Mini John Cooper Works WRC: the rollcage in detail
Mini WRC goes flat-out in France - VIDEO
Mini has today officially launched its WRC campaign in the UK, at the company’s Cowley base on the outskirts of Oxford. For the first time, the WRC team – run in conjunction with Prodrive – also revealed its ambitious strategy: to be challenging for the WRC championship by 2013. That’s despite the fact that the car debuts part-way through the 2011 season, contesting just six rallies.
‘This year is a test year, next year we aim to be winning rallies, and by 2013 I hope to be challenging for the title,’ said Prodrive boss David Richards. ‘I’ve never before felt such engagement from the team behind a project.’
Mini’s WRC car: the launch
The car’s official name is the Mini John Cooper Works WRC, but the base vehicle is the new five-door Countryman mini-SUV – not the first thing that might come to mind for Mini enthusiasts.
But, says Richards, ‘every element ticked the right box: the four-wheel drive, the dimensions, the 1.6-litre turbo engine.’
Engineer David Willcock agrees: ‘The whole bodyshell is designed around four-wheel drive from the factory. It’s inherently stiff, and we were already well on the way to meeting our targets before we’d started.’
And with the engine being developed by the experts at BMW Motorsport, and news that a customer car built to the sub-WRC S2000 spec recently took the win on an Italian rally, the team are particularly upbeat ahead of their early-May debut.
Who’s going to drive the Mini John Cooper Works WRC
Previous IRC champion Kris Meeke and ex-Citroen WRC driver Dani Sordo pick up where Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk left off in the 1960s. Both have worked together before at the Citroen Junior team, but neither will be drawn on who’s fastest in the Mini as they’ve never before driven the same road at the same time in the new car. Still, we’ll get a good idea when the Mini debuts on Rally Sardinia from May 5.
Fancy a go yourself? Well, David Richards hopes to see 10 Minis contesting the WRC in 2012, and reckons approximately £350k will see you with a car and spares package that’s ready to compete anywhere in the world.
Thứ Tư, 29 tháng 2, 2012
BMW Z4 GT3 (2011) completes testing
BMW Motorsport has released pictures of its upgraded Z4 GT3 race car. The 2011 car has completed testing and is available for customer teams.
BMW Z4 GT3: the lowdown
The Z4 GT3 may look like a regular Z4 that's been attacked by a boy-racer with a carbonfibre and tea-tray rear wing fetish. But under the skin the Z4 GT3 ditches straight-six power for a 4.4-litre motorsport-tuned V8 engine, hooked up to a six-speed racing transmission
BMW Motorsport takes a regular Z4 coupe-cabriolet body shell, and removes the retractable hardtop, bonnet, bootlid, front and rear wings and the bumpers. In goes an FIA-approved rollcage, modified front structure for that V8 engine and suitably uprated suspension and steering hardware.
A 100-litre fuel tank takes care of the V8's thirst, which is monitored along with the other performance parameters by a digital instrument panel. Lightweight carbonfibre panels cover up the racing tech. For 2011 BMW has particularly focused on honing the Z4 GT3's aerodynamics, says the team.
BMW Z4 GT3: the rivals
FIA GT3 class racing does not have a world championship, but the Z4 GT3 is eligible to compete in endurance or GT race series with a GT3 class such as the British GT Series or the FIA GT3 European Championship.
The Z4 GT3 will face stern competition, with GT3 versions of the Aston Martin DB9, Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette, Audi R8, Mercedes SLS, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alpina B6, Ferrari 458, Ford GT... BMW will hope that the 2011 car improves on third place in the 2010 GT3 European Championship for the Schubert Motorsport team. Schubert also won the Dubai 24hr race in January 2011.
I like the sound of a V8 Z4, when can I buy one?
If you fancy campaigning one in the GT3 class of your local racing series, BMW Motorsport would be happy to sell you a Z4 GT3. That will be £278,000 for the car, sir. Spare parts, accessories and racing team sold separately.
BMW Z4 GT3: the lowdown
The Z4 GT3 may look like a regular Z4 that's been attacked by a boy-racer with a carbonfibre and tea-tray rear wing fetish. But under the skin the Z4 GT3 ditches straight-six power for a 4.4-litre motorsport-tuned V8 engine, hooked up to a six-speed racing transmission
BMW Motorsport takes a regular Z4 coupe-cabriolet body shell, and removes the retractable hardtop, bonnet, bootlid, front and rear wings and the bumpers. In goes an FIA-approved rollcage, modified front structure for that V8 engine and suitably uprated suspension and steering hardware.
