Video: Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari F1 Clienti at Laguna Seca

Without a doubt, the highlight of this past weekend’s Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca was the F1 Cliente. Ferrari started the program in 2003 to allow their most significant and wealthiest customers to own and operate old Formula 1 cars at some of the world’s best racing circuits under the guidance and supervision of a dedicated team of Ferrari’s own mechanics and engineers. Participants in the program need only to show up – Ferrari takes care of the maintenance, care and transportation of the cars. The crew will even bring the owner’s racing suit to each of the events.

For the event at Laguna Seca, a total of six F1 cars were in attendance, ranging from a 1972 312 B2 driven by Jacky Ickx to an F2007 test car driven by Michael Schumacher. Two other Schumacher race cars from 2001 and 2004, an F2003-GA driven by Rubens Barrichello, and a Berger/Mansell F1-89 filled out the rest of the lineup.

The best part about the F1 Clienti is that Ferrari allows a relatively good amount of access to see the cars up close. Just try walking into the Ferrari garage at an actual Formula 1 race. To see and hear the cars in person is also an entirely different experience than watching on television. The zoom lenses of the television cameras betray the actual speed at which an F1 car can travel. The 599XX and FXX actually seemed slow in comparison.

You can watch the Ferrari F1 Clienti at Laguna Seca for yourself in the video after the jump, or check out our photos from the event in the gallery below.

Continue reading Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses

Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Ferrari Racing Days at Laguna Seca: F1 Clienti bring the Formula 1 experience closer to the masses”

Spy Shots: 2012 BMW M5 inches closer to production in a stunning shade of brown

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, BMW

2012 BMW M5 spy shots

2012 BMW M5 spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

The BMW M5 that debuted at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show may have technically been a concept car, but it comes as no surprise to see that the near-production models the German automaker is testing look exactly like the car we saw on stage. For what it’s worth, we certainly hope the dark brown paint seen on this prototype will be offered when the M5 hits dealerships. Those blacked-out wheels can stay, too.

As you’ve no doubt read countless times before, the M5 will be offered with BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, packing somewhere north of 480 horsepower. In the United States, both a manual and dual-clutch transmission will be available, and all-wheel drive may be in the cards, as well.

We’ll have the full details later this year. The Frankfurt Motor Show can’t come soon enough.

2012 BMW M5 inches closer to production in a stunning shade of brown originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 May 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: 2012 BMW M5 inches closer to production in a stunning shade of brown”

Mullin Automotive Museum steps closer to bringing classic Bugatti coupe to life

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Bugatti, Design/Style

1939 bugatti type 64 coupe

1939 Bugatti Type 64 Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

Peter Mullin is nuts for classic French cars. His Mullin Automotive Museum is a beautiful shrine to a very specific period of automotive history. One particular vehicle in his collection is Jean Bugatti’s unfinished 1939 Type 64 Coupe. Jean was Ettore’s oldest son, and he died while test driving the Le Mans-winning Type 57 C. His Type 64 Coupe chassis never got the body that Bugatti hoped to have built for it… but Mr. Mullin is going to change that.

Using Jean Bugatti’s sketches as a guide, Mullin has partnered with Stewart Reed Design to develop a vision of what the car should look like. Now, that pair is joined by Mike Kleeves of Automobile Metal Shaping Company, which means that team officially have someone on their team capable of bringing this bit of conceptual art into the physical world.

For more on the Type 64, check out the up-close look at the car we experienced during a field trip to the Mullin Museum in 2010.

Gallery: 1939 Bugatti Type 64

1939 Bugatti Type 641939 Bugatti Type 641939 Bugatti Type 64

Gallery: Mullin Museum: Bugatti Type 64 Coupe Chassis

Photos copyright (C)2011 by Drew Phillips/AOL

[Source: Mullin Automotive Museum]

Continue reading Mullin Automotive Museum steps closer to bringing classic Bugatti coupe to life

Mullin Automotive Museum steps closer to bringing classic Bugatti coupe to life originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Mullin Automotive Museum steps closer to bringing classic Bugatti coupe to life”

Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll]

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Audi

Audi Quattro concept

Audi Quattro concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

When the veil was lifted on the Audi Quattro concept at the Paris Motor Show last year, suffice it to say people stood up and paid attention. And ever since, reports have been circulating of its production potential. Call it an inside line, or call it wishful thinking, but the latest reports indicate that the Quattro coupe – a five-cylinder, turbocharged, all-wheel-drive tribute to the original rally machine – is edging ever closer to production.

