Categories
BMW Formula 1

BMW – 10 years in Formula One

As we know the BMW half of BMW Sauber is no longer remaining in F1. News of BMW’s departure has been around since late July, and while they didn’t dominate the sport as they might have planned, one does forget some of the things they have achieved since returning to the sport in 2000. Luckily, BMW tv has produced this short clip to remind us of what they’ve been up to these last 10 years.

The highlights from their recent F1 stint, sadly for BMW, are probably away from the circuits with our own Mark Webber crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Nick Heidfeld lapping the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Categories
News

Tweet talkin’

Follow AUSmotive on twitter

A quick reminder to all AUSmotive readers that you can get updates and links to all new articles via twitter. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you might even get a sneak preview of what is coming up. AUSmotive has been tweeting since September and is yet to crack 100 followers, so if you’re already on twitter why not give AUSmotive a plug for #followfriday.

Categories
Toyota Volkswagen

The car in front is a Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf VI

News reports from around the globe are telling us Volkswagen has taken over from Toyota as the largest vehicle manufacturer in the world based on production. However, this title probably won’t rest with Volkswagen for too long.

For now, Volkswagen fanbois (like myself) can have their hearts warmed with the Number One tag, but don’t boast too much chaps as the unofficial ranking comes off the back of Toyota production cuts, more than anything else. Although, Volkswagen are to be acknowledged for making great inroads into the Chinese market.

According to an IHS Global report Volkswagen’s autobots have spat out 4.4 million vehicles to date in 2009, with Toyota behind at 4 million. Although, according to CarAdvice that figure is being disputed by Toyota who reckon they’ve actually made 4.9 million cars so far this year.

If this turns into a bit of a schoolyard punch up, I’d much rather the Porsche v Nissan stoush, even though that was starting to get a bit tired.

[via guardian.co.uk & CarAdvice]

Categories
Audi Video

Clarkson drives the Audi R8 V10 and likes it… a lot!




No doubt you have heard a bit about Jeremy Clarkson’s new DVD Duel. In fact you may have heard all about it. If you haven’t then take a look at this snippet with Jeremy at the wheel of Audi’s stunning 386kW R8 V10.

After you’re done with that, and just in case you’ve missed it, check out the trailer for Duel after the jump.

Categories
The European

Something new for AUSmotive

AUSmotive.com - The European

Since its launch AUSmotive has been a solo affair. After 18 months it’s now time to branch out with a new column called The European. Who or what is The European? Well, that is a closely guarded secret as you will read below.

AUSmotive has been bringing you the best and most up-to-date daily European motoring news in Australia for some time now. It has a reputation for honest, up front stories about the European motoring scene and the most interesting motoring stories from around the world.

Rather foolishly, that’s all on the line now.

With the swagger of a drunken showboater on Melbourne Cup day, The European will appear every couple of weeks to tell it like it is. No fence sitting. No traction control. You’re either with me or against me.

To protect my family, it’s essential that I remain anonymous. The last time I wrote for a daily newspaper, where I stated that from time to time I drove with my fog lights on “for the glamour”, we were inundated with emails threatening us with cheap phone deals, unclaimed African lottery winnings and penis extensions (although police say no link was ever established to anything I had ever written and that it was entirely because I had been browsing lecherous websites).

I can’t take that chance again. I’m no longer ready to live so far over the edge, my face and name known from Taree to Townsville, so it’s important I’m only ever known as…

…The European.

Watch this space.

Categories
Formula 1 News

Stop Damon Hill from crushing this car

Schumacher-Hill crash - 1994 Adelaide GP

Further proof there isn’t anything you can’t buy on eBay is given with the current listing of the Benetton-Ford that Michael Schumacher used at the 1994 Adelaide Grand Prix to “win” his first F1 World Championship.

Here is a sample of the text from the listing:

“For sale is the F1 race car, with which Michael Schumacher won his first Formula One Driver’s Championship at the Adelaide GP of Australia.

Most remembered are the scenes were Michael Schumacher had a collision with Damon hill and his Williams-Renault ending up both had to retire the race and Michael Schumacher could use his one point advantage to be the 1994 F1-Driver’s Champion.”

People keep telling me that Schumacher is the greatest living human being of all time. Well, out of all the racing driver humans, that is. I guess. So, historic racing cars, with real significance, like Schumi’s first F1 title winning machine should be protected.

The current bid is at an astonishing AU$4.2 million. Looks like Damon is dead set on getting this car and sending it to the crushers. Stop him at once!

To encourage further discussion on this topic, make sure you watch the YouTube clip below so you can relive the glorious moments of Schumacher’s triumph!

