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MINI

MINI 5 door revealed

MINI 5 door

It’s got 72mm more interior length, 61mm more elbow and shoulder room, plus 15mm more headroom and an extra 67 litres of luggage space. Oh yeah, and five doors. It’s the first ever MINI 5 door.

The usual models have been announced for the launch, meaning the new MINI 5 door can be ordered in Cooper, Cooper D, Cooper S and Cooper SD trim.

As well as those interior dimensions listed above, the versatility of BMW’s UKL1 platform is further highlighted in the increase in length of the 5 door compared with the F56 3 door. At 3982mm, the Cooper models are 161mm longer than the 3 door, while the Cooper S models are 4005m in length.

A “MINI” that’s over four metres long, whatever will they think of next?

We expect the MINI 5 door will be on sale in Australia later this year, although there is a chance MINI Australia could hold off for an early 2015 sales launch.

There’s more pics and detail after the break, including a couple of PDF downloads.

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Volkswagen

VIDEO: Golf R400 at Wörthersee

Volkswagen Golf R400

The very damn cool GTI Roadster wasn’t the only fancy pants Golf making waves at the Wörthersee show, the very damn cool Golf R400 was also trotted out by Volkswagen’s top brass. Here’s a couple of amateur videos bringing us a little bit closer the most awesomest Golf ever.

Nice detail on the exhaust tips, too.

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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Lamborghini Video

On track with the Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4

Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4

What’s better than seeing and hearing one Lamborghini Huracán on a race track? Hearing six of them. Yes, six! Check out the video after the break to see if you agree.

There’s 60 cylinders and 31.2 litres of capacity pumping out a staggering 3660hp (2688kW), so we’re pretty confident you’ll like what you see.

[Source: Marchettino]

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Categories
Ferrari

Ferrari SP America spied

Ferrari SP America

Based on the F12 Berlinetta this one-off SP America is the latest model from Ferrari’s Special Projects division. Special Projects is a bespoke skunkworks for the rich and famous and includes clients such as Eric Clapton.

Not much is known about this car, other than the fact it exists and, as you might expect, it features custom bodywork. If Ferrari comes up trumps with an official statement we’ll be sure to let you know.

[Source: Motor Authority]

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Porsche

Details about the new Porsche flat-four

981 Porsche Boxster

The new flat-four cylinder engine from Porsche will underpin a variety of models and will come in three different engine capacities, Car magazine reports. All will feature direct injection and have turbochargers to achieve the peak power Porsche demands.

Kicking off the flat-four family will be a 1.6 litre engine producing 210hp (155kW), followed by a 2.0 litre offering 286hp (210kW) and topping the range will be a 360hp (265kW) 2.5 litre.

The 2.0 litre and 2.5 litre engines are expected to find their way into the next-gen Boxster and Cayman, as well as the Cayenne. We reckon the Macan should be on that list too.

It’s not clear at this stage what purpose the 1.6 litre has, although it could be earmakred for use in Volkswagen/Audi products such as the on-again, off-again Audi R4 and associated acts.

[Source: Car]

Categories
McLaren Video

McLaren F1 owners’ GTG

McLaren F1 gathering

Picture this: 12 McLaren F1s, six McLaren F1 GTRs, two McLaren P1s and a collection of McLaren 12Cs and 650Ss. That’s one fearsome get together, featuring some of the motoring world’s best ever creations.

Of course, despite the P1’s might, it’s the revolutionary F1s which stole the limelight at this weekend event in Italy. A couple of videos showing these cars can be seen after the break. Alas, there’s no wide open throttle runs, or even an F1 v P1 drag, but there’s still plenty for you to admire.

Turns out there was supposed to be 13 F1s in attendance, but one didn’t quite make it.

[Thanks to Aaron for the tip]

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Video WEC

VIDEO: Circuit de la Sarthe

Jon Lancaster, No34 Oreca-Judd LMP2

With the 24 Hours of Le Mans less than two weeks away here’s an onboard video filmed from Jon Lancaster‘s LMP2 Oreca-Judd giving us a driver’s eye view of the famous Circuit de la Sarthe.

The footage was captured during last weekend’s test sessions and we’re lucky enough to see a full lap of the 13.6km track without any other cars, ensuring Lancaster had the best cornering lines for the whole lap.

Official scrutineering for the 82nd running of Le Mans begins on Sunday and finishes on Monday, ahead of the first qualifying session on Wednesday 11 June.

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Porsche Video

The most desirable Porsche 911 ever?

1973 Porsche Carrera RS 2.7

That ducktail spoiler signifies one of the most wanted Porsche 911 models of all time: the 911 Carrera RS 2.7. Its prices are extreme—and climbing—and only a touch over 1500 were ever made.

Petrolicious gives us a look at one of only four examples to have officially made it to the United States. You can see that video below, and you will love the sound of this car. If you don’t, you should!

In addition here’s a couple of other articles about the RS you may like to read:

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Categories
Formula 1 News

Three generations

Sir Jack Brabham tribute by SkySports

A couple of weeks on from the passing of Sir Jack Brabham here’s a couple of off-site pieces we think you should check out. The first is a short video from SkySports which features interviews from Jack’s son David and grandson Sam.

Once you’ve watched that settle into this longer audio interview with Ron Tauranac produced by local F1 chaps Box of Neutrals.

Categories
Audi Porsche Toyota WEC

Toyota favourites heading to Le Mans

WEC 24 Hours of Le Mans official test session

The Toyota TS040 Hybrid has firmed as the car to beat at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Two wins in the opening rounds of the WEC season had already set up Toyota as the 2014 front runners and the TS040’s abilities at the Circuit de la Sarthe were confirmed after last weekend’s official test session, when the two Toyotas topped the lap charts.

Two weeks out from the event this is the only opportunity for the teams get to run the full Le Mans layout. After the two day session the fastest time around the 13.6km circuit was set by the #8 Toyota (3:23:014).

Audi set the early pace with its R18 e-tron quattro, but in the end the defending champions had to make do with the third and fourth best times. Audi is the only of the LMP1 teams to run three cars and the remaining R18 split the two Porsche 919 Hybrids. The #14 Porsche was fifth and Mark Webber’s #20 919 the seventh and slowest of the factory-backed LMP1 runners.

Full statements from the three teams can be read after the break. The 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place on 14–15 June with Australian television coverage available on Foxtel’s Speed TV channel.

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Categories
Porsche

Is nothing sacred anymore?

2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

The catching-on-fire 911 GT3 has already delayed the introduction of the more extreme RS model. And now fears over creating more power from the 3.8 litre flat six have Porsche considering a turbocharged GT3 RS for the first time.

It’s thought the addition of a turbo will allow Porsche to produce enough power to satisfy the brief for the RS without creating unmanageable stress for the apparently frail engine.

The GT3 has 475hp (350kW) and when it does arrive we can expect the RS to push close to the magic 500hp number (368kW).

Porsche may be willing to offer a manual transmission with the GT3 RS, but will a turbo undo that goodwill gesture? Or will modern technology ensure there’s nothing but neck-snapping acceleration and throttle response for a turbocharged RS?

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Audi Video

VIDEO: Audi A3 clubsport quattro

Audi A3 clubsport quattro

Remember the Audi A3 clubsport quattro? How could you forget it! It’s that RS3 in concept clothing now on show at Wörthersee. It’s got stupid amounts of horsepower—it even puts the GTI Roadster in the shade—and a massive don’t stuff with me air brake on the boot lid.

Audi Germany has put together this short clip showing the making process before letting the beast strut its stuff on the track.

Drool.

[Thanks to John for the tip]

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