De Silvestro completes second day of Sauber testing at Fiorano

Sauber F1 Team affiliated driver Simona De Silvestro enjoyed her second day of testing in a Formula One car on the Ferrari test track in Fiorano. In a two year old Sauber C31 she completed 68 laps on day two, making it a total of 180 laps for the two days without the slightest issue.

• Circuit: Fiorano Circuit / 2.997 km
• Driver: Simona De Silvestro
• Weather: Overcast, air 14-18 °C, track 22-26 °C
• Chassis / engine: C31 / Ferrari
• Laps today: 68 laps, 204 km

Paul Russell, Test Engineer: “We continued today where we left off yesterday with the acclimatisation programme for Simona. Over night she had the time to reflect on a lot of things and was able to adapt her driving accordingly. She learned the track well yesterday, so we had the opportunity to get some set-up work done today. Simona drove very well, had a good pace and was consistent. Overall these were two very positive days.”
Simona De Silvestro: “It was another good day. Everything feels more familiar to me compared to yesterday, when things were new to me. We made some changes to the set-up, which gave me the opportunity to get a feeling for those changes and learn how the car reacts to them. I can say that I already feel confident in the car, which is very positive. I’m quite happy with what I was able to achieve over the two days. A big thank you to the team who did a fabulous job explaining everything to me, and giving me the time to reflect on this. I had a lot of questions, and I got all the answers from the engineers, who took the time to show me the data and discuss it with me in all detail. I’m already looking forward to my next opportunity to test the C31.”
What comes next: Simona’s next test in the Sauber C31 will take place from 25th June to 27th June in Valencia. (Press Release)

Hamilton: Sebastian needs to show his leadership inside the Red Bull team now

Lewis Hamilton has come out with some advice for Sebastian Vettel, urging the reigning Formula 1 world champion to show true leadership at Red Bull.
The Milton Keynes based team has been pushing to emerge from its pre-season crisis involving troubled engine supplier Renault.
But at the same time, German Vettel – the reigning quadruple-consecutive drivers’ world champion – has been struggling simply to keep up with his fresh-faced new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, following the sport’s V6 rules switch.
Further up the grid, Hamilton and his Mercedes have been dominating, but in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper, the 2008 world champion commented on Vettel and Red Bull’s plight.
“As a four time world champion, Sebastian needs to show his leadership inside the team now,” Hamilton is quoted as saying.



“When it comes to the crunch, you are able to show that leadership to your team,” he added.
Indeed, Hamilton expects Vettel and Red Bull – formerly a near-unbeatable combination in Formula 1 – to eventually get back to winning.
“Regardless of the power unit, it’s still a strong car,” said the Briton, referring to the Adrian Newey-penned RB10. “So I don’t believe that the current situation will stay the same.”
Hamilton also commented on his ever-intensifying rivalry with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, in the wake of their forceful wheel-to-wheel battle in Bahrain.
“We both know what we are doing,” he said, amid reports the Brackley based team is at odds over whether to rein in their battle with some form of ‘team orders’.
“Nico is fair and aggressive, but not wildly aggressive,” Hamilton said. “Just the right amount. The real problem is that he is faster than ever before.” (GMM)

Hamilton named Britain’s richest sports person worth over $100 million

Formula 1 pace setter Lewis Hamilton has been named Britain’s wealthiest sportsman with a fortune of $115 million.
The comprehensive survey of wealth in Britain and Ireland was conducted and is due to be published by The Sunday Times.
It reveals that Hamilton added a massive $13.5 million to his fortune in the past year alone. He was lured away from McLaren to join Mercedes for the start of the 2013 season.
Hamilton, the 2008 Formula 1 world champion, is slightly ahead of former McLaren teammate and fellow F1 world champion Jenson Button, who is said to be worth $105 million.
Wimbledon champion Andy Murray added $13.5 million to his fortune following his historic victory last year, bringing his worth up to $67 million.



Manchester United and England football star Wayne Rooney was named the richest footballer with a tidy sum of $100 million to his name.
The list was created by looking at identifiable wealth such as land, property, shares in publicly quoted companies and other assets such as art and racehorses. However it excludes bank accounts because the Sunday Times has no access to them, and they are not open to public scrutiny
The full list is set to be revealed next month.
Britain’s richest sportsmen top 10:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Motor racing): £68m
2. Jenson Button (Motor racing): £63m
3. Wayne Rooney (Football): £60m
4. Steve Nash (Basketball): £56m
5. Rio Ferdinand (Football): £44m
6. Andy Murray (Tennis): £40m
7. Steven Gerrard (Football): £37m
   Frank Lampard (Football): £37m
8. Luol Deng (Basketball): £36m
   Ryan Giggs (Football): £36m

(Source: The Sunday Times Rich List 2014)

52nd Annual Delray Affair for “Art of the Automobile”!

 

In addition to award-winning beaches, a bustling downtown district, vibrant nightlife and rich cultural heritage, Delray Beach hosts numerous events and programs. Nicknamed The Greatest Arts & Crafts Show under the sun, the Delray Affair is spread over 10 blocks and three public parks in the picturesque seaside village of Delray Beach. The Delray Affair is also host of "Art of Automobile".

