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5 août New Infiniti. Code name: Mmmmmm…cj hubbard writes: Surprise announcement from Infiniti – the recently Europeanized luxury arm of Nissan – today, saying it will be unveiling a brand new model at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance later this month. Take a look at this:
It’s called the M. That’s a pretty slick looking silhouette, what? Now for the kicker – apparently it’s a saloon. A saloon?! Where the hell is Infiniti going to put the second set of doors, and if that shoulder line is anywhere near as pronounced as it looks, how is it planning on engineering the opening mechanism? But there’s more. Rumours have been aboundin’ that a saloon version of the all-conquering Nissan GT-R is scheduled to appear at some point. And since amongst the scant info Infiniti has so far let slip is the news that the M will slot into the line-up above the existing G37 Saloon, the sizing of such a machine could be just about right. A saloon with the twin-turbo V6 and tarmac terrorising all-wheel drive of the Nissan GT-R, and – as far as we can tell – a much more classically attractive exterior? Where, oh where, do we sign… --- Links: Official: new Mercedes E-Class Estate ---
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21 juillet No need for denial Update 23/7/09: It seems - as ever with insurance - it pays to read the small print and an important clarification needs to be made: This new insurance policy does not cover you for third party damage to other vehicles or any resulting injury claims. Legal opinion would suggest this will be provided by your insurance company as a bare minimum, regardless of 'exclusions' but it remains a grey area. Dan Trent writes: So, you want to go the 'ring. But are you insured? General consensus has it on public days the Nordschleife is, legally speaking, like any other stretch of German road and therefore your normal road insurance covers you. But UK insurers are getting wise and many (Admiral and subsidiaries like Elephant among them) are excluding the Nordschleife from their policies. A big enough problem if you wreck your own car but if you were to run into a Porsche GT3 (easy enough, given the number of them there), cause a track closure by dropping oil or - god forbid - injure a motorcyclist you could be facing a bill for hundreds of thousands of euros and an unpleasant chat with the Polizei.  But it seems the only thing protecting many UK drivers is denial about the possible consequences of having an off-track excursion. Put it this way, it's more expensive than it is in Forza Motorsport. Good news then that locally based Nurburg Motorsport, part-run by Brit ex-pat Ken Harris, has come up with a specific policy to cover 'tourist' drives on public days at the 'ring. Peace of mind is yours for £99, although there are limitations and it will only cover you for eight laps. Added to the €22 it costs for a single trip round that makes it just over £30 a lap. Pricey, but when you see how easily it can go wrong it could be a price worth paying. Just watch the following if you were in any doubt... A very expensive day out for that unlucky Maserati driver and proof - were it ever needed - that the 'ring is ready to bite the unwary. Dan --- Links: Why Brits love the Nurburgring Nurburg Motorsport Nurburg Motorsport's insurance - details Nurburgring 2009 - the redevelopment --- Share It
16 juillet 100 years of Audi … in sound!Dan Trent writes: As you’ll see on the site today I’ve been rather busy lost in the various Audi archives and with my fabulous USB stick researching the various stories connected with Audi’s 100th anniversary. In so doing I stumbled across a rather surprising feature on the Audi media website – a selection of engine noises in MP3 form! It’s a pretty exhaustive list too, obvious hits like the racing cars being supplemented with rather more … everyday choices. I can understand someone wanting to hear the engine note of an Auto Union racer. But an MP3 file of a 1989 Audi 100 TDI? I’ve picked out a few personal highlights for you though. And, no, the 100 TDI isn’t one of them. The Auto Union Type C is though – turn it up loud! Or how about this, the bonkers Audi Sport quattro S1 – the classic five-cylinder sound that dominated early 80s rallying! I was rather taken with this too – the 1991 DTM race version of the Audi V8 quattro. Audi’s road-going V8s sound pretty good too – like the RS6 for instance. Something a little more soothing now, the 1929 Audi Imperator – the company’s first eight-cylinder car. I’ve saved the best til last though – the 1989 Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO. This wild looking racer boasted 720hp in its final trim from a turbocharged five-cylinder engine and is, I think, the most savage sounding racing car I think I’ve ever heard. It sounds terrifying!
