From time to time we feature videos from car mags that bring us closer to the cars we love, or hope to love. Usually they’re pretty straight laced, informative and good, honest viewing. This clip from Car and Driver, though, breaks the mould. It’s the Mecrdes-Benz SLS AMG as you’ve never seen it before. You will love it!
The Audi voiceover man is back; as lifeless as ever too. This time he is talking about the RS3 hyper hatch. There’s lots of facts and fugures, but, sadly, no driving footage. No 2.5 litre barking its way through a scenic European mountain pass. A bit of a let down, really. Hopefully there is more to come.
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.
As promised Porsche has revealed a new lightweight Cayman model at the Los Angeles Auto Show. As expected the car is badged as the Cayman R.
Porsche didn’t really offer up any surprises either, which means the Cayman is a bit lighter, has a bit more power and will cost a few more beans, as well. Peak power from the mid-mounted 3.4 litre flat six is 243kW (330bhp). Weight has been reduced by 55kg to a new unladen total of 1295kg. The ride height, too, has been lowered by 20mm.
Buyers can pick from a 6-speed manual, or a 7-speed PDK. Porsche reckon you can reach 100km/h in 5.0 seconds with the manual, or 4.9 seconds with the PDK. The optional Sport Chrono Plus package reduces the 100km/h sprint time further to 4.7 seconds. Top speed is around 280km/h.
Now, onto the use of the R badge. Keen Porsche scholars will remember the 1967 911 R. Just 19 were made with 210bhp powering a super lightweight 830kg body. The R stood for Racing (or Rennen in German). Since then the R badge has been used very rarely by Porsche and when it has been used it’s mainly been for true race cars, such as the GT3 R. Purists might not be happy that a Cayman with a mere 10bhp more than a Cayman S and a respectable, but not spectacular, 55kg weight difference has been granted such special status. Quasi-celebrity motoring journalist Chris Harris is not pleased.
You’ve got video, pics and Porsche’s press release available after the break to help you decide if Porsche has used the R appropriately.
Aston Martin has gone all Top Gear on us with this new video of the V8 Vantage N420. It’s very much in the theme of the closing piece Jeremy did on the V12 Vantage to close out Series 13. This version from Aston is a perfectly brilliant way to start the day, so crank up the volume and enjoy!
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]
It’s no secret that Mark Webber faces a crucial race at the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend. He needs to win, or, ideally, finish ahead of Fernando Alonso to boost his title chances. Even so, he casually says he’s expecting lots of traffic, strange weather and some nice looking women. Here’s hoping there’s a race win in there, as well!
Everyone’s favourite taxi driver, Sabine Schmitz, is featured here in unscripted, a new promo series from BMW. “No script, just real people,” says the marketing blurb.
This episode with Sabine gives a great, albeit brief, look at her history with BMW and the Nürburgring Nordschleife. For more on Sabine take a trip down memory lane and check the AUSringers interview from 2008.
Sabine’s unscripted clip can be seen after the jump.
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]
We’ve already shown you the spectacular footage of Fabian Coulthard’s first lap crash from the 2010 Bathurst race. We’ve even shown you amateur footage captured from the side of the track. Now, Walkinshaw Racing brings us the view from inside the car. It’s an amazing piece of action. Check it out after the break.
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]
Here’s a couple of new YouTube clips of Fabian Coulthard’s violent crash from lap 1 of the recent Supercheap Auto 1000 at Bathurst. The two clips were recorded by fans from the inside of The Chase and give a good insight into the crowd reaction.