Awesome Lamborghini Gallardo Renazzo by Vorsteiner For Sale

Earlier this year, American tuner Vorsteiner released their Lamborghini Gallardo Renazzo. Featuring a host of visual upgrades to make it stand out from all other Lamborghinis, the original car is now up for sale complete with its Vorsteiner upgrades thanks to Symbolic Motors in San Diego.

Up front, the Gallardo Renazzo features a unique carbon fiber bumper formed using the pre-preg method and features an even more aggressive design than the front for the LP570-4 Squadra Corse. The new bare carbon fiber bumper features two prominent aero fins on both sides and has been inspired by the front bumper used on both the Gallardo Super Trofeo and Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo race cars.

Alongside the new bumper, this Gallardo is rolling on a stunning set of one-piece Vorsteiner Special Edition Forged VSE-001 wheels. Interestingly, this Gallardo is actually the extremely rare LP550-2 model meaning like the Balboni Edition, it is rear wheel drive.



Besides the Vorsteiner upgrades, this Gallardo LP550-2 features a custom exhaust, carbon fiber Superleggera wing, silver brake calipers, clear side markers and carbon fiber wrapped rear windshield cover. All of these epic features are tied together beautifully thanks to the rare Blu Caelum paint job.

The car has travelled just over 7,500 miles.

PUR Releases Special Edition PS05V.2 Wheels for Lamborghini Aventador

The team at PUR wheels has just released a limited edition variation of its popular PUR RS05s for the Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 in the form of the RS05.V2.



We have featured these spiralled wheels in the past but what differentiates these limited edition units from the others are the addition of the five dry carbon fiber fins on each wheels. Each fin has been crafted according to the direction of the wheel and when it is all said and done, it adds a really unique look to the epic Italian exotic.

Source: GT Spirit

VLN: BMW Wins 56th ADAC ACAS H&R Cup

BMW won their first race of the season this weekend during the 56th ADAC ACAS H&R Cup. The third race of the VLN Endurance calender was attended by hundreds of spectators. The VLN race take place at the Nurburgring. This event ran for 4:05:00.778 hours and 27 laps.
It was Nick Catsburg and Dirk Adorf who took the chequered flag for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS after a race that enjoyed spring-like conditions. Behind the Marc VDS BMW came Rudi Adams, Kevin Estre and Arno Klasen driving a McLaren MP4 12C GT3 for Dörr Motorsport. They were only 3.575 seconds behind the winners.
Closing the top three was Phoenix Team with their Audi R8 LMS Ultra piloted by Marc Basseng, Marcel Fässler and Frank Stippler. The H&R Spezialfedern BMW Z4 GT3 was fourth, the best placed Mercedes car was the No.9 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 of team Black Falcon.

Winner Adorf said;

I am really excited, even though our main target here was to make a good preparation for the Nürburgring ADAC Zurich 24h Race, I am of course delighted about the win. It was a tough competition and things became quite close again towards the end of the race.

GetSpeed Performance won the Cup 2 class in their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup while Wochenspiegel Team Manthey took home the win in the SPPRO class. Black Falcon won the SP7 class in their Porsche 911 GT3 cup, even after failing to make a win the main class in their Mercedes. MSC Adenau were No.46 overall but impressed by winning the Cup 5 class in the all new BMW M235i Racing CUP.



Group H was dominated by Achim and Peter Heinrich in the BMW M1 which managed to complete 25 laps. So far, three races have taken place, the teams now have one week to prepare for the forthcoming 45th Adenauer ADAC simfy Trophy which will take place on 17th May. The Nurburging 24 Hour Race takes place on 21-22 June 2014.

VW using other manufacturing locations as leverage in battle with TN

We've reached a new step in the ongoing drama at Volkswagen's factory in Chattanooga, TN. The United Auto Workers recently dropped its opposition to the union vote and agreed that it wouldn't hold another ballot for at least a year. Now, the new question becomes where VW is going to build its forthcoming midsize SUV.

Earlier, it had been considered all but certain that the SUV, likely a production version of the CrossBlue concept (pictured above), would be built in Tennessee. However, it seems the Chattanooga factory might have competition to produce it. In emails obtained by The Detroit News, VW's lawyer wrote to the Tennessee economic development department in January saying, "While we understand there are some 'non-deal' issues that are causing a delay in the TN solution, VW has been successful in reaching agreement on terms at the alternative locations."

As previously reported, the state of Tennessee allegedly offered VW about $300 million in incentives to build the vehicle there and create an estimated 1,350 jobs, but it later rescinded the deal. Newly leaked documents from NewsChannel 5 (WTVF-TV) in Nashville allegedly show just how close that offer was to being completed. It appears that VW actually sent the government the first draft of a memorandum of understanding agreeing to the incentives, but the state removed the offer in late January.

Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn announced at the 2014 Detroit Auto Show that the midsize SUV was scheduled for its US launch in 2016, as a model designed specifically for North America. He also said the company would invest over $7 billion over the next five years. Time might be running out to find a production location. If not in Tennessee, the alternative would appear to be VW's assembly in Mexico.

News Source: NewsChannel 5 (WTVF-TV), The Detroit News

2015 Chevrolet SS getting manual transmission, Magnetic Ride suspension

 

Now, if reports swirling 'round the internet are true, the SS will be getting another performance-focused addition for the 2015 model year, and it's one we're seriously stoked about: a manual transmission.