Dan --- Links: The history of Audi in pictures Top 10 crazy Audi concept cars TT RS – you heard it here first! --- Share It
8 juillet Jaguar XJ – the videos Dan Trent writes: Excitement is building ahead of the official unveiling of the all-new Jaguar XJ later this week and to get you in the mood here are some related videos. First the teaser released earlier this year: Video: Jaguar XJ teaser And here’s Jaguar boss Mike O’Driscoll revealing the new XJ to the press at the Shanghai motor show back in April. Revealing? OK, not quite. That’ll come later this week. Video: Jaguar XJ preview at Shanghai - edited version Finally here’s Jaguar designer Ian Callum offering his view on the XJ’s design. We’ll have to take his word for it for now but we’ll see it for real on Friday! Video: Ian Callum on the new Jaguar XJ Dan --- Links: Jaguar XJ first official pictures --- 16 juin Vauxhall gets viral with new Astracj hubbard writes: Want a sneak preview of the next Vauxhall Astra getting jiggy with some twisting tarmac? Here’s a brand new ‘viral’ video (except it was press released this morning) of the new car being put through its paces at Millbrook Proving Ground. It includes our first glimpses of the Insignia-esque interior, and a cute ending – but did you guess who the driver is?
--- Links: Official: first pictures of Vauxhall’s new Astra French Car Show 2009 – pics and video A weekend in the Car of the Year MTM Bentley in subtle German tuning shock I do not care that this is an advertisement --- --- Share It
26 mai MTM Bentley in subtle German tuning shockcj hubbard writes: I have a desperate, desperate need to inject something that ISN’T A MINI into the blog here. So I give you… a Bentley.
Not just any Bentley. This is an MTM Birkin Edition. Yes, I did just say Edition. Available as a tuning pack for any of the currently Bentley range, the MTM Birkin kit is notable for two reasons.
Firstly, the power. In regular tune Bentley’s 6.0-litre W12 produces 560hp. Bentley’s own Speed variants up this to 610. The MTM Birkin offers up to 650. Yow. Assuming your Bentley is the lightest (at 2.4-tonnes…), most aerodynamic example, the Continental GT, the Birkin dispatches 0-62mph in just 4.9 seconds and 0-124mph (that’s 200km/h) in 15.9. Top speed has been fully verified at 205.67mph. Which MTM says makes this the fastest Conti GT in the world.
Impressive. However, what really grabs us about this car is all the stuff that’s missing. Where’s the dodgy, ‘aerodynamically efficient’ bodykit? The bulging wheelarches? The extra vents? The bells? The whistles? It seems MTM has restrained itself to applying a relatively subtle set of 21-inch alloy wheels, chrome grill, and quad-exit exhaust system – performance enhancing, yes, but it also “delivers a beguiling sound”. Apparently.
What price subtlety? 20,000 Euros – a not insubstantial £17,532 at current exchange rates. But that does include the VAT, TÜV certification, assembly, lowered ride height, and a fairly considerable set of six-pot brakes. What the hell, let’s order it now. --- Links: Gembella’s 750hp ‘Porsche Cayenne’ Tornado Mein Gott! And, the answer is: yes. Scir-what? An Abt-solute styling disaster… Another green Audi R8! (and proof that MTM doesn’t always get it right) ---
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23 avril Another green Audi R8! Dan Trent writes: Is there a craze for bright green Audi R8s developing? Could be. The one I spotted on the way to work the other week was certainly eye catching and the subsequent blog certainly got you all chatting. But German tuner MTM has gone one better with this souped up R8, resplendent in the searing green paint shade from the Porsche 911 GT3 RS. And it’s certainly eye catching.  As are the performance mods, a supercharger conversion upping power from the 4.2-litre V8 version from 420hp to 560hp. That’s considerably more than the 525hp of the recently released V10 R8, for what it’s worth. Black painted 20-inch forged wheels and an extensive aero package made from – natch – green tinted carbon fibre complete the look which is best described as loud. Dan --- Links: Audi R8 turns us green with envy --- 12 mars 1,000 prancing horses in Hong Kongcj hubbard writes: What’s this then?
It’s a Ferrari. On a boat. In Hong Kong. Actually what it is is the 1,000th Ferrari to ever be delivered in Hong Kong. Goodness only knows what the customers do with the cars – there can’t exactly be much space to trot them out – but this was such a significant milestone for Ferrari that it hired a junk to sail the car across Victoria Harbour. Ferrari reckons this is probably an automotive first in Hong Kong, too.