A 100-litre fuel tank takes care of the V8's thirst, which is monitored along with the other performance parameters by a digital instrument panel. Lightweight carbonfibre panels cover up the racing tech. For 2011 BMW has particularly focused on honing the Z4 GT3's aerodynamics, says the team.
BMW Z4 GT3: the rivals
FIA GT3 class racing does not have a world championship, but the Z4 GT3 is eligible to compete in endurance or GT race series with a GT3 class such as the British GT Series or the FIA GT3 European Championship.
The Z4 GT3 will face stern competition, with GT3 versions of the Aston Martin DB9, Porsche 911, Chevrolet Corvette, Audi R8, Mercedes SLS, Lamborghini Gallardo, Alpina B6, Ferrari 458, Ford GT... BMW will hope that the 2011 car improves on third place in the 2010 GT3 European Championship for the Schubert Motorsport team. Schubert also won the Dubai 24hr race in January 2011.
I like the sound of a V8 Z4, when can I buy one?
If you fancy campaigning one in the GT3 class of your local racing series, BMW Motorsport would be happy to sell you a Z4 GT3. That will be £278,000 for the car, sir. Spare parts, accessories and racing team sold separately.
Subaru XV concept (2011) first teaser picture
Subaru has offered a first glimpse at the Subaru XV, a new crossover SUV concept for the 2011 Shanghai motor show.
Where's the Subaru XV? Is it hiding?
For the Subaru XV release, Subaru's press office has followed the 'darkened silhouette' school of teaser photographs.
So at this stage, all we can tell you is that the Subaru XV is a wagonoid form sitting rather tall on its wheels versus a conventional estate. Would you have preferred a lovingly rendered close-up shot of a wing mirror instead?
Do we know anything else about the new Subaru XV concept car?
Subaru is holding on to full details until the 2011 Shanghai motor show next week. The XV is a crossover SUV with Subaru's traditional all-wheel-drive, and it has been designed under the theme of 'enjoyment and peace of mind'.
Subaru's aim with the XV is to combine SUV practicality with a fashionable form. Given that Subaru is a brand known for winning respect with its durable, practical vehicles in spite of their, how do we put this kindly, distinctive styling it will be interesting to see what the XV looks like when the lights go up.
Is the Subaru XV all-new, or replacing an existing Subaru?
Subaru has two existing vehicles in the seven-seater wagon market. The Subaru Exiga is sold in Japan and is closer to a roadgoing wagon or MPV, and the Subaru Tribeca sold abroad is more of an SUV. Neither vehicle is currently sold in the UK, local buyers making do with the Outback wagon and Forester soft-roader.
But try thinking smaller for the XV. The last time Subaru used the XV nameplate, it was on an Outback-style Impreza hatchback, which debuted at the 2010 Geneva motor show. Perhaps this is a new sub-Forester compact crossover, joining the new 2011 Impreza family?
The Subaru XV will be fully unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai motor show on 19 April. If you're worried the finished item might not look as good as the silhouette, put your sunglasses on before viewing our coverage.
Where's the Subaru XV? Is it hiding?
For the Subaru XV release, Subaru's press office has followed the 'darkened silhouette' school of teaser photographs.
So at this stage, all we can tell you is that the Subaru XV is a wagonoid form sitting rather tall on its wheels versus a conventional estate. Would you have preferred a lovingly rendered close-up shot of a wing mirror instead?
Do we know anything else about the new Subaru XV concept car?
Subaru is holding on to full details until the 2011 Shanghai motor show next week. The XV is a crossover SUV with Subaru's traditional all-wheel-drive, and it has been designed under the theme of 'enjoyment and peace of mind'.
Subaru's aim with the XV is to combine SUV practicality with a fashionable form. Given that Subaru is a brand known for winning respect with its durable, practical vehicles in spite of their, how do we put this kindly, distinctive styling it will be interesting to see what the XV looks like when the lights go up.
Is the Subaru XV all-new, or replacing an existing Subaru?