This information comes courtesy of Motor Trend editor Jonny Lieberman, who broke the news on Twitter. In addition to the do-it-yourself gearbox, the 2015 SS will also reportedly use General Motors' excellent Magnetic Ride suspension – what's found on the Corvette, among other cars. That setup, combined with a proper row-your-own transmission, should make for one absolutely lovely SS.

When reached for comment, GM spokesperson Afaf Farah told Autoblog, "We have not made any new announcements about the Chevrolet SS." According to Lieberman's tweet, the updated SS will make its debut at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in August.

 

News Source: Motor Trend via Twitter, Jalopnik

Lamborghini Urus SUV to be assembled in Slovakia

Lamborghini is known for many, many things. Beautiful, exotic and expressive styling, extreme performance and eye-watering prices are Lambo hallmarks. But the Raging Bull is perhaps best known for building its cars by hand... in Slovakia?

No, it's known for building its cars in Italy. But with the Urus SUV, which is already a departure (although not an unprecedented one) from your traditional Lamborghini, the brand could move construction outside the boot-shaped country, and east, into the former member of the Eastern Bloc.

The move will see the Urus, which will ride on a modified version of the Volkswagen Group's MLB platform, screwed together alongside the VW Touareg, Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Bentley's eventual SUV at VAG's Bratislava factory. In terms of consolidating production in one factory, it's clearly a clever move. Still, we wonder if setting up Urus production outside of the Sant'Agata factory and in the sprawling Bratislava facility won't lessen the specialness inherent in Lamborghini products.

According to Automotive News Europe, the Urus should start rolling out of the plant in 2017.

 

News Source: Automotive News Europe - sub. req.

Saab to reintroduce 9-3 SportCombi as Phoenix development continues

 

The saga of Saab goes to show that you can't keep a good automaker down. Founded back in 1947 (the same year, incidentally, as Ferrari, TVR and Maserati defector OSCA), Saab split off from its aerospace division, merged with Scania trucks, was subsequently picked up by General Motors, then pawned off onto Spyker before its current Chinese owners brought it back out of bankruptcy. Now under the auspices of National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), Saab has official restarted production of the 9-3 sedan, but what are its plans for the future?

In correspondence with Autoblog, NEVS communications director Mikael Ostlund gave us an idea of what to expect. First of all, NEVS is living up to its name by launching an electric version of the 9-3. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, the 9-3 EV currently is undergoing a pilot launch in the Chinese city of Qingdao (which owns part of NEVS) before being rolled out in other markets around the world. But that's not all NEVS has planned for Saab.

The reborn Swedish automaker also plans to relaunch the 9-3 SportCombi to supplement the 9-3 sedan. The wagon version was part of the second-gen 9-3's rollout in the early 2000s, offering increased cargo space and versatility – particularly vital since GM had seen it fit to replace the previous hatchback bodystyle favored by the brand faithful with a more traditional trunked form to lure new buyers into the fold. Although Ostlund confirmed that NEVS has "the option of adding the convertible" back into the lineup, nut has yet to decide on if and when it will do so.

Meanwhile development continues on the Phoenix architecture which Saab was developing with GM money before going bankrupt. Previewed by the Jason Castriota-designed PhoeniX concept, the new platform was set to replace the current 9-3 and spawn a liftback coupe, convertible and even a crossover. "As the Phoenix platform is flexible," said Ostlund, "we are able to develop different models and bodystyles out of it, but we do not present the plans and specifications today."

At the moment NEVS is limiting Saab's reintroduction to its two home countries: Sweden and China. "As we have a global perspective we want to add markets when we can see a profitable business case," reports Ostlund. Just which those markets will be, however, and when they will be added to Saab's business plan, remain to be seen. 

 

UK Porsche GT3 owners are irked that other countries are getting better deals

Porsche 911 GT3 owners in the United Kingdom are up in arms, but it's not for the reason you might think. Okay, well it sort of is. See, it's been fairly well documented that 911 GT3 owners have had their cars grounded over concerns that the engines could catch fire. Porsche is rushing to build and install replacement engines in all 800 or so cars, scattered around the globe.

This isn't really the issue. The problem for these British owners is compensation. While the car's have been grounded, car notes still need to be paid. To deal with this, American GT3 owners are being paid $2,000 per month. German owners get 175 euros ($242 at today's rates) per day while a GT3 owner in Dubai is allegedly receiving $12,000 (it's unclear if this is a lump sum or a monthly payment). Basically, if you aren't able to drive your six-figure super car, you shouldn't have to pay for it. Seems reasonable regardless of the make.

British owners, though, aren't being compensated, and for 30 to 35 owners, that's not acceptable. They've banded together and are led by Sunil Mehra.

"We are massively disappointed by the way the manufacturer has conducted itself with its lack of transparency and blatant discrimination between markets," Mehra said in a statement according to The Telegraph.

The drivers are demanding Porsche pay 145 pounds (about $243) per day, retroactive to February 18 when the do-not-drive order was issued. The group isn't just looking out for current owners, though. It's demanding $138 per day for owners whose cars have had their production suspended and $69 for customers that have submitted deposits but haven't received a spot in the build allocation.