The Ferrari in question is a 612 Scaglietti. But not just any 612 Scaglietti; it’s a specially commissioned “One-To-One” car from Ferrari’s new bespoke service. It was ordered by one Mr Didier Li last summer, and he was handed the keys during a “spectacular and exclusive" ceremony while travelling over the waves. Some history (and marketing information) for you. Ferrari sold its first car to Hong Kong in the early 1960s. It delivered 115 there last year, amongst a total 1,089 cars throughout the entire Asia Pacific region. Japan’s its best customer (433 in 2008, a 15 percent increase over 2007), but China is gaining fast (212 cars, an increase of 20 percent). --- Links: ---
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Veteran Car enthusiasts unitecj hubbard writes:
Are you a London to Brighton Veteran Car Run enthusiast? Well, now you can prove it, by joining the new LBVCR Enthusiasts Club. Two things. Firstly, it costs 50 quid – at least half of which goes toward funding the run. You also get an advance copy of the souvenir programme, a quarterly newsletter, a LBVCR lapel badge, and various discounts. Secondly, the club desperately needs a better acronym. Anyways, the first 100 new members will get a free veteran car ride during the 2009 LBVCR International Concours in London, a free copy of the 2009 LBVCR DVD, and a special paddock pass. For more details, and to sign up, see the website: --- Links: London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Ford Fiesta creates cool van man (or woman) ---
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11 mars Ford Fiesta creates cool van man (or woman)cj hubbard writes: Look at this:
Yep, Ford’s turned the new Fiesta into a van.
Binning the back seats and fitting blank panels (or are they just really dark tints?) in place of the rear windows has resulted in 1,000 "cubic litres" of space, plus
There are two trim levels, Trend (very, uh, German), and – excitingly – SportVan. Which is presumably what’s pictured here. I think that ridiculously enormous rear wing probably gives it away.
Payload capability varies between 490kg and 515kg, and you can choose a 1.25-litre petrol engine (though don’t if you plan on hauling anything like that heavy an amount), a 1.4-litre TDCi, or 1.6-litre TDCi. With 90hp the latter’s the SportVan weapon of choice. Impressively, the diesels both return 67.3mpg, and emit just 110g/km CO2. The Fiesta Van is also fitted with Ford’s EasyFuel filler, which prevents mis-fuelling. No comment. Prices start at £9,025, and Fiesta Van is on sale now. --- Links: Well there’s something you don’t see everyday (x2) ---
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9 mars New BMW Z4 not as hardRichard Aucock writes: We’re soon to drive BMW’s brand-new Z4 roadster. In one respect, it’s become harder. It gains a folding hard-top roof, replacing the old soft-top.
But it also gets the option of ‘Adaptive M Suspension’. Electronically controlled dampers, in other words, which work similar to Audi’s Magnetic Ride. They offer 3 different settings, from normal to Sport +.
Intriguingly, though, they also lower the ride height by up to 10mm. This is interesting stuff. Not as interesting as a revelation that BMW throws in, though – ‘the Sport+ setting of the new car is comparable to the outgoing Z4’s standard ride comfort level.’
Whoa. We always said the old Z4 was too hard. Here’s BMW’s tacit admission of that…
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6 mars Porsche builds 250,000th Cayenne: it’s a dieselcj hubbard writes:
Porsche has today announced it’s knocked out its 250,000th Cayenne. That’s it above, a nice gloss white Diesel model. Double whammy for purists, that.
Apparently it’s going to a customer in Austria. Poor choice on the alloy wheel front, as far as I’m concerned. And a disappointingly mediocre diesel SUV. But there’s no arguing with the power of the Porsche badge. Breaking down the numbers a bit, Porsche says it built 150,000 of the phase one Cayenne that started it all back in 2002, and has added another 100,000 since the second generation car was introduced in 2007. Despite the current economic difficulties – and Porsche is suffering along with every other car maker – 45,478 Cayenne’s found happy homes over the last financial year. We expect to see an all-new Stuttgart SUV, along with an all-new Volkswagen Touareg (the VW that shares the Porker’s platform) at the Frankfurt motor show later this year. Again, for a little further amusement, check out the current dispute over the Porsche Cayenne Wikipedia page.