Subaru has two existing vehicles in the seven-seater wagon market. The Subaru Exiga is sold in Japan and is closer to a roadgoing wagon or MPV, and the Subaru Tribeca sold abroad is more of an SUV. Neither vehicle is currently sold in the UK, local buyers making do with the Outback wagon and Forester soft-roader.
But try thinking smaller for the XV. The last time Subaru used the XV nameplate, it was on an Outback-style Impreza hatchback, which debuted at the 2010 Geneva motor show. Perhaps this is a new sub-Forester compact crossover, joining the new 2011 Impreza family?
The Subaru XV will be fully unveiled at the 2011 Shanghai motor show on 19 April. If you're worried the finished item might not look as good as the silhouette, put your sunglasses on before viewing our coverage.
Lexus LF-Gh concept (2011) first official pictures
Lexus has released additional details of the LF-Gh concept, due to be unveiled at next week’s 2011 New York motor show. Unlike our earlier story, the latest information includes some clear images of the LF-Gh in its entirety…
The Lexus LF-Gh concept looks angry from the front, doesn’t it?
Indeed. The LF-Gh’s sharp-edged, scowling visage might look a bit like a refugee from a Transformers film (Lexucons vs. Audibots, in cinemas summer 2012). But it’s also our first look at the next generation of Lexus styling.
Lexus is still calling its design language ‘L-Finesse’, but now with an added dose of that big-grille ‘look at me!’ boldness that seems to have served Audi so well recently. That spindle-shaped grille is going to appear on future Lexus models, we hear.
In profile the LF-GH bears more of a family resemblance to the existing Lexus IS and LS saloons, but with cameras replacing the door mirrors and concealed door handles designed to add to the sense of sleekness Lexus wishes to convey.
The car games sits on 20-inch wheels, with prominent wheelarches and a tapered sill designed to smooth airflow. At the rear we can see the wrap-around tail-lamps in context, with a functional air vents at the corners. These vents work with the inlets around the front foglights to contribute to aerodynamic stability.
What’s inside the LF-Gh?
Lexus is being coy again about the interior. We’ve got two images showing aspects of the dashboard. We can see that the dashboard design features a high-mounted , and expect the LF-Gh to have a similar infotainment interface to the mouse-style controller in the current RX and CT models.
The LF-Gh will apparently also feature a new analogue clock with three-dimensional face, which Lexus believes is 'more suitable to a premium brand, and represents a shift in Lexus design philosophy'. For those of you who’ve never driven a Lexus, this actually is momentous news – it may well finally signal the end of the green quartz LCD digital clock that has become an increasingly incongruous reminder of the Toyota roots in every Lexus interior to date.
Full details on the Lexus LF-Gh will be available when the car is unveiled at the 2011 New York motor show.
The Lexus LF-Gh concept looks angry from the front, doesn’t it?
Indeed. The LF-Gh’s sharp-edged, scowling visage might look a bit like a refugee from a Transformers film (Lexucons vs. Audibots, in cinemas summer 2012). But it’s also our first look at the next generation of Lexus styling.
Lexus is still calling its design language ‘L-Finesse’, but now with an added dose of that big-grille ‘look at me!’ boldness that seems to have served Audi so well recently. That spindle-shaped grille is going to appear on future Lexus models, we hear.
In profile the LF-GH bears more of a family resemblance to the existing Lexus IS and LS saloons, but with cameras replacing the door mirrors and concealed door handles designed to add to the sense of sleekness Lexus wishes to convey.
The car games sits on 20-inch wheels, with prominent wheelarches and a tapered sill designed to smooth airflow. At the rear we can see the wrap-around tail-lamps in context, with a functional air vents at the corners. These vents work with the inlets around the front foglights to contribute to aerodynamic stability.
What’s inside the LF-Gh?
Lexus is being coy again about the interior. We’ve got two images showing aspects of the dashboard. We can see that the dashboard design features a high-mounted , and expect the LF-Gh to have a similar infotainment interface to the mouse-style controller in the current RX and CT models.
The LF-Gh will apparently also feature a new analogue clock with three-dimensional face, which Lexus believes is 'more suitable to a premium brand, and represents a shift in Lexus design philosophy'. For those of you who’ve never driven a Lexus, this actually is momentous news – it may well finally signal the end of the green quartz LCD digital clock that has become an increasingly incongruous reminder of the Toyota roots in every Lexus interior to date.
Full details on the Lexus LF-Gh will be available when the car is unveiled at the 2011 New York motor show.
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