Well, Ferrari would have us believe the four-set, four-wheel drive FF created online hysteria when it was revealed a few days ago. Check out their presser after the break.
To celebrate they have released a few new pics. Sadly only the image shown above is of any use, the rest are a disguised development model shown during winter testing. However, in silver and with studio lighting, you begin to get a broader appreciation for the curves featured on the FF; some gentle, some not so.
It’s about a week or so since Nasser Al-Attiyah and Timo Gottschalk claimed victory in the 2011 Dakar Rally. If you missed the action, or would simply like to see what the lads got up to, then here’s a photo gallery sourced from Volkswagen Motorsport showing the mighty Race Touareg 3 in action. There’s over 100 pics, so you might want to put the kettle on first!
Almost six months after revealing its new four-door coupé model Mercedes has now taken the wraps of the CLS 63 AMG version. With a beefy 5.5 litre V8 biturbo this beast has 386kW (525hp) to throw around. Driven by 700Nm of torque it’s sure have more than enough pace for its owner.
Or does it? Apparently not, as there is an optional AMG Performance pack. Here, the engineers have turned the wick on the M157 V8 biturbo from 1.0 bar up to 1.3 bar, resulting in peak numbers of 410kW (557hp) and 800Nm.
Zero to one hundred can be reached in just 4.3 seconds. Surely that’s enough pace for this four-seater. Amazingly, despite such prodigious performance, if you behave yourself, Mercedes reckon you can sip fuel under 10l/100km; just.
So, check out the gallery of pics after the break. There’s also a promo video and the official press release, of course.
[Source: Daimler AG]
Ferrari has just released these images of its new FF—a four-seater 612 Scaglietti replacement. It looks a bit like the BMW Z3 Coupé, otherwise known as “the breadvan”. But this breadvan is from Maranello and has a 6.3 litre V12 pumping out 660PS (485kW). It even features Ferrari’s first ever all-wheel drive system; hence the FF name—four seats and four-wheel drive.
Ferrari reckon the “Four” can sprint to 100km/h in a mere 3.7 seconds. Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera take notice!
While full details are scarce at this stage Ferrari claim their patented “4RM” all-wheel drive technology is around half the weight of conventional all-paw units and has been installed to help maintain optimum weight distribution.
These first three images are a teaser for the car’s official reveal at Geneva in March. Also available below is a video about the car and its development, as seen on www.ferrarifour.com. To cap things off there’s an audio sample of the engine sound for you as well.
Well, what do you think? For us, two words come to mind: bonkers and ungainly.
[audio:http://www.ausmotive.com/audio/Ferrari-FF.mp3]
Back in July BMW released a press statement to acknowledge the 25th anniversary of their almighty M3. AUSmotive followed by trawling through BMW’s press archives to bring you an image gallery befitting such an occasion. Now, BMW has just released a new video to its official YouTube channel which celebrates, yep, you guessed it, 25 years of the BMW M3.
Check it out after the break.
Following the release of official RS3 info from Audi earlier this week comes this series of wallpapers sourced from the Audi.de website. Shown above is an RS3 fitted with the black optics package, which includes the gloss black grille; good, and the black wheel with red detailing; bad.
There are 17 pics in all from the gallery and you can check out the rest after the break, along with a promo video showing the RS3 in all its glory.
Further, here is a brief email exchange between AUSmotive and Audi AG:
Am: Is there any chance the RS3 will feature a manual gearbox in future?
Audi: No
Am: Is the production of the RS3 limited to 2700 units, or any other number?
Audi: No
Am: Is the quattro system exactly the same as found in the current model S3, or have there been some revisions?
Audi: The rear axle differential, prop shaft and drive shaft are reinforced.
Lamborghini recently released information on its new Gallardo LP 570-4 Spyder Performante, the soft-top sibling of the Superleggerra. The Sant’Agata engineers have used plenty of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic to help keep the weight down. This approach managed to shed 65kg and the final weight of the Spyder Performante is a respectable 1485kg.
The 5.2 litre V10 produces, as the name suggests, 570bhp (419kW) and can do the 100km/h dash in under four seconds. With a top speed of 324km/h (201mph) this is one rapid convertible. Might mess your hair up a bit, don’t you think!
More pics and full details from Lamborghini after the break. Make sure you take the time to appreciate the Alcantara interior. It’d probably be a bitch to live with long-term, but it is simply beautiful to look at.
Here is our last image gallery from the 2010 Formula One season. Bringing you these pics has been a fun, albeit labour intensive, addition to the AUSmotive routine and we look forward to bringing you more great pics in 2011.
For now, though, here are 101 photos from the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is Sebastian Vettel’s time to shine; Mark Webber fans – you may want to look away now.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has been run and won. Red Bull Racing have taken the last of the lollies from the Constructors’ jar; well done them, it’s a ripping effort. Sebastien Vettel’s win at Interlagos made sure the Drivers’ race will go right down to the wire, with Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso his most likely barriers between world title success.
Truth be told, the biggest excitement in Sao Paulo last weekend involved poor old Jenson Button and some masked men. The race itself largely sorted itself out after the novelty of Nico Hülkenberg’s pole position had passed.
You can relive the event after the jump. Unfortunately the pics from McLaren are not available in 2000px super sizing. The good news is, all the others are, so get clicking.
Now, bring on Abu Dhabi!
While over at Winding Road reading about Jack Brabham we also came across this great image gallery of the Ferrari 458 Italia. The pics were taken by Chris Amos and they’re bloody good too. Amos has captured just about every visual detail you could hope for. Follow the source link below for more.
This is the second 458 photoshoot we have linked to this month. If you missed the first one, check it out here.
[Source: Winding Road]
“Our Mark” binned it! Can you believe it. It was a race that promised so much; an opportunity for Webber to really intensify the pressure on his rivals. Instead, on a dramatic and soaking wet afternoon in Yeongam, Mark put it into the wall and he walked away empty handed. Pressure does strange things and amplifies the tiniest of indiscretions. It was a mistake that needn’t have happened. Webber cracked on Sunday.
Worse, it looked like his fiercest rival, Sebastien Vettel, was going to rub his nose in it with a comfortable victory. A win that would have put the young German 11 points ahead of Webber and the shift in power across the garage would likely have been irreversible. For Mark, at least, fate dealt a helping hand when a dominant Vettel was robbed of certain victory after his Renault engine disintegrated with no apparent warning.
Only too happy to watch the imploding Red Bulls ahead of him Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was there to pick up the pieces. He drove solidly and mostly kept himself out of trouble, despite the woeful light conditions towards the end of the race. Amazingly, he now finds himself 11 points ahead of Webber in the drivers’ title race. A few weeks back he was the fifth man in the chasing pack.
With just two more races to go, can Fernando hold off the inevitable challenge from those closest behind? Brazil is next and Webber is the defending race winner. How he would love an encore performance in two weeks time.
For now, though, catch up on all the drama from last weekend with 80 pics from the inaugural Korean Grand Prix.
Here is the AUSmotive photo gallery from the Australian International Motor Show industry day. There are 128 photos in all and you can simply click on each thumbnail to access a 2000px super image.
Highlights include a couple of track specials in the form of the awesome Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the rear-engined V6 Renault Megane Trophy. Others to look out for are the Toyota FT-86G concept, the Ford Focus RS, a trio of Lamborghini Gallardos and the highly desirable Audi R8 V10 Spyder, which looks great in all white.
Dedicated articles on the following cars can be access by clicking on the links below:
A big thank you to Daniel McKenna who joined the AUSmotive crew at AIMS and brought you many of the pictures you see here.