According to the news from across the pond, Audi’s namesake Quattro division – the department in charge of all the S and RS models as well as the R8 project in its entirety – has a working prototype based on the S5 coupe but considerably lighter thanks to the intensive use of aluminum and carbon-reinforced plastics. At around 1300 kilos (2,866 pounds), the vehicle is said to be about 300 kg (660 lbs) lighter than an RS5, and 225 kg (500 lbs) lighter than an R8.

The prototype is reportedly due to be driven by Audi’s board members before they sign off on its production. No word yet on what strategy the product would take – full production model or niche product – but here’s our question for you: if, for the sake of argument, it came in around the same price as an R8, which would you buy? Cast your vote in our poll below.

View Poll

Gallery: Audi Quattro Concept: Quick Spin

Audi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro ConceptAudi Quattro Concept

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Audi Quattro edging closer to production [w/poll]”

Geneva 2011: Toyota FT-86 II Concept is one step closer to production

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Geneva Motor Show, Toyota

Toyota FT-86 II Concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show

Toyota FT-86 II Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

As one of the more hotly anticipated debuts of the Geneva Motor Show, we were sure to aim the lenses of our DSLRs in the direction of the Toyota FT-86 II Concept, which, as you’re surely aware by now, previews a new rear-wheel drive sports coupe that’s due to enter production in 2012.

Needless to say, we’re looking forward to an actual production model, but in the meantime, at least we get to gaze on an exterior shape that Toyota says “gives the clearest indication yet as to the final design of Toyota’s next sports car” with “aerodynamics developed from F1 technology.” Good thing that got something out of their lackluster F1 efforts.

There’s very little information in the way of hard specs, but we’ll get more of those soon enough when Subaru shows off its own version of this rear-wheel-drive sports car, which was jointly developed by the two automakers. What we do know is that the concept and future production cars will use a 2.0-liter four cylinder boxer engine mounted up front and driving the rear wheels through a manual gearbox.

For the full details, check out the press release after the break, and be sure to scope out our high-res image gallery of live photos below.

Gallery: Toyota FT-86 II Concept: Geneva 2011

Toyota FT-86 II ConceptToyota FT-86 II ConceptToyota FT-86 II ConceptToyota FT-86 II Concept

Photos copyright (C)2011 Jeremy Korzeniewski / AOL

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Toyota FT-86 II Concept is one step closer to production

Geneva 2011: Toyota FT-86 II Concept is one step closer to production originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Geneva 2011: Toyota FT-86 II Concept is one step closer to production”

Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lexus

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package – Click above for high-res image gallery

It takes a while to get around the Nürburgring Nordschleife – around seven minutes in even the fastest of machinery with the best driver behind the wheel. But apparently it takes even longer to get around to releasing a special edition Nürburgring package that makes your go-fast supercar even more track-friendly.

We’re talking, of course, about the Lexus LFA Nürburgring package, ToMoCo’s six-figure V10 supercar fitted with extra kit for track duty. Lexus announced last May that they’d make 50 examples, and the better part of a year later, confirmed that it would finally be unveiled to the public at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Now less than a week away from its debut, Lexus has given us some additional details and images of the car which we only saw from three angles until now.

So what do we need to know? For starters, that extra ten horsepower isn’t meant to give the Nürburgring package-equipped LFA a quicker acceleration time. Nor a higher top end, either. The ten-horse boost is included to counteract the drag of the giant rear wing that helps keep the track-focused supercar glued to the Karussell. Also, while we knew the ‘Ring edition LFA could be had in white, black (matte or glossy) or orange (as pictured), Lexus has also confirmed that the interior can be trimmed in all black, black and red, or black and purple (a good match for the orange exterior if you were ever formerly known as ‘Prince’), and only European customers, for some reason, will get the full carbon-fiber interior.

There are more details to soak up in the press release after the jump, plus a new crop of images in the gallery below. But we’ll leave you with one more salient detail: Lexus is offering buyers one-on-one instruction from a ‘Ring master (or mistress) and a year’s free pass to lap the Nordschleife to your heart’s content. Of course, this is included in the $70,000 premium that the Nürburgring package commands over the already lofty $375,000 purchase price of an LFA. Tack on another $20K for the matte black finish, of course.

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring package

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut

Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut”

Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hybrid, Technology, Volkswagen, Diesel

Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept

Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen has taken another step towards making the one-liter car a reality, and this 200 mile-per-gallon dream could be on the roads within the next few years.

The Formula XL1 Concept combines a two cylinder TDI engine, electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission to achieve an astonishing 0.9L/100 km – just over 260 mpg to us Yanks. The included plug-in system, along with the XL1’s low drag and extensive use of lightweight materials has the potential to make the concept the most efficient vehicle to ever grace public roads.