While we agree with their position, it is somewhat difficult to feel bad for what are probably some very, very wealthy customers. It's also surprising to see that Porsche's UK arm has made such a stumble, particularly as distributors in other markets are going to such lengths to keep GT3 owners happy.

According to The Telegraph, Porsche UK hasn't issued a comment. In the meantime, Porsche kicked off production of replacement engines earlier this week, according to a previous Autoblog report. With any luck, GT3 drivers should have their cars back on the road soon.

 

News Source: The Telegraph

AMG's partnership with Aston Martin won't extend past engines, for now

There's been talk of late about the technical partnership between Aston Martin and the AMG division of Mercedes-Benz going beyond engines to include Mercedes sports car and SUV platforms for the English brand, perhaps as a way to kickstart the development of a Lagonda SUV. But AMG CEO Tobias Moers, speaking to Top Gear, said that's effectively out of the question because, "No one has the time to discuss any more involvement than that for now."

Moers believes Aston Martin will be so busy "for the next two to three years" integrating its AMG-sourced engine and electronics that it won't have the resources to devote to working out a platform-sharing deal; Daimler sources have already said that Aston Martin's development budget "just isn't enough" to even consider a whole new model, and that greater cooperation would require something like a larger ownership stake in the boutique sports car maker.

AMG, in the meantime, is busy with the recent launch of the GLA45 AMG, the coming C63 AMG and its rumored 4.0-liter V8, the Mercedes-AMG GT and its assault on the Porsche 911 among who-knows-what other skunkworks projects. Moers said the technical partnership is about profit for AMG, clear and simple, and, "All these rumors about platform sharing are nice but no one at Aston or Mercedes has the time to discuss them."

 

News Source: Top Gear

Mattias Ekström unleashes bonkers 600-hp Audi S1 Supercar on World RX

Mattias Ekström doesn't need to prove anything. He's won the DTM title twice and before that the Swedish Touring Car Championship. But being a racing driver as he is, Ekström has been looking for new challenges. He's contested the Swedish Rally six times, the German Rally twice, he's driven in V8 Supercars and in NASCAR. He's even won the Race of Champions. Twice. Heck, we're surprised his long-time sponsor Red Bull hasn't let him try out one of its F1 cars. But this season it's on to a new challenge: the inaugural FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Ekström drove a Volkswagen Polo fielded by Marklund Motorsport in the Swedish rallycross round last season and came in second, but this year he's diving in head-first with his own team and his own car. His outfit EKS is hard at work preparing the new Audi S1 for competition in the World RX Championship, and will field two of them this season: one for Ekström and another for JWRC champion Pontus Tidemand.

Built to compete in the top category of the championship, the EKS Audi S1 Supercar will pack a 2.0-liter turbo four with 600 horsepower, all-wheel drive and a 0-60 time of 1.9 seconds. It's expected to make its debut late in May at the World RX of Great Britain where it will have to tangle with specially prepared versions of the Citroën DS3, Ford Fiesta ST and Peugeot 208 driven by the likes of Tanner Foust, Ken Block, Jacques Villeneuve and Petter Solberg. The sole North American round will be held in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, in early August, on the same circuit that once hosted Indy Lights, ALMS, Grand-Am, Can-Am and Trans-Am races.

Smart ForTwo owner misses point, swaps in big block V8

He's not actually a Smart ForTwo owner – he's a guy who built a custom chassis with a Chevrolet big block at the front that can fit a ForTwo body. And yes, there's almost nothing under that diminutive skin except a tube frame, an engine and a seat – the driver's helmet can't be more than a few hairs away from the back glass.

YouTube user Keith Pufahl shot video of white lightning at No Limit Raceway in Morocco, Indiana. In the video comments Pufahl says the builder is still dialing it in so he didn't set any records, but neverminding the run, did we mention there's a Smart ForTwo with a Chevy big block in the video below?

Red Bull confirm new RB10 chassis will be ready for Vettel at Spanish GP

Quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel will definitely be at the wheel of a new ‘Suzie’ for the start of the European season.
Earlier this week, we reported that Red Bull was looking into whether an underlying fault with his 2014 car was contributing to the reigning world champion’s struggle to keep up with teammate Daniel Ricciardo.
So when a new version of the RB10 is built by the Milton-Keynes team, “Vettel will get it,” Red Bull’s Helmut Marko said.
Marko has now told Auto Bild that Vettel’s new 2014 chassis will be ready for the first
European race, at Barcelona mid next month.



“It’s already been decided,” he said. “In Barcelona, Sebastian will have a new chassis, because sometimes even a small hairline crack can have large consequences.”
He said Vettel has run into this sort of trouble before, and overcome it.
“In 2012, Sebastian had problems compared with Mark Webber, but after a chassis change suddenly everything was much better and when he regained his confidence, he was almost unbeatable, and won the title,” added Marko.
Vettel always gives his Formula 1 cars a female name, and for the 2014 season, the Adrian Newey designed Renault V6-powered RB10 is called ‘Suzie’. (GMM)

De Silvestro makes Formula 1 test debut for Sauber at Fiorano

Swiss racing driver Simona De Silvestro had her first Formula One test on Saturday in a two-year-old Sauber at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit.
The 25-year-old, who has spent four years competing in the U.S. IndyCar series, is aiming for a race seat in Formula One next year.
The 2010 Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year, who became the first woman to finish on the podium at an IndyCar street race when she was second in Houston in 2013, joined Sauber in February as an affiliated driver.



