supercars Archives

Exclusive: Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 5 to race in Australia’s V8 Supercars [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Videos, Holden, Toys/Games, Australia, Racing

Xbox One Racing Team Holden VF Commodore V8 Supercars

Microsoft is going to get into the world of racing. Okay, so the tech-giant is already kind of involved in motorsports, with its subsidiary studio, Turn 10, responsible for the phenomenon that is Forza Motorsport. Forza, which goes toe-to-toe with Sony’s Gran Turismo series, is preparing to release its fifth version in the main series, appropriately called Forza Motorsport 5.

In conjunction with promotions of the new game and the launch of the next-generation Xbox One console (due out on November 22), Microsoft has announced that Xbox Australia will team with Triple Eight Race Engineering to launch the Xbox One Racing Team at the 2013 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

Bathurst, which runs on the Mount Panorama Circuit, will be included in Forza 5 and is one of the most grueling events on the V8 Supercars calendar, covering 620 miles (1000 kilometers). Winning it is as important to V8 Supercar teams as winning the Daytona 500 or Monaco GP is to NASCAR and Formula One teams.

Leading the charge for Xbox One Racing will be a Holden VF Commodore, finished in the traditional Xbox green. Triple Eight Racing, which has won Bathurst five times since its initial win in 2006, handled the oily bits of the VF Commodore. With a 640-horsepower, 5.0-liter V8, the saloon racer can get to 62 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds and will run up to 185 mph. Have a look at the thing coming together in the video below.

Besides a top-flight car, the Xbox One Racing Team will have no shortage of talented drivers – Andy Priaulx and Mattias Ekström will be at the helm. Priaulx has competed in the World Touring Car Championship, German DTM and has ran the Bathurst 1000 three times. Ekström may be a Swede, but we feel like there’s some Finnish blood in him somewhere. He’s ran in DTM since 2001, as well as completing stints in the World Rally Championship and NASCAR. He’s also captured three titles in the Race of Champions, which saw him best the legendary Michael Schumacher.

Continue reading Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 5 to race in Australia’s V8 Supercars [w/video]

Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 5 to race in Australia’s V8 Supercars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive: Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 5 to race in Australia’s V8 Supercars [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Videos, Holden, Toys/Games, Australia, Racing

Xbox One Racing Team Holden VF Commodore V8 Supercars

Continue reading Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 5 to race in Australia’s V8 Supercars [w/video]

Xbox One and Forza Motorsport 5 to race in Australia’s V8 Supercars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Supercars seized from African dictator’s son sold for over $4M in Paris auction

Filed under: Government/Legal, Earnings/Financials

Corruption is a big problem around the world, but perhaps nowhere more than in African dictatorships. Proof? Despite living in one of the wealthiest countries on the African continent, the citizens of Equatorial Guinea live in abject poverty. Clean drinking water is available to less than half the populous, and one in five children is dead before their fifth birthday.

As so often seems the case with dictatorships, while the citizenry suffers, the rulers of EG live in the lap of luxury. With any luck, though, justice might be catching up to “President” Teodor Obiang’s son, Teodorin, according to a report from the International Business Times.

Obiang was subject to a raid by French law enforcement in 2011 that lasted two weeks. Why did it last two weeks? Because authorities had to search the his 80 million Euro, 101-room mansion on the Champs Elysees. Naturally, the house and everything in it was found to have been purchased using state funds. If this blatant display of wealth doesn’t outrage you, let us point you back to that stat about 20 percent of this country’s citizens dying before age five.

The seizure included a fleet of luxury and sports cars, including models from Bugatti, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Porsche, Maserati and Maybach. The kicker is, most of the cars had little to no mileage on them. Fine art, vintage wine, and antiques were also seized. Now, French auction house Drouot has sold several of the cars, racking up over $4 million in profits. We can only hope the funds go back to the citizens of Equatorial Guinea, but we aren’t holding our breath.

There’s more at the IBT. Give it a read if you’re interested in making yourself sick.

Supercars seized from African dictator’s son sold for over $4M in Paris auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jul 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Jaguar turns down offers to join V8 Supercars, questions AMG, Volvo participation

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Jaguar, Australia, Luxury, Racing

2014 Jaguar XFR-S

Rumors have swirled in recent weeks that Jaguar may be the next manufacturer to join the V8 Supercars racing series, made popular in Australia but now well-known in other parts of the world as well. Sadly, Jag’s participation is not to be. In fact, it would be “insane,” according to Jaguar Land Rover Asia Pacific Managing Director David Blackhall, for it to accept either of the two offers it has received to bring Jaguar into V8 Supercars.

Not only is Jaguar not interested in entering V8 Supercars, says Blackhall, it also fails to understand the recent entries from AMG and Volvo. “I don’t know what it does for AMG to get flogged by a V8 Commodore week after week, but it’s their brand, their issue. And the same thing will happen to Volvo to be honest.”