The XL1 is making its debut at the Qatar Motor Show this week, and while it might look familiar to previous iterations, this latest version is more production read than its predecessors. Check it out from every angle in the gallery below and click past the jump for the full details.

Gallery: Volkswagen Formula XL1 Concept

[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality

Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Volkswagen brings XL1 Concept a step closer to reality”

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics spotted in Abu Dhabi – is it closer to production? [w/video]

Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, BMW, Middle East, Diesel

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept spotted in Abu Dhabi

BMW EfficientDynamics supercar in Abu Dhabi – click above to watch video after the jump

During a recent trip to Abu Dhabi, Teamspeed forum member Captain Stradale caught a glimpse of the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics strutting its stuff for an on-track photo shoot. What makes us most curious, though, is the fact that this gray version of the VED is marginally different-looking than the white concept BMW has paraded around the auto show circuit over the past year (along with the white with blue swirly camo prototype they’ve shown).

The Vision EfficientDynamics, which is rumored to come into production under the name ‘i8’, is expected to be powered by a 328-horsepower three-cylinder diesel-hybrid powertrain. The ultra-lightweight production car is tipped to run from 0-100 in just 4.8 seconds, and during normal driving, the new efficient supercar is estimated to achieve 62.5 miles per gallon.

When we’ll see the production version of the VED is still unclear, though sources have reported that it will show up in 2013, priced from around $200,000. We can’t verify if the gray car in these Teamspeed shots is anything closer to production, but seeing this thing out on the track makes us all the more eager to experience BMW’s efficient hotness for ourselves. In the meantime, check out the spy video after the jump and click on the link below to see more photos at Teamspeed. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

[Source: Teamspeed]

Continue reading BMW Vision EfficientDynamics spotted in Abu Dhabi – is it closer to production? [w/video]

BMW Vision EfficientDynamics spotted in Abu Dhabi – is it closer to production? [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “BMW Vision EfficientDynamics spotted in Abu Dhabi – is it closer to production? [w/video]”

Video: PickupTrucks.com gets a closer look at the GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Truck, Videos, GM, GMC

GMC Sierra All-Terrain

PickupTrucks.com checks out the GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept- Click above to watch video after the jump

You don’t have to wait until the 2011 Detroit Auto Show for a closer look at the forthcoming GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept. That’s because our friend Mike Levine and his PickupTrucks.com camera managed to get up close with the rugged rig, going on a guided tour with Lead Designer Carl Zipfel.

PickupTrucks.com was kind enough to shoot not one, but two videos while in the presence of the fingers-crossed-they-build-it concept truck. Hop the jump to view both of them.

Gallery: GMC Sierra HD Concept

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Continue reading Video: PickupTrucks.com gets a closer look at the GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept

Video: PickupTrucks.com gets a closer look at the GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: PickupTrucks.com gets a closer look at the GMC Sierra All-Terrain HD concept”

Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu draws closer

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM

2012 Chevrolet Malibu spy shot

2012 Chevrolet Malibu spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been a while since we’ve heard about the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. In its current form, the aging ‘Bu is a competent aging dog in need of some new tricks, but General Motors is hoping to put its mid-sizer back at the top of the segment with the all-new model. Early predictions lead us to believe that the 2012 Malibu would show its face at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show in January, but we’re now thinking that a New York debut is in order.

For 2012, the Malibu will be shortened, riding on the smaller Epsilon II platform that underpins the Buick Regal. Sources who have seen the finished product tell us that while the exterior dimensions have shrunk, there’s no shortage of space inside the car, and we expect the interior to be a giant leap forward from the cabin found in the current model.

Earlier reports have suggested that the 2012 Malibu will only be offered with four-cylinder powertrains (like the Regal), meaning GM’s 2.4-liter direct-injected inline-four is a safe bet for the base engine, and the more powerful 2.0-liter Ecotec turbo-four will likely replace the V6 option. A hybrid powerplant is also understood to be in the works. All engines will come with six-speed transmissions, and we’ve even heard rumblings about optional all-wheel drive for the Malibu. Currently, only the Ford Fusion and Subaru Legacy mid-size sedans are available with all-wheel drive.

Production of the new Malibu is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011, though rumors have been circulating about an even earlier start date. Initial production will begin in China and Korea several months before the North American-spec version, as GM is prepping its Fairfax and Detroit Hamtramck plants for 2012 Malibu duty. While you’re waiting, check out the latest set of high-res spy shots in our gallery.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet MalibuSpy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet MalibuSpy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet MalibuSpy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet MalibuSpy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu

[Source: Brenda Priddy & Company]

Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu draws closer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu draws closer”