[Source: eBay.de | Thanks to Tom for the tip]

Categories
Nissan

Car phones

Nissan 370Z

Nissan’s paint technology will soon be applied to mobile phones, of all things. Used on cars such as the Nissan 370Z the ‘Scratch Shield’ paint is, as its name suggests, less prone to surface scratching.

Even better than that, though, is the paint is said to have self-healing properties. It’s as if a bunch of paint tins were sent to Byron Bay for a holiday where they smoked a bit of pot and came back with a few tatts and all hippie like at peace with themselves.

The healing process can take place in around 24 hours for less severe cases, with deeper scratching taking up to a week to buff itself right out. Pretty amazing stuff, it has to be said.

So, while you might need to be Einstein to develop the technology inside this magic paint, you certainly don’t need to be too clever to work out that the product is perfectly suited to mobile phones.

Apparently this magic paint has been around for four years or so now. Where have I been? Why haven’t I heard of this before? And why aren’t more manufacturers copying this technology?

Categories
Volvo

Sheer Swedish pleasure

2010 Volvo S60

Volvo reckon this is the car to make BMW’s 3 Series shake in its boots. This car, of course, is the new Volvo S60 and it is due for public release at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2010. Despite the reveal being some four months away, this hasn’t stopped those eager Swedes from releasing two new images of the car in a production-ready state.

“The all-new Volvo S60 is sculpted to move you. It looks and drives like no other Volvo before and the car’s technology will help you to be safer and more confident behind the wheel,” says Stephen Odell, President and CEO at Volvo Cars.

As is the norm, styling cues from the S60 concept are clear to see, but things are a bit more reserved in sheet metal form. With just a side profile pic and a three-quarter view from the front (see below) to go on, it would appear that Volvo has left something up their sleeves for the rear styling.

Although, it looks like Car might have spoiled the party there with their comgen images published last month. The front view is very similar to Volvo’s official pic, so let’s give them the benefit of the doubt on the rear view, too.

“The customers in this segment want emotional appeal, sporty design and dynamic driving properties. The S60 has it all. We are convinced that it will be one of the strongest contenders around,” says Stephen Odell.

Never mind the emotional appeal, Volvo’s safety conscious image will get a big lift from the pedestrian detection system which will debut on the S60. If some idiot punter isn’t paying attention and walks out in front of you while you’re busy getting the kids in the back to quieten down the S60 can apply full braking force to save the day.

Volvo Australia have confirmed the S60 will be on local shores in the latter stages of 2010.

Categories
News

Up periscope

Google Street View car

Its been a bit over a year since Google launched Street View in Australia, but already they’re planning to update their images. Over the summer months Google Street View cars will be roaming the streets in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and parts of Tasmania.

With new and improved technology Google will be able to capture Australia’s streets at a higher resolution. They don’t have an exact date on when the new images will be ready to access, but they say it will be sometime in 2010.

So, if you see one of the Google daleks on the roads, don’t exterminate it, just smile and say ‘cheese!’

[Source: Google Australia Blog]

Categories
BMW

BMW Australia wants to secure M3 GTS

BMW M3 GTS

BMW Australia is getting excited about selling its 1000th V8 powered M3. So, the press release below says, anyway. But here at AUSmotive we can grab a minor comment and make a screaming headline out of it as well as anyone else.

And so it was the closing comment from BMW Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis that grabbed my attention.

“If it is available for our market and sufficient customers are interested we will make every endeavour to bring the M3 GTS to Australia.”

Go on BMW fans, get down to your local dealer and demand the M3 GTS comes to our shores. You know it makes sense.

Categories
Peugeot

Peugeot puts a line through the GTi

Peugeot 205 GTI

UK media outlet Autocar is reporting that Peugeot will scrap its GTi badge. That’s right, no more hot hatchery from one of the finest exponents of the genre.

Apparently Peugeot will focus more heavily on the likes of the upcoming RCZ coupé. It is believed the Audi TT in haute couture will offer more to Peugeot’s brand recognition than tuned versions of their volume selling hatchbacks. Well, that’s the theory anyway.

Speaking to Autocar Peugeot’s marketing director said, “For us, the GTI concept is dead. We will move away from hot hatches towards premium sports coupes.”

So, shed a few tears for the end of some froggy cornering goodness. The likes of the 205 GTI, 306 GTi6 and 206 GTI180 will be remembered fondly. Even the awkward looking 207 GTi, with a MINI Cooper S engine, is quite a capable mover.

Let’s hope Renault maintains the rage, as the French generally take a vive la différence approach to the hot hatch segment.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Top Gear

I don’t want to grow up

Top Gear - Series 14 teaser

In a little over one week from now Season 14 of Top Gear will be going to air. Like last series, some jammy kids are telling us all about it.

You know the drill, you can see the teaser after the break.

[via FinalGear]