Tag: 2011

Categories
Formula 1 Lotus

Gold and black

Lotus F1 history

One of Formula One’s most revered racing liveries will be making a return in 2011 with news that Lotus will be turning out in a new gold and black colour scheme. Even better, you could have a say on how the new cars look. Lotus Racing’s Head of Marketing Silvi Schaumloeffel explains, “We are all very excited about the move to a black and gold paint scheme for next season, and we want our fans to help us design the livery that will be racing around the world next year.

“We will shortly be announcing exactly how the fans can take part in our design process, so keep an eye on our website www.lotusracing.my for more details. The person who designs the livery we finally choose will be joining us at our first test next year to see the car out on track for the very first time, so for Lotus and F1â„¢ fans it is the chance of a lifetime to help us take the next step forward in our amazing story in 2011.”

[Source: Lotus Racing]

Categories
Audi

Audi RS3 due in April 2011?

Audi RS3 - due in April 2011?

Some new information regarding the greatly anticipated Audi RS3 has found its way on to the German Car Forum. Accordingly we can expect the RS3, in Sportback form only, to be released in April next year. Assuming this is the case, then a public debut for the RS3 at next year’s Geneva Motor Show in March has most likely been locked in by Audi’s top brass.

There has previously been some confusion over the peak power figure of the RS3; rumours in September suggested the 2.5 litre inline five cylinder in the RS3 could get as much as 10bhp more than the TT RS, with the TT RS to receive a similar power upgrade as part of a mid-cycle refresh. However, those numbers could possibly be explained by conversion from bhp to PS to kW, or variations thereof. If the above document is correct, then 340PS = 250kW, which is the same as the TT RS.

The info appears to be some form of internal dealer communication (click on the image above for the full version you check out the full version on the German Car Forum link below), so there is cause to give some credence to the data shown. All we need to do now is keep waiting.

[Source: German Car Forum | Thanks to Wayne for the tip]

Categories
Porsche

New 991 Porsche 911 spy shots

Porsche 991 911 spy shot

Autoblog brings us a great gallery of images of the 991 Porsche 911 coupé and convertible. Based on these pics, which show development cars mostly free of camouflage, the next-generation 911 is going to be a very nice looking car. A better looking 997, really. Which is just what we have come to expect from Porsche.

With any luck we’ll see the 991 revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show (3–13 March).

[Source: Autoblog | Pic: KGP Photography]

Categories
Ford Motorsports WRC

Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor earn WRC Academy drives

First filed 26 October 2010

Brendan Reeves & Molly Taylor

26 October 2010: Young Australian drivers Brendan Reeves and Molly Taylor have just been awarded €500,000 WRC Academy scholarships for the 2011 season. Both drivers were selected for the Academy following a successful showing in the recent Pirelli Star Driver Shootout.

The WRC Academy replaces the JWRC category and is a one-make series using Ford Fiesta R2s. There will be 20 competitors taking place in the Academy next year, but only six scholarships were up for grabs.

In addition to the six rounds of racing competition Academy participants will be given expert training for a future WRC career, including diet and mental preparation.

After being told of her success Taylor said, “My focus has always been working towards the WRC, so to be sitting here today knowing that this is actually a reality is surreal. This is just the beginning and the hard work starts now, I’m buzzing!”

Meanwhile, Reeves is also happy and grateful for the opportunities ahead, “This is a dream come true for me. I would really like to thank Pirelli and the FIA for giving junior drivers the opportunity to compete for such a fantastic prize. There is nothing else like it in rallying and for them to give young drivers like myself the chance to become a WRC driver, is awesome.”

Well done to Reeves and Taylor and here’s hoping both have a great 2011. Follow the source link below to see a brief video explaining the WRC Academy.

[Source: WRC]

UPDATE 4 November: The WRC Academy video from the source link has been added to YouTube and you can now watch the clip right here after the jump. Thanks to Chris for the tip.

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Categories
BMW

New BMW 1 Series (F20) hatch under development

BMW 1 Series (F20) hatch

Development of the next generation (F20) BMW 1 Series hatch is well underway as this video from the Nürburgring shows. There appears to be at least five development cars at the company’s Nürburg facility.

Aside from the evolutionary development of the love it or hate it five door hatch body style there’s not much else to learn from this clip. BimmerFile tells us the F20 1er will be seen in or near production ready form by the end of next year.

Check out the clip after the jump.

[Source: AutoWeek.nl]

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Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen confirms Golf VI Cabrio

Golf VI Cabrio rendering

The Motor Report brings word that Volkswagen has confirmed production for a Golf VI-based cabrio. They’ve even come up with this rendering to show how such a car could look. The soft-top Golf will be built in Osnabrück at the former Karmann factory, which Volkswagen picked up after the body specialists filed for bankruptcy in 2009.

Production should commence in 2011 with deliveries for late that year or possibly beginning in 2012. Following a near decade-long hiatus the re-introduction of the Golf Cabrio would likely signal the end of the Eos convertible. Check out the source link below for more.