--- Links: Win Arsenal’s customised Citroen! Porsche Silverstone Experience ---
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Win Arsenal’s customised Citroen! Dan Trent writes: This time last year we reported on the Teenage Cancer Trust’s competition to win a specially customised VW panel van, painted in The Who colours to promote the charity’s week of gigs at the Albert Hall. That competition raised £32,000 for the charity alone so it’s come up with another one-off car to be raffled as part of Arsenal’s season-long ‘Be a Gooner. Be a Giver’ campaign for Teenage Cancer Trust that includes a fun run event from the Emirates stadium on May 3. Revealed yesterday by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger the car – a C4 donated by Citroen – has custom designed graphics created by famed cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, also present at the unveiling. Scarfe came up with the design after sitting down with Arsenal players Robin van Persie, Gael Clichy and Manuel Almunia and discussing their ideas for how the team’s ethos could be represented in the artist’s distinctive style.  The result is certainly eye-catching and a treat for any Arsenal fan looking to advertise their footballing allegiances with more than a mere window sticker or limp scarf draped across the parcel shelf. So, how do you win it? Entry to the draw costs just £2 a ticket, with all the money going directly to the Teenage Cancer Trust as it – together with Arsenal – attempts to raise £300,000 towards a unit in a day care centre for young cancer patients in London’s University College Hospital. You can read more about the car and buy tickets on the Arsenal website or by calling 020 7612 0370 and if you want to see it in the metal and buy tickets on the day it’ll be on display at several home matches in the build up to the fun run in May.  Non Arsenal fans wanting to participate in the charity’s activities don’t need to feel left out either, the TCT’s gig week at the Albert Hall starting March 24. See here for more details. Dan --- Links: Win the Arsenal car here! Teenage Cancer Trust gigs Magic bus story Magic bus winner announced Teenage Cancer Trust --- Share It
27 février Return of the GTERichard Aucock writes: What inspired Ferrari’s latest 599 GTB Fiorano Handling GTE?
What else, but the equally esteemed Vauxhall Astra GTE?
Whether this means Ferrari has produced a remarkably hard-riding 599, converted it to front-wheel drive and engineered in a jaw-dropping combination of torque steer and lift-off oversteer remains to be seen. --- BMW seeks inspiration from British Leyland Bolt plays the field
3 février Impreza goes back in time
Dan Trent writes: Without a flux capacitor in sight, Subaru is stepping back in time to 1994. At least as far as pricing is concerned. So if all this snowy weather has got you inspired to go and buy a 4WD Impreza now's the time to do it because to commemorate both 15 years of Impreza turbos and the fact the last of the UK allocation of WRX Impreza is now on sale Subaru has set pricing to 1994 levels. Which means you can have a brand new WRX for the same price as an Impreza Turbo cost 15 years ago, or £17998. Which is just over two grand off the standard price and not bad for a 230hp 4WD hatch.
Now I wasn't especially nice about the WRX when I reviewed it last year but the addition of the S upgrade package transforms it - as ably demonstrated by our man CJ in the picture above on what a local busy body informed us was 'the most dangerous corner in Hertfordshire.' Just as well he had 4WD or he'd never made it around... Boosting power from 230hp to 255hp it costs £2500 but with the new offer price you're effectively able to have it for £500. Now that's a bargain! I'm just gutted I sold my own old Impreza mere days before the biggest snowfall in years. For one reason or another I never actually got to drive my old WRX in the snow and I reckon it would have been a lot of fun. I hope the new owner is enjoying himself! Dan --- Links: Snowmageddon no worry for MX-5 drivers --- Share It
21 janvier Mini One ClubmanAlex Goy writes:
Usually manufacturers wait a year or two before unleashing their high performance model. Audi waited years before the RS4 was finally allowed into our lives. BMW waited a similar time to throw the new (and brilliant) M3 our way. However, Mini doesn’t share their German counterparts’ way of thinking. Oh no. They’re launching a new variant of the Mini Clubman at the Geneva show. It promises to boost their sales and change the roadscape (is that a word? It is now). Oh yes – the Mini One Clubman is on its way. Powered by a devastating 1.4-litre engine, pushing out a planet bending 95bhp and an earth shattering 103lb ft of twist, this is a serious proposition. To make the package sweeter, it’ll get you from 0-62 in 11.4 seconds all the way to 114mph. Ok, I jest… But it is an exciting little car. It’ll allegedly do over 50mpg on the motorway and only squirts out 130g/km of carbon dioxide. So it’ll be cheap to tax and run. To make the package even sweeter the MOC (oh yes, acronym time) has the same steering and suspension set up as the Cooper model. So it’ll be fun in the twisties. All in all – it may seem underpowered and a bit rubbish, but it could fit the definition of huge fun on a budget. We’ll let you know when they let us drive it. --- Links: Adrian Flux confirms UFO insurance Boris Johnson drives the Tesla ---
14 janvier Boris Johnson drives the Teslacj hubbard writes:
Exactly what says on the tin. Or, rather, in the title. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has had a go in a Tesla Roadster. (That isn’t him driving, above.) It happened as part of a promotional event for something called the Intelligence Squared Green Festival on Climate Change, which is taking place at the Royal Geographical Society in London on Saturday 25 January. I’ll just quote a section from the press release, then we can move on to the picture:
Hmmm. Anyways, you can read about our very own Richard’s experiences in the Tesla here. But what I really want to know is, how on earth is Mr Johnson holding this pose?
