi Weber, is due to meet Mercedes GP bosses Ross Brawn and Nick Fry in the next few days. Gee, I wonder what they will be discussing.
But, there’s still more!
If you reckon this whole Schumacher watch thing is getting a little bit loopy, just wait until you read Luca di Montezemolo’s evil twin theory.
“A guy called Michael Schumacher told us at Monza he would renew his consultancy contract. And it looked like his career would finish with Ferrari.
“But then there’s another one who looks like him, 40 to 41 years old, German, same name… and he has decided to do a new career. Everybody in life can do what they prefer, and I understand that there is somebody at 41 years who wants to try again. So I think it’s possible this twin, another Michael Schumacher, same age, same capability, some determination and spirit, will drive for Mercedes next year,” di Montezemolo theorised.
[Source: autosport.com & pitpass.com]
Porsche test driver, dual world rally champion and all round motor racing legend Walter Rohrl will be driving a Porsche 911 GT3 RS at the 2010 Nürburgring 24 hour race. Rohrl will be 63 when the race takes place in May and it will be his first N24 since 1993.
There’s not much else around announcing this drive at the moment other than the following quote from Rohrl himself, “No other road-going 911 has ever been as close to a race car as this current GT3 RS,” said Rohrl. “That’s why I’m thrilled to be able to prove that this sports car is up to the challenge of the 24-hour race.”
Rohrl will have 118bhp per litre at his disposal from the 3.8 litre flat six engine. That’s around 450bhp (335kW), which won’t grab too many headlines for outright power, but it’s safe to say the GT3 RS will handle itself very well around the demanding Nordschleife circuit.
As usual AUSringers.com is planning to cover the race as best as can possibly be done from the other side of the globe!
[via evo]
Today Bernie Ecclestone and Eddie Irvine have stepped up to the plate providing the content for Schumacher watch.
Bernie said his legs don’t break, walking on the moon. Actually, I think he might have said he is “absolutely over the moon” at the thought of Schumi returning to the F1 grid.
Apparently Robert Kubica’s phobia of Luxembourg has him thinking twice about staying at Renault, following news that Genii Capital are moving in. The Pole was said to be eyeing off Michael’s seat at Mercedes. But Bernie soon put that right saying, “Well, they’ve got Michael haven’t they. They won’t want Michael and Kubica.”
Well, Robert, back in your box son and back to Renault for you.
Lovable playboy Eddie Irvine managed to roll over this morning pushing models away to answer BBC Five live’s distress call. To help calm them down he revealed that Schumacher has a drug habit. Yes, you see, Eddie says nothing match the thrill that Formula One provides, “In F1, you’re on show and got to perform, whereas in the real world it’s months or years before you can get the same rush. Michael has been karting since he was four or five so he knows nothing else,” said the Irishman.
Irvine also took the time to indulge in a bit of sledging, “He tried the motorcycle riding which was sheer madness because he wasn’t very good and wasn’t getting paid so I never understood that one, but F1 makes sense.”
So, there you have it. Schumi has an addiction and is a rubbish motorbike rider. Eddie said so. Until next time…
[Source: guardian.co.uk & crash.net]
Some people have way too much time on their hands. But, in this case, that’s good for us. This stop animation short film has it all—epic car chase scenes, semi-automatic machine gun fire and explosions. Lots of explosions. Apart from that it doesn’t make a hell of a lot of sense. Expect it to be turned into a Hollywood blockbuster very soon, then.
[via Autoblog]