“Simona did a very solid job today. It was immediately clear that she is an experienced driver,” said Sauber test engineer Paul Russell in a team statement.
“It was as good a start in a Formula One car as you could hope for, and you couldn’t really ask for more today.”
De Silvestro, who will test again on Sunday at the track outside Maranello, said that her first lap in a Formula One car had been a special experience.
“The G-forces are significantly higher compared to what I was used to in IndyCar. Overall, I’m happy with my first day,” she said.



“Physically I feel quite good, which is definitely a result of my preparation in recent months. I have been training really hard and this paid off.”
The last woman to try and race in Formula One was Italian Giovanna Amati, who failed to qualify with Brabham in 1992.
Britain’s Susie Wolff is due to take part in Free Practice at two races with Williams this season. Source: Reuters

Spotted: Brabus E 63 AMG 850 6.0 Biturbo

The Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo is the spiritual successor to the legendary Brabus 800 E, a V12 animal that loved nothing more that to chew and spit out tyres for breakfast! This, the 850, features an uprated V8 engine, now 5.9 litres rather than the serial 5.5 litres that the standard AMG car is fitted with.

To achieve this, Brabus uses precision-balanced billet crankshaft with a stroke of 96 mm (3.78) instead of the standard 90.5 millimeters (3.56 in.) in concert with special forged billet piston rods. The engine also receives new turbochargers with larger compressor units and a special manifold. A high-performance exhaust system and an ECU optimisation are both included in the package.

As a result, power is now 850 hp with torque limited to 1,150 Nm (still plenty to spin up the rear-wheels in most gears! The power is routed through a strengthened 7-speed sports transmission with rear-wheel drive and 4MATIC version both available. With the rear wheel drive version the sprint to 100 km/h is achieved in just 3.7 seconds whilst the 4MATIC version reaches that figure in a staggering 3.1 seconds. Brabus’ VMax system limits the Brabus 850 6.0 Biturbo to speeds between 300 km/h and more than 350 km/h.
This spectacular matte grey example from Qatar was spotted in Knightsbridge, London and was photographed by Sifat Ahmed.

Horrific Lamborghini Aventador Accident in Miami

A horrific Lamborghini Aventador accident occurred last night in Miami. Police say that the Lamborghini Aventador was travelling at speeds in excess of 100 mph along MacArthur Causeway, Miami Beach at around 3 am. The driver failed to slow for a set of traffic lights and ploughed into the back of a Chevrolet Suburban.
The resulting wreck was so violent that the Lamborghini Aventador continued to travel down the highway for a further 100 metres before coming to a rest. The top was taken clean off the Italian supercar and came to rest a distance away from the car.

Unfortunately, the passenger travelling in the Lamborghini Aventador, the brother-in-law of the driver, died at the scene of the accident. The driver of the Lamborghini, 53 year old Andres Esteban Toro, was taken to hospital. The driver of the Suburban was returning from work at the time of the accident and was also taken to hospital suffering from numerous broken bones.

Whilst Police are investigating the cause of the accident, they have already confirmed to journalists that the Lamborghini driver will likely face a charge of reckless driving. They are waiting to hear back on toxicology reports to confirm whether or not the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Callaway Previews 620hp Supercharged Corvette Stingray Convertible

The experts at Callaway Cars have just released the following image as well as a host of details about its brand new supercharger system it has fitted to the latest Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible.

To create its amped up Corvette, Callaway utilises a potent Eaton supercharger mated to the Corvette’s standard 6.2-liter V8 engine. Thanks to the new supercharger as well as an intercooler, high-flow intake and stainless steel sports exhaust, the car delivers a brutal 620 hp and 600 lb-ft of torque.

As a result of this additional power, the supercharged Callaway Corvette is said to sprint to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds and complete the quarter mile in 11 seconds flat at 125 mph while being capable of pulling 1.05 lateral g.

Source : GT Spirit

London’s First Lamborghini Taxi Hits The Streets

Think of London and a few things are certain to pop into your mind, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, Beefeaters and Black Taxis. The good old Hackney Carriage, the shape has barely changed and the concept never will, jump in, say where you want to be and arrive in relative luxury! Now imagine that your taxi had a 5.2-liter V10 that produces 570 bhp under the hood! Imagine no more, Pure Rally have done just that.

Meet the gorgeous Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Performante that is now a fully licensed Black TAXI! To celebrate the launch of Pure Rally, the new super car rally experience for party loving petrol heads, London’s first ever Lamborghini taxi was launched on Wednesday 23rd April 2014 and was dubbed the ‘Lambo cab.’ The taxi’s first passenger of the day was glamour model, beauty queen and television personality Imogen Thomas who was picked up from The Mayfair Hotel in central London.

Having dropped of the VIP passenger the Italian supercar cruised the streets of Knightsbridge picking up a few lucky passengers from very ordinary taxi ranks where it certainly struggled to fit in, even with its classic London taxi light! We sure hope this is not the last venture of its kind!