--- Links: Intelligence Squared Green Festival on Climate Change ---
12 janvier Another E-Class, another ‘interesting’ styling direction for Mercedes By Dan Trent As is often the way, Mercedes had put an embargo on official images of the all-new E-Class preventing publication until late last night. Being obedient types we followed this to the letter but, typically, the pictures have been ‘out there’ for some time. Anyway, now we can officially show you pics of the new E-Class. So what’s the verdict: dog’s dinner or dog’s danglies? Hm. The E-Class’s distinctive headlight design (apparently influenced by cubist art, according to the press release) was alluded to on the SL facelift last year and then again on the Concept Fascination at the Paris show. And while it works better on the E-Class than the SL I’ll wait til I’ve seen it in the flesh before I make a final judgement. Ditto the sculpted sides that attempt to be both hard edged AND curvy, those rear arches apparently inspired by the 50s era ‘Ponton’ saloons – see below.  For me the classic E-Class is the 90s ‘W124’ era car, with its square edged but surprisingly aerodynamic styling. What, that thing, aerodynamic? You’d better believe it, the W124’s drag coefficient of 0.28 comparing very well with the brand new E-Class’s 0.25.  Still, for all its oddities the new E is at least a much better effort than the goggle-eyed W210 version that succeeded the W124.  Uh-oh, looks like the barely suppressed Merc geekery instilled in my previous life on a Mercedes magazine is revealing itself again. Nurse! Dan --- Links New E-Class unveiled at Detroit - kind of Facelifted SL roadtest Mercedes Concept Fascination --- Share It
9 janvier Happy 21stcj hubbard writes:
British Motor Heritage has announced its 21st year of Heritage MGB bodyshell production. A batch of MGB and MGB GT shells will be scheduled for production in May/June 2009, for deliver in June/July. If you want one get in touch with British Motor Heritage quick. Its website is here, or phone 01993 707200. It’s also the original Mini’s 50th anniversary in 2009. The first batch of Heritage bodyshells for that little beauty is scheduled for production in February. Again, contact BMH soon. Oh, and that’s my Dad and his B in the picture above. I’m pretty sure my Mum will want a new kitchen before he gets to buy a new shell. It’s long been a standing joke in my family that the new kitchen is sitting under a tarpaulin on the drive… --- Links: British Motor Heritage Limited 2,323lb ft: Volvo announces world’s most powerful truck. Porsche announces time and place of official Panamera unveil; we almost certainly won’t be there. ---
5 janvier Porsche announces time and place of official Panamera unveil; we almost certainly won't be there.cj hubbard writes: In a surprise move, Porsche has announced that the first official public unveiling of its controversial new Panamera 'four-door coupé' will take place in...
Image by Vladimir Fofanov ...Shanghai, China. We guessed the Geneva Motor Show in March. Turns out that Porsche is taking the Panamera to Auto Shanghai in April. So much for hopping onto squeezyJet - or some such - to see it. The destination is surprising given Porsche's core European following - hell, even Detroit (later this month) initially appears as if it would have made more sense. But with the world economy in chaos, maybe the German logic dictates the eastern markets hold more promise. Russia and China love them some big-assed saloon cars already. And by the time the Panamera launches later this year, maybe they'll be the only people left who can afford it. For more details on the Porsche even its mother couldn't love, click here.
Although, count that remark as slightly facetious: whisper it, but the Panamera's styling is starting to grow on me... --- Links: Official: Porsche's Panamera four-door coupé Aston Rapide and Porsche Panamera 'ring showdown ---
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