[Source: The Motor Report]

UPDATE 4 November: A press release from Volkswagen AG has been added below, which confirms a new Golf Cabrio will be built at Osnabrück.

Continue reading “Volkswagen confirms Golf VI Cabrio”
Categories
Mazda

Mazda targets sub-1000kg weight for next MX-5

Mazda MX-5 rendering

Along with the above rendering Autocar brings word that Mazda are aiming to keep the weight of its next MX-5 under 1000kg. A saving of over 130kg on the current model. As usual, we can expect a nice little handler. Further aiding nimble handling is the adoption of production techniques from the RX-8 which will allow the engine to be mounted behind the front axle, while the fuel tank and heaviest parts of the exhaust will be in front of the rear axle.

Mazda is scheduled to unveil its fourth generation MX-5 towards the end of 2011 at the Tokyo Motor Show, before its sales launch in 2012.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
BMW

BMW M5 prototype sounds a bit better now

BMW M5 prototype

Back in September we brought you video of the latest BMW M5 test mule undergoing testing at the Nürburgring. Aside from the fact it’s always good to see a new M5 on the way the sound from the car in last month’s video was, well, quite disappointing, really. Never mind, though, as this new clip from Car magazine shows that BMW has started to put things right. The twin turbo 4.4 litre V8 is sounding much nicer now!

Reportedly, the M5’s V8 will be good for 578hp, a slight 22hp increase on the 555hp found in the X5 M’s 4.4 litre heart of gold.

It’s understood we’ll see an M5 concept at Geneva next March, with the production ready model on show at Frankfurt in September 2011.

[Source: Car via BimmerFile]

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Categories
Motor Shows

Dates announced for 2011 Goodwood Festival of Speed

Goodwood FoS

The Goodwood Festival of Speed has pencilled in its dates for 2011, something which can only be done once the Formula One calendar has been signed off. By fitting around the movements of F1 Goodwood organisers can ensure a high participation level from the teams and drivers who will be in the UK for British Grand Prix, scheduled for the weekend after the FoS.

That means the Goodwood FoS dates for 2011 are 1–3 July. The Goodwood Moving Show will also return in 2011 and it will take place on 30 June.

Entry to the FoS is by advance ticket sale only and you can buy your tickets to the 2011 show via the official website from Monday 1 November.

Full press release after the jump.

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Categories
MINI WRC

VIDEO: Making of the MINI WRC

MINI Countryman WRC

After the jump you can see a brief “making of” video about the MINI Countryman WRC. Progress seems to have come along nicely following the official signing of documents with Prodrive in July. The MINI’s first race will take place in Italy next May.

Shame about super imposed type over the clip.

[Source: MotoringFile]

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Categories
Motorsports Porsche

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Over the course of the last week material concerning the latest Porsche 911 GT3 Cup has come our way from two different sources. It would be wrong not to share it with you.

First, from Porsche UK some pics and a press release telling us how closely linked the new Cup car is to the mighty 911 GT3 RS. The release says this is the first time this has happened, which means the Cup car now has a body measuring 44mm wider than the previous model. This also allows wider wheels and tyres to be used. The rear rims are 12″ wide, if you don’t mind. Oh, for the record, that massive rear wing now measures 1700mm across.

Of course the other key numbers to remember are 1200kg, 3.8 litres and 331kW (450hp).

Also finding its way to the AUSmotive in tray were a handful of images from Porsche Australia as part of their Australian International Motor Show press pack. Remember, the Carrera Cup returns to Australian race tracks in 2011. The GT3 Cup on the Porsche stand was one of the highlights of AIMS last week and if you couldn’t get along here’s a second chance to see what you missed.

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Categories
Nissan

Nissan GT-R – MY11 specs released

Nissan GT-R

Nissan has just confirmed details of the MY11 changes made to its all-conquering GT-R. No car can show its face these days without LED daytime running lights, you see.

Of course, Nissan’s engineers went further than that, also trimming 10kg from the GT-R’s portly weight. Fuel consumption has been improved, along with a reduction in CO2 emissions. Minor tweaks have also been made to Godzilla’s suspension and brakes. These are complemented by new forged alloys from Rays.

Inside gets a once over, as well. Usual stuff like a revised instrument panel and nav display have been thrown in. But there are big changes, too. The steering wheel emblem now has “a new velour-like coating, expressing a glossy texture”. Amazing!

Outside has seen some cosmetic tweaks, notably the front spoiler can now feed in more air. These revisions also increase downforce by about 10%. Two new exterior paint colours—Jet Black and GTBlue—have been added to the colour palette.

However, the big news is more power. Quite a bit more actually. At its initial launch the GT-R had 353kW/588Nm. Well, now the little (big) Nissan that can boasts 390kW/600Nm. That’s quite a significant increase.

Australian deliveries for the MY11 model are expected from March next year.

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