Video: 1800hp+ Lamborghini Gallardo Catches Fire at 200mph

Twin-turboing the Lamborghini Gallardo is extremely popular among those rich enough to afford the Italian supercar and wanting to achieve some incredible drag strip times. However, with some twin-turbo Gallardos pushing out well over 1500 hp and up to 2000 hp, mechanical issues can arise quite quickly and unexpectedly.

We’ve seen a couple twin-turbo Gallardos catch fire in the middle of one mile sprints and recently in the U.S, an orange Gallardo pushing out more than 1800 hp suffered the same fate after hitting 207 mph in less than half a mile!
The driver of the car, a co-owner of Underground Racing, said that during the run a turbocharger exploded leading to the massive fire ball. Thankfully, the drag-strip oriented machine is fitted with a full fire suppression system.

Honda Announces Its Entrants for Pikes Peak 2014

The countdown to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2014 has begun ahead of the epic hillclimb starting on June 29th. Honda is the first manufacturer to confirm its line-up for the hillclimb with it set to compete in seven classes during the event.
While discussing the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, president of Honda Performance Development Art St. Cyr said, “Pikes Peak presents us with a unique opportunity to showcase Honda’s diverse product lineup and to energize Honda fans around the world, as we work to further strengthen Honda’s presence in racing at all levels.

“Our associates will be working hard between now and Race Day to prepare this diverse field of race vehicles and showcase the Honda Racing Spirit.”
The most exciting Honda powered car to compete in this year’s Pikes Peak will be the Norma racer piloted by decorated driver Romain Dumas in the Unlimited Class. Elsewhere, Honda will field a first-generation NSX in the Open Class, while a potent Honda CBR600RR will enter into the Middleweight motorcycle Class.

Excitingly, Honda will also enter into the Electric Class with an all-electric Honda Fit. In the Time Attach Class, the Honda S2000 based S3700 will compete while finally, another Fit will hit the mountain in the Exhibition Class and an ATV in its respective class.

Source : GT Spirit

Audi perfecting drool-worthy RS3 hot hatch

A sure-fire way of adding excitement to any Audi is removing the "A" from its model name and replacing it with "RS." Take the RS4, RS5, RS6 and RS7 as proof of this fact. Of course, the transformation from "A" to "RS" wouldn't be complete with a huge bump in power, a far more sporting suspension, enhanced brakes and a more aggressive styling treatment.

That process appears to be well underway with the next RS3, which has once again been spotted testing in Germany. The larger wheels (the styles are mismatched, but the sizes look similar) are a good giveaway, as are the larger brakes and more aggressive front bumper, which sports larger intakes. The rear bumper has been modified, although we can't quite tell if the RS line's tell-tale oval exhausts have been fitted.

In the past, the RS3 mules we've heard have boasted the distinctive exhaust note of a five-cylinder engine. This particular car, though, has a more conventional exhaust note, of the sort you'd expect from a high-powered four-cylinder. Expect around 400 horsepower and Quattro all-wheel drive, with power distributed likely through some form of S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission.

Take a look up top for our gallery of spy shots, and keep an eye open for the RS3 in October, when it's expected to debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

Image Credit: CarPix

Koenigsegg planning $650k entry-level supercar?

"Entry level" is a relative term. For Nissan, for example, that means a $12k Versa. For Mercedes, it means the $30,000 CLA. For Porsche, the $50k Boxster. In Ferrari terms, that translates to the $200k California. But what does it mean for Koenigsegg, a company that makes supercars that sell for upwards of $1 million?

According to Australian car site Motoring.com.au, which spoke to Christian von Koenigsegg at the New York Auto Show last week, the exotic automaker is planning a new "entry level" model (there's that term again) to sell for around $600-700k (in US dollars). That would make it about half the price of the Agera ($1.3 million) and significantly less than the Agera S ($1.5M) Agera R ($1.6M) or the bonkers, sold-out Agera One:1 ($2.85M) with its perfect power-to-weight ratio and one megawatt of power on tap. That would also place it in a mostly vacant price bracket, bridging the gap between a $350-400k Ferrari F12 or Lamborghini Aventador and the million-dollar hypercars with which Christian and company currently compete. It could, however, find itself competing directly with the P15 supercar being developed by McLaren.

Just how the baby Ksegg would emerge remains a big question mark. We'd expect it to follow a similar formula to the Agera (and the CC line before it) with a V8 with some manner of forced induction mounted amidships in a two-seat, possibly lift-topped chassis. Don't go expecting a thousand horsepower or 3D-printed titanium parts, though, as the Swedish company will need to create some space between the new model and the Agera line if it's going to sell one alongside the other.

When reached for comment, Koenigsegg spokesperson Josephine Winger Lang said only, "We have nothing planned more than the Agera model year 2015," which really raises more questions than it answers. For one, that would mean that either she, her boss or the Australian publication citing her boss misspoke, to put it charitably. For another, we don't quite believe that any company could have "nothing planned" for its future beyond the next model year. But it also makes us wonder what improvements Koenigsegg might be preparing to roll out for the Agera. Lang refused to elaborate, but we suppose we'll find out sooner or later.

 

News Source: Motoring.com.au

Fisker could be renamed when production restarts in 2015

The Orange County Register has an update on Wanxiang's plans for Fisker, and it starts with the idea that you would see brand new Karmas back on the road in mid-2015. From there the goals get less certain, the OCR saying the Surf station wagon "could ship in 2016" and the mid-priced Atlantic "might come in 2017."

