Tag: pre

Motorsports: The pre-race and first in-race report from Le Mans

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Racing

The 2013, 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has begun, tragedy marking the opening laps with the death of Allan Simonsen. We’re at the track now as a guest of Audi and plan to stay through the evening, and even we haven’t been able to find out what caused the accident – the only video is from just after the incident, and beyond the statement from ACO there’s been no more news. The Aston Martin in the LM GTE Am class and its all-Danish drivers had taken pole in its class and was one of the favorites to win.

The pre-race report will come first, and even thought we can’t spoil the race because we’re only five hours into it at the time of writing, we’ll put all of the news at the end in case you don’t even want the updates.

Or you can go straight to the high-res galleries above.

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The pre-race and first in-race report from Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jun 2013 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Holden launches tuned, pre-facelifted Malibu in Australia

Filed under: Sedan, GM, Holden, Australia

As General Motors prepares to launch a refreshed 2014 Chevrolet Malibu in the US, the current, year-old version of the car will go on sale in Australia as the Holden Malibu. Rather than just making it right-hand drive and putting new badges on the Malibu for Aussie duty, Holden engineers worked on the sedan’s drivetrain and suspension to give it a tuning unique to that market.

It seems like one of the biggest challenges was getting the Holden Malibu to drive smoothly on Australian roads, and GM’s crew Down Under accomplished this by retuning the suspension’s damping calibration, as well as giving the car proper right-hand-drive tires. Yes, apparently tires designed for a left-hand-drive car would cause the Malibu to pull “excessively to the left,” according to GM’s press release. Engine choices for the Holden Malibu are the 2.4-liter gasoline four-cylinder or a 2.0-liter diesel I4.

Scroll down for the official press blast.

Continue reading Holden launches tuned, pre-facelifted Malibu in Australia

Holden launches tuned, pre-facelifted Malibu in Australia originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce proves its Provenance with new certified pre-owned program

Filed under: Car Buying, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

Rolls-Royce Provenance certified pre-owned cars

Buying a new Rolls-Royce can be a bit more to bite off than most can chew. So for those looking to put Goodwood’s finest in their driveway but without the means for a new model, the company has announced its new certified pre-owned car program.

Similar to such programs available from other automakers, Provenance involves rigorous inspections undertaken by factory-trained technicians and a comprehensive two-year warranty with round-the-clock roadside assistance. Which is a good thing, because while you may want to drive a Phantom, you wouldn’t want it to give up the Ghost on your drive up to the country club. Details in the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Rolls-Royce proves its Provenance with new certified pre-owned program

Rolls-Royce proves its Provenance with new certified pre-owned program originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 May 2011 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DiRT 3 available for pre-order, includes Traxxas Ken Block R/C Fiesta [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Toys/Games

DiRT3 Traxxas Bundle

DiRT 3 and Traxxas team up to wreck our wallet – Click above to watch video after the jump

The third installment in the DiRT video game franchise, DiRT 3, hits stores on May 24, 2011. It will cost you $59.99 for a copy, which is steep, but completely in-line with the pricing for today’s video games. If you have a few extra coins hiding under the couch cushions, however, then GameStop has a tantalizing product bundle for you. Spend $299 to reserve a copy of DiRT 3, and you will also get the Traxxas Ken Block R/C Ford Fiesta.

If you were already considering buying the radio-controlled gymkhana machine, then this is a great deal, because it essentially throws the game in for free. If, like us, you were thinking of buying the Codemasters game, and you currently have R/C cars on the brain, this deal means you have to explain to your wife why the American Express bill shows a GameStop purchase for nearly five times the previously discussed amount.

Click past the jump to see why sleeping on the couch will be worth it come May 24. Thanks to all for the tips!

[Source: GameStop via MotorworldHype, YouTube]

Continue reading DiRT 3 available for pre-order, includes Traxxas Ken Block R/C Fiesta [w/video]

DiRT 3 available for pre-order, includes Traxxas Ken Block R/C Fiesta [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auction Action: Steve Saleen’s pre-pro Ford GT up for grabs in Monterey

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Auctions, Ford, Celebrities

Steve Saleen’s Ford GT Prototype – Click above for image gallery

Steve Saleen has apparently gotten it in his mind to auction off his personal Ford GT. While we’re not exactly ones to go all star-crossed over a vehicle’s ownership history, this particular car is more than a plain vanilla GT with Saleen’s name on the title. In fact, the car was never titled at all because it’s the fifth of nine prototype vehicles built before GT production got off of the ground in 2005. The car started life dipped in yellow, but received the blue on white treatment at some later point in history.

If the paint doesn’t do anything for you, the fact that the car reportedly wears a hand-built twin-screw supercharger should. Supposedly, Saleen’s GT was the only of the nine prototypes to receive the blessing of forced induction. The car currently has 4,000 miles on the odometer thanks to a lengthy stint in PR and a few movie appearances in the likes of The Fast and the Furious and Rocky Balboa – that’s got to be worth something, right?

If Saleen’s supercar sounds like something you wouldn’t mind sticking in the garage, you’ll need to check out the Russo and Steele auction at Monterey this weekend.

Gallery: Steve Saleen’s Ford GT Prototype

[Source: Russo and Steele via Automobile]

Auction Action: Steve Saleen’s pre-pro Ford GT up for grabs in Monterey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Chevrolet

Corvette Racing drivers in the Le Mans parade – Click above to watch video after the jump

After reviewing this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in the previous episode of the Corvette Racing video series, the latest installment looks at the off-track activities that preceded the race. Once the cars and drivers have established their place on the starting grid, they’re able to take a short break from competition to interact with the fans – especially the rabid Danish crowd that showed up to cheer on Jan Magnussen. Judging from the narration, you’d think that eight overall victories at the Circuit de la Sarthe aren’t enough for Tom Kristensen to gain any attention from his countrymen. (If you’ve seen Truth in 24, however, you know full well that the Danes treat TK like a rock star, too.)

Apparently the narrator missed the memo from the marketing department about referring to Chevrolet as Chevy. Rather than vuvuzelas, Le Mans fans prefer to express their enthusiasm using air horns, so the Corvette crew brought a very special one of their own this year. Wanna see? Then check out video after the jump.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities

Video: Corvette Racing Episode 7 – Le Mans pre-race activities originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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