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Audi TT RS plus, Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible and hot Kia concept ...

10 Feb 2012 16:49:33 CST

Audi today announced a subtle upgrade of the high performance TT RS model. The new TT RS plus comes equipped with an even more powerful version of the lightweight straight five engine. Fitted with direct injection and a turbo, the 2.5 litre unit now produces 360 hp and 465 Nm of torque. That is enough to propel the compact Audi to 100 km/h in just over 4 seconds and to give it a top speed of 280 km/h. As previously, the TT RS plus will be available as a Coupe and Roadster. Today Audi have only released pictures of the plus Coupe.
Earlier this week, the Chicago Auto Show opened its doors. The headlining event was the 20th anniversary celebration of Ford's Special Vehicles Team (SVT), which has been responsible for most of the manufacturer's high performance model. To mark the occasion, Ford revealed the Shelby Mustang GT500 Convertible complete with SVT 20th Anniversary badges on the door sills. Like the Coupe launched last year, the most powerful drop-top Mustang ever features a 650 bhp supercharged V8. The GT500 Convertible will be available later in the year as a 2013 model. Also making its debut in Chicago was the Kia Track'ster Concept. Based on the Soul, the high performance machine features a wider body and 265 hp turbocharged engine. In addition to 66% more power, it also boasts revised suspension with bigger brakes. Inside, the Track'ster Concept is also unique with the spare wheel mounted visibly, bolted to the rear strut-brace.

New Red Bull Racing, Lotus, Williams and Sauber F1 racers ...

07 Feb 2012 16:49:33 CST

Today the 2012 Formula 1 season got underway at the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit with the first of a series of official test days. With only a few exceptions, all of the new cars hit the track this morning. One of the most highly anticipated of these was the Red Bull Racing RB8, which replaces the all-conquering RB7. Penned by Adrian Newey, it is a development of the existing design with accommodations made for the new regulations like the stepped nose and re-routed exhausts. Mark Webber piloted the car at the test but he was not the fastest driver. That honour went to returnee Kimi Raikkonen, who placed the Lotus E20 Renault on the top of the time-sheets. The former Renault team uses this type name to celebrate 20 years of building cars at the Enstone factory. Like the Red Bull and Lotus, the Williams FW34 also uses Renault's successful RS27 V8 engine. The new car marks the rebirth of the hugely successful Williams/Renault partnership. Hopefully this will help the British team bounce back after the worst season in its 35 year history. Completing the most laps today was Kamui Kobayashi in the Sauber C31. Like last year, the Swiss team will use Ferrari's V8 but now mated to a brand new longitudinal gearbox. Testing will continue tomorrow and there are several more sessions planned before the season opening Australian Grand Prix in March.

2012 Retromobile report and 170-shot gallery ...

06 Feb 2012 16:49:33 CST

One of the annual highlights on the calendar, the Retromobile show in Paris, was hosted last week by the vast Porte de Versailles exhibition centre. To meet with the increased demand for floor space, the event this year filled the better part of two halls. Fortunately, the unique atmosphere of the show was not lost due to the expansion. Among the highlights this year were the display of a selection from the Mullin Automotive Museum, a line-up of amphibious cars and the traditional surprises. During the show there were also two major auctions; Bonhams' The Paris Sale at a different location and Artcurial Motorcar's sale at Retromobile. The latter, in particular, managed to grab headlines with a turn-over total of 14.5 million Euro, making it the most successful auction on French soil.
As always our photographers ventured to Paris, which was particularly chilly this time. Braving the cold weather, they were among the first ones in the show on the opening, Wednesday morning to capture the event in full detail. The result is a detailed report, illustrated by a 170-shot gallery that includes pictures from the show itself and also the two auctions.
In the coming weeks, you can expect detailed features on many of the remarkable machines that made this one of the finest Retromobiles in recent history.

New Ferrari and Force India F1 racers as Honda returns to the WTCC ...

04 Feb 2012 16:49:33 CST

Even though the official launch was cancelled due to bad weather conditions, Ferrari did release the first pictures of their 2012 Formula 1 car yesterday. Dubbed the F2012, it is a significant evolution compared to the car used with limited success last year. Subtle changes to the regulations have forced Ferrari to fit what even they call a not 'aesthetically pleasing' nose. This the result of the new maximum nose height of 55 cm and the desire to route as much air under the nose as possible for aerodynamic purposes. Inside the nose things have changed dramatically as well as the conventional push-rod actuated suspension has been replaced by pull-rods. This may be Ferrari's solution for the problems the team had to get the Pirelli tyres to work properly in 2011. Like last year, the F2012 will be driven by Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa. Due to the snow, Ferrari was also forced to abandon the first roll-out at Fiorano and will have to until the official test at Jerez before putting the first miles on the car.
The England-based, Indian team Sahara Force India have found a similar solution to the new regulations as is evident when looking at the first pictures of their new VJM05 Mercedes. It was launched yesterday at a very cold Silverstone, where Paul di Resta completed the first laps in the team's 2012 challenger. He will be joined behind the wheel this season by Nico Hulkenberg, who served as Force India's third driver last year.
In a brief statement, Honda revealed their plans to compete in some rounds of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship with a specifically developed Civic. Like the production car, the new touring car version of the Civic will be produced in England with the help from Mugen. Built to S2000 regulations, it boasts a 1.6 litre turbo engine, fitted with direct fuel injection. Although no figures have been released, we believe the straight four will produce in excess of 300 bhp. Using the 2012 season for testing and development, Honda plan to field a two-car effort in 2013.

Spectacular 600 bhp Mazda RX-7 GTO, new McLaren and Geneva-bound Suzuki ...

02 Feb 2012 16:49:33 CST

With the RX-7, Mazda was a dominant force in IMSA's GTU class throughout the 1980s. In a quest for outright success, the Japanese company funded a move to the bigger GTO class at the start of the 1990 season. Although still loosely based on production models, the GTO cars were effectively purpose-built racers. To design their new GTO racer, Mazda hired Lee Dykstra of Group 44 Jaguar fame. The result was the Mazda RX-7 GTO, which boasted a spaceframe chassis and a four-rotor engine. Developed for Le Mans, this compact and lightweight unit produced in excess of 600 bhp. Following a second place debut at the 1990 Daytona 24 Hours, the new Mazda quickly caught on with the competition, scoring the RX-7's 100th IMSA win before the end of the year. With a season development under its belt, the RX-7 GTO really came on song in 1991 when the team secured both the driver's and constructor's titles. In recent years the championship winning car was completely restored to full running order. At last year's Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Mazda brought it out and actually raced it. This allowed us to capture every angle of this spectacular machine.
Yesterday McLaren pulled the wraps off the all new MP4-27 for the 2012 Formula 1 season. Just like its predecessor, it is powered by Mercedes' V8 and will be driven by former world champions Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. Subtle rule changes resulted in significant changes to the aero-package, including the removal of the easily recognisable L-shaped radiator inlets used on the MP4-26. The MP4-27 will make its public debut at the first official test, which is due to be held at Jerez next week.
At next month's Geneva, Suzuki will reveal the highly efficient G70 Concept. The compact machine is both very light and has a low drag figure. As a result the emissions are reduced to just 70g/km.