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Mini rallies back to Monte Carlo with new Countryman WRC

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Europe, Crossover, Mini, Racing

Mini Countryman WRC in Monte Carlo

2011 Mini Countryman WRC in Monte Carlo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in the 1960s, the Monte Carlo Rally ran from Marrakech to Monaco (the opposite direction from the Paris-Dakar) and the old-guard Mini made headlines when it took the checkered flag in ’64 an ’67. These days, the Dakar rally has moved to South America, and the much shorter Monte Carlo rally is part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge instead of the premier World Rally Championship. But though the scene has changed, Mini’s back, and back in a big way.

That Mini will be challenging the WRC with a competition-spec Countryman prepared by Prodrive isn’t news – we’ve been covering that story for over a year now. But as the final version enters its last stages of development before the 2011 season, the Mini WRC has taken a rapid trip down memory lane by reuniting with its ’60s forebear at the Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.

Not only did the trip prove an excellent photo opportunity – the vintage Mini rally machine driven by the same Ruano Aaltonen that finessed it to victory in ’67 appearing alongside its much larger successor – but also gave us our first look at the rally-ready Countryman WRC before it undergoes its final testing in Spain. After that, it will challenge a few select stages at the hands of Kris Meeke and Dani Sordo before contesting the full calendar next year. Follow the jump for the full press release, and don’t miss out on the photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Mini Countryman WRC in Monte Carlo

[Source: Mini]

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Mini rallies back to Monte Carlo with new Countryman WRC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Aston Martin One-77 delivered to Monte Carlo

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Aston Martin

First Aston Martin One-77 delivered

It’s official, ladies and gentlemen: Aston Martin has entered the million-dollar ultra-hyper-supercar league with the new One-77.

Now, we know what you’re thinking, the One-77 was released a while ago already. But it wasn’t until now that the first example has left the factory and delivered to its first lucky (and evidently very wealthy) customer. Delivery took place in no less prominent a location than Monaco, right in front of the iconic Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo.

The One-77 carries a stratospheric €1,340,000 (~$1.8m) price tag, but that’s only if you got on board at the beginning – if you were one of the final seventeen customers to place your order, the price reportedly went up by £150,000 (~$240k) for a final sticker of $2.04 million, With the first of 77 examples now delivered, the production run is set to conclude at the end of the year.

[Source: GTSpirit.com | Image: Fqogil]

First Aston Martin One-77 delivered to Monte Carlo originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skoda rallies to the cause with Monte Carlo edition Fabia

Škoda Fabia Monte Carlo – Click above for high-res image gallery

Some terms we use in the automotive lexicon are absolute. Others are relative. Take “subtle” for example. Most wouldn’t call painting a car bright red “subtle”, but when you compare it to the last rally-edition Skoda Fabia we reported on, that’s exactly what this is. Whereas the S2000 edition Fabia vRS sported full livery taken from the company’s IRC-winning S2000 Fabia, this one’s decidedly more low-key, but not without its dose of flair.

The Monte Carlo edition celebrates 100 years of the namesake rally – and 110 years of Skoda’s motorsport program – with a red and black paint scheme. While the body is painted bright red, everything else has been blacked out, from the roof to the 17″ alloys, including the mirror housings, grille and smoked headlamps. The red and black theme continues inside with either black or red and black seats, complemented by black roofliner, and color-keyed steering wheel, shifter and handbrake lever.

Based on the SE specification and available with a range of engines from 1.2 to 1.6 liters, the Fabia Monte Carlo will make its debut at the Monegasque rally later this month. Details after the jump with photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo

[Source: Skoda]

Continue reading Skoda rallies to the cause with Monte Carlo edition Fabia

Skoda rallies to the cause with Monte Carlo edition Fabia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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