The targets came from an interview with interim CEO Roger Brown as he laid out how fluid the present situation is. The primary certainty, according to Brown, is that new owner Wanxiang is determined to execute on its vision and "build a great car company." The puzzle pieces that make that picture are still being assembled – even the name of the post-bankruptcy company, Fisker Automotive for now, is being debated.

No matter what the name will be, Wanxiang and Brown need to establish the blood and bones of a company that can provide what the original Fisker Automotive didn't. Brown said they're looking for a permanent CEO over the next three months, they need to settle on a location for headquarters and increase the staff from the current 25 to the 200 or so necessary to engineering a fully fleshed-out Karma and successive products, and figure out where cars are going to be built. Concerning workers, Brown revealed that, "We've been flooded with people that want to come back." As for manufacturing in the Delaware plant that Fisker Automotive still controls or somewhere else, we've heard there are even odds on US production, but the final answer will probably be delivered by the new CEO.

 

News Source: Orange County Register

Ecclestone denies $400 million plea deal to avoid jail

Bernie Ecclestone

Under fire Bernie Ecclestone on Friday rubbished reports he is preparing to plead guilty in order to avoid jail
.
As the Formula 1 chief executive’s Munich trial began on Thursday, London’s Times newspaper reported that Ecclestone, 83, might reach a plea deal and exchange a custodial sentence for a massive $400 million-plus penalty.
“No, that’s total nonsense, rubbish,” the 83-year-old told Germany’s Bild newspaper, having returned to London from Germany.

“I do not want to buy my freedom. Why would I want a deal? I will tell the court the truth about everything that happened, and then it will be up to them to judge,” added Ecclestone.
The star witness in the trial will be Gerhard Gribkowsky, the already-jailed ex-banker who was convicted of receiving Ecclestone’s alleged bribe.
But Ecclestone said: “Mr Gribkowsky has already testified three times. I don’t think anything new will come from a fourth.”

He acknowledged, however, that if he is ultimately found guilty, his long and lucrative reign over Formula 1 will be over.
“If I am convicted, it will be difficult to keep my job in Formula 1. That’s the problem,” said Ecclestone.

He will return to Munich next week.
“It was an exhausting first day,” said Ecclestone, referring to Thursday’s opening of proceedings.

“The judge, the prosecutors, my lawyers, they all speak German. I have an interpreter but it’s very difficult to follow everything in exactly the way it is said,” he explained.
Still, he found time on Thursday for typically light-hearted moments, like when he joked with the judge about his marital status.
“Why not (joke)?” Ecclestone said on Friday. “The judge, the prosecutors, they are all nice people who are just doing their jobs.” (GMM)

The other Rossi gets FP1 action in Montreal and Austin with Caterham

Alexander Rossi

Caterham F1 Team has confirmed that Alexander Rossi, Caterham F1 Team Reserve Driver and Caterham Racing GP2 race driver, will drive in two FP1 sessions this season at the Canadian and US Grands Prix.

Rossi has been flying the US flag as one of Caterham F1 Team’s Reserve Drivers since 2012 in addition to his role as one of the team’s primary simulator drivers.
He has completed multiple FP1 sessions and test days for the team since 2011 and Montreal and Austin will mark his first taste of 2014 machinery on track, building on the extensive mileage he has already accumulated in the team’s state of the art simulator at its Leafield, UK base.

This is the continuation of Rossi’s development towards a F1 full time race seat and reflects the ongoing commitment that Caterham have to see him reach his ultimate goal.
Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal, Caterham F1 Team: “Alexander will be continuing his development with two more FP1 sessions for us in Canada and the USA. While his focus this year is firmly on GP2 we are pleased to give him more opportunities to play an active role in the F1 team’s race weekends and to have him help us develop our car at two races that are very important for us, both in terms of our season overall and with the strong support we have commercially in the North American continent.”

Alexander Rossi: “Each time I step into F1 machinery there is an important job to do. Montreal and Austin are important races for me and I want to thank Caterham for the opportunity to continue my development to a full time race seat in F1. My GP2 program combined with my F1 team Reserve Driver duties give me invaluable insight and experience for my future. I’ve built up a lot of hours in the F1 simulator already this year, but Montreal will be my first visit behind the wheel of the CT05 on track. I look forward to a positive runplan for both the Canadian and USA sessions.”

Marko: Those in the team who were against Ricciardo being promoted are now silent

Daniel Ricciardo has proved his doubters wrong – even those who wear a Red Bull uniform, according to Helmut Marko, the force behind the energy drink company’s driver development programme that produced world champion Sebastian Vettel.
But the programme, described by some as brutal, has also discarded its fair share of talents, including Jaime Alguersuari who was dropped at the age of just 21.
The latest Formula 1 graduates, however, are faring well, so far in 2014, including the Russian teen Daniil Kvyat at Toro Rosso, and Vettel’s new teammate at the senior team, Australian Ricciardo.
“We were absolutely right to take [Ricciardo],” Austrian Marko told Auto Bild, responding to suggestions that the top team should have signed someone like Kimi Raikkonen.
“Those in the team who were against [Ricciardo joining] are now silent,” he added.



