Categories
Ferrari Formula 1

Ferrari unveils 2011 F1 car

Ferrari F150

Ferrari has taken the lead in the 2011 Formula One season already by being the first team to launch its new car. Ferrari have labelled this one the F150; no, it’s not an old Ford pickup, but a 21st century racing machine.

Out go the blown diffuser and “F-duct” rear wings and back comes KERS along with the addition of adjustable rear wings. A ban on engine development means the 2.4 litre V8 fitted to this car is the same unit used in last year’s F10.

More photos and press material from Ferrari, including a video walk around of the F150, can be seen after the break. Remember, too, 2000px wallpaper-friendly images can be accesed by clicking on any of the pics.

Categories
McLaren

McLaren Automotive launch

McLaren MP4-12C

According to Autocar McLaren Automotive will announce its future plans at 9:30pm tonight (AEDT). It is understood a production ready MP4-12C road car will be on show. Lewis Hamilton will also be in attendance to flash his pearly whites and tell us how great this new road car is. You can watch the streamed event live via the Autocar website on the link below.

[Source: Autocar]

Categories
Formula 1 Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes GP launches new era for Silver Arrows

Mercedes GP Petronas 2010 launch

Mercedes GP has just launched their 2010 season. The event took place at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in front of 600 guests. The livery of the new Silver Arrows features silver paint, raw carbon fibre and the green colour of Petronas, the Malaysian petroleum giant and title sponsor.

Don’t get too carried away, though. The car pictured above is simply a repainted 2009 model Brawn GP machine with the new 2010 car still under wraps for now.

Of course, the hype is all about Michael Schumacher’s return to Formula One and here’s a bit of what he had to say at today’s launch, “Finally the 2010 Formula One season is firing up! I have to say that I am totally committed to this new challenge. This season feels like a re-start for me and I am so motivated.

“We have a World Champion team in every sense of the word and I cannot wait to get into the car for the first time in Valencia. I am convinced that MERCEDES GP PETRONAS will be in a very good position to fight for the championships this season and I will definitely give it a go.”


Categories
Audi

A look at the Audi Q5 from the inside

Audi Q5

Audi’s new Q5 will be making its first Australian appearance at the Melbourne International Motor Show later this month. A select few, however, have already sampled the Q5, and, in sunny Spain of all places. How did one get in on this all expenses paid junket? By being a member of Audi Australia sales staff, that’s how.

Jonathan from Audi Centre Canberra has been a great supporter of AUSmotive, so I figured it was only fair to return the favour by asking him for a brief writeup of his experience at the internal Q5 launch from Marbella on the Costa Del Sol. Life’s tough for some!

The Q5 will go on sale down under in just a few months and initial pricing details have been confirmed. In the meantime, you can have a sneak preview of the car by reading Jonathan’s words after the jump. There’s also quite a few images, and promo piece from the Audi Channel via YouTube.

Categories
MINI

MINI keeps motoring journalists in the cold

MINI r57 Convertible launched in snowy conditions

In true MINI fashion, the European media launch of their new convertible recently took place in the Austrian alps. Of course! After all, it is a perfect location for a roof down soirée! I admit -6°C temperatures would present a challenge to MINI’s “Always open” idiom, but I’d like to think I’d give it a go.

Newly launched website theSwitchback.com did just that, and was there to file a report. Of particular interest is how the new generation compared to the previous MINI convertible…

“Having previously driven, reviewed, and even lived with both the second generation MINI Cooper S and the previous generation of MINI Convertible, the questions we really wanted answered were how well had MINI spliced these two cars together to produce a better, more complete MINI Convertible. How was the handling? How much did the new pop-up rear roll-over bar improve visibility? How much improved was the new hood? And for how long could we keep the roof down in the challenging, chilly environment.

On just about every account, the MINI acquitted itself admirably. The only yardstick of any true value had to be the first generation MINI Convertible, which although a real pleasure to drive, did have several shortcomings that were all too obvious for owners, as well as casual observers and reviewers, if entirely forgivable for any fan.”

Follow the link below for the full story.

Source: theSwitchback

Categories
BMW Formula 1

BMW Sauber F1.09 launch




Here’s some video of the BMW Sauber F1.09 launch with thanks to the very good folk at BimmerFile.com.

For pictures and press material, make sure you follow this link.

Categories
BMW

BMW M3 Sedan launches down under

BMW M3Sedan

The BMW M3 Sedan was recently launched to the Australian market at Phillip Island. I guess the AUSmotive invitation must have accidentally been sent to CarAdvice. That tends to happen a lot. C’est la vie. Here’s the pics all the same.

BMW M3 Range

  • BMW M3 Sedan: $145,000
  • BMW M3 Coupé: $162,901
  • BMW M3 Convertible: $176,142

More info can be read HERE and the release from the launch is shown below.

Categories
Volkswagen

Volkswagen prepares for Golf VI launch

Volkswagen Golf VI

While official images and details of the new model Golf have been released, the official launch of the Golf VI is yet to come. Volkswagen has chosen the unique Icelandic landscape for the launch venue and some great spy shots of the preparations have been posted on Golf Mk6.comclick here to check them out.