Indeed, at present, Ricciardo is even showing up the reigning quadruple title winner Vettel in the 2014-spec RB10.
Marko says that Ricciardo confirms the Red Bull philosophy, to give young drivers a chance to show their potential to win”.
“He has shown that he can keep up with Sebastian, even under extreme pressure and difficult conditions,” he said.
As well as more than ‘keep up’ with Vettel, Ricciardo has also improved the atmosphere inside the team, said Marko, whose relationship with Mark Webber was never good.
“The mood in the team is much better now,” he said. “There is cohesion between the drivers and no more two directions.”
Webber also seems to be enjoying his new life after his seven years with Red Bull, finishing on the podium at a wet Silverstone last weekend in his world endurance debut in the Porsche prototype.
“Always tastes good,” the 37-year-old tweeted a photo of himself in his new white overalls drinking from the champagne bottle. (GMM)

2014 BMW 328i xDrive Gran Turismo

Grand Stature Yes, Ultimate Driving Machine No

Vital Stats

Engine:

Turbo 2.0L I4

Power:

240 HP / 255 LB-FT

Transmission:

8-Speed Auto

Base Price:

$41,450

As-Tested Price:

$54,570

"The Ultimate Driving Machine" has been BMW's tagline for nearly 40 years. Launched in the 1970s, the marketing campaign was a stroke of genius by ad firm Ammirati & Puris, as the phrase helped differentiate the imported Bavarian cars from their fellow European rivals by subtly pointing out that Mercedes-Benz and Audi were offering luxury models, while BMW was selling sporty and youthful driving dynamics. The campaign worked – some would argue that stands among the most effective ad campaigns ever – and countless Baby Boomers embraced the brand's fun-to-drive image by taking delivery of the company's new models.

BMW still boasts that its vehicles are "The Ultimate Driving Machine" four decades later, but the brand is very different today. It offered just a few model lines in the mid-1970s, and only a handful of vehicles within. In 2014, the automaker offers an exhaustive range comprised of nearly a dozen lines with almost 50 different models. To survive and thrive, BMW has decided it must massively broaden its appeal.

One of the latest arrivals to BMW's ever-growing stable is the 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo. The five-door hatchback is best thought of as a smaller version of the company's 5 Series Gran Turismo built on stretched 3 Series platform that, in the case of this test car, shares the running gear of the 328i xDrive sedan. On paper, the five-passenger vehicle checks all the proper boxes with regards to performance, utility and economy. But does this family-focused 3 Series still deliver driving dynamics that qualify it for the title of Ultimate Driving Machine?

Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Michael Harley / AOL

Top Gear producer expresses regret over 'light-hearted' racist joke

Generally, when you're globally known like the team at Top Gear and are getting sued for $1.66 million over claims of racism, it's in your best interest to apologize early, often and profusely. You should not, however, apologize a month after the fact, when the furor had already died down. Someone, apparently, didn't teach this lesson to TG Executive Producer Andy Wilman, who has ruffled feathers with an oddly worded apology for the incident, nearly a month after it happened.

"We were not aware at the time, and it has subsequently been brought to our attention, that the word 'slope' is considered by some to be offensive," Wilman said. Claiming ignorance strikes us as a reasonable defense – most of the Autoblog team and many of the readers that commented on our original story had never heard that particular slur. He then eviscerates his defense by saying this:

"When we used the word 'slope' in the recent Top Gear Burma Special it was a light-hearted word play joke referencing both the build quality of the bridge and the local Asian man who was crossing it."

Claiming ignorance that a term is racist and then admitting that you were using said term to refer to someone of a different race kind of indicates that you knew what you were up to.

Wilman then bewilderingly goes on to claim that the phrase isn't well known in the United Kingdom, and that the furor seems to be coming from the United States and Australia. This ignores the fact that a Indian-born British actress and a British law firm are the ones suing Top Gear.

All told, this seems like a pretty bad play on the part of Wilman and the TG team. 

 

News Source: Radio Times

Image Credit: Joel Ryan / Invision / AP

Apple co-founder Wozniak pranks the Internet with 'his' Tesla Model X

Steve WozniakCompte certifié ‏@stevewoz

Our new Tesla! (@ Tesla Supercharger Station) http://4sq.com/1rmvIUR  

 

People pay attention to Steve Wozniak. People pay attention to Tesla Motors. Put the two together, with the bonus of a not-yet-available Model X, and you've got the makings of Twitter gold. This was proven yesterday, when Woz Tweeted a picture of himself with what he said was "our new Tesla!" Excited admirers offered their congratulations and wanted to see the cool Falcon doors in action.

But it was all a dream too sweet. The Model X, after all, isn't due until the end of the year and even an Apple co-founder can't bend time that much. Tech editor at The Street Chris Ciaccia popped the bubble with this Tweeted explanation: "Despite @stevewoz tweeting a pic of him w/the Model X, not his new car. Just a photo op with the display model at that charging station." So, really, "Woz's" Model X could belong to anyone who wants to go to wherever the display model is located and snap a picture.

We would not be surprised, though, if Woz is one of the 12,000 (guesstimated) pre-orders for the Model X. The all-wheel drive, all-electric CUV can hit 60 miles per hour in under five seconds thanks to a powertrain similar to the one in the Model S. Like the popular S, the X will come with either a 60- or 85-kWh battery.

 

News Source: Twitter