Judging by Blackhall’s statements to motoring.com.au, after not-so-serious consideration, the automaker decided the monetary commitment it would take to compete for wins would be more than any potential exposure would be worth, despite the fact that Jaguar has a 5.0-liter V8 to go along with what would seem to be a tailor-made rear-wheel-drive chassis. For what it’s worth, one offer would have had Jaguar putting its name across an engine made by someone else, an option that was flatly turned down.

In related news, don’t expect to see Jaguar make a return to Formula 1, either. “We’ve been there. And the fizzy drink that took over [Jaguar’s F1 team] is not doing too bad. But we wouldn’t go back again,” said Jag’s head honcho Adrian Hallmark.

Jaguar turns down offers to join V8 Supercars, questions AMG, Volvo participation originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Volvo joins Australia’s V8 Supercars series [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Videos, Volvo, Australia, Racing

Volvo S60 Polestar V8 Supercars teaser - video screencap

It was just a rumor, but now it’s official, mates: Volvo will be joining the V8 Supercars series in Australia with an official team for 2014. Volvo is partnering with Garry Rogers Motorsport and its own Polestar tuning firm to create Volvo Polestar Racing.

A V8 engine will be produced by the Swedish arm of the racing effort, and will be supplied to the Garry Rogers team, which will get the whole shebang ready for the track. The outfit will be running two V8 Supercars “based on the production S60 road car.” Considering that the S60 uses a range of transversely mounted engines with four, five or six cylinders (powering either the front or all four wheels) while the new race car will employ a V8 sending about 650 horsepower to the rear wheels, make that very loosely based on the production S60…

Volvo claims this is the first factory-backed entry in the V8 Supercars series from a luxury brand. We should note, though, that Mercedes-Benz is represented in the series with an E-Class sedan, but that outfit isn’t quite an official entry from the car’s German parents. In any case, you’re encouraged to watch the teaser video and read the press release below for all the details.

Continue reading Volvo joins Australia’s V8 Supercars series [w/video]

Volvo joins Australia’s V8 Supercars series [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SMS Supercars announces White, Yellow and Black Label Mustangs

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford

SMS White Label Mustang

SMS White Label Mustang – Click above for image gallery

Last Spring, Steve Saleen’s new company, SMS Supercars, unveiled its 2011 302 Mustang. At that time, two models were offered – the standard 302 with 440 horsepower and a supercharged 302SC with 535 horsepower. Each car came with a full body kit, interior upgrades, 20-inch wheels and tires, sport suspension and more.

For the 2012 model year, SMS Supercars is changing things up a bit, offering three models under color labels (think Johnnie Walker color labels for its scotch). Kicking things off is the White Label Mustang, which includes only basic upgrades but comes with a fairly affordable price tag of $35,540. Next is the Yellow Label, which adds the SMS supercharger system good for 545 horsepower and a set of 19-inch wheels and tires. Finally, the Black Label is the flagship model with an optional 575-horsepower supercharger system, fully upgraded suspension, complete body kit and custom leather appointments. Pricing for the Black Label is set at $48,000 for the naturally aspirated version and $58,000 for the supercharged model. More details are available in the official PR after the jump.

Gallery: SMS White Label Mustang

[Source: SMS Supercars]

Continue reading SMS Supercars announces White, Yellow and Black Label Mustangs

SMS Supercars announces White, Yellow and Black Label Mustangs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari supercars from Benny Caiola collection headline Gooding Scottsdale

Filed under: Classics, Performance, Auctions, Ferrari, Racing

2006 Ferrari FXX Evoluzione

Ferrari FXX Evoluzione from the Caiola Collection – Click above for high-resolution image gallery

Picture your dream garage, and we have a sneaking suspicion that a fair few of the vehicles contained therein would be Ferrari supercars. But which ones? An F40? The F50 roadster that followed? Would you skip the Enzo and go right to its track-focused cousins, the FXX and the Maserati MC12? Benny Caiola had all of these and then some, but now his collection’s going up on the auction block.

The enviable stable of the late enthusiast and noted collector included an F40, F50, FXX Evoluzione (the even more advanced version of the Enzo-based customer prototype), an MC12, 333 SP (the last Le Mans Prototype Ferrari ever made), both a 430 Scuderia and an F430 Challenge racer, a 599 GTB Fiorano with the HGTE package and a ’73 Dino, plus a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 and a McLaren Mercedes SLR Roadster thrown in for good measure.

This lustworthy collection is all on the docket for Gooding & Company’s auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, for January 21-22. Most of the New York real estate mogul’s vehicles are estimated in the six-figure range, but several of them – notably the three V12 track monsters – are anticipated to fetch north of the million-dollar mark. Follow the jump for the full details in the press release and don’t forget to click through the 52-image high-resolution mega gallery below for a closer look at each of the supercars on the roster.

Gallery: The Caiola Collection

[Source: Gooding & Company]

Continue reading Ferrari supercars from Benny Caiola collection headline Gooding Scottsdale

Ferrari supercars from Benny Caiola collection headline Gooding Scottsdale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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James May explains why supercars are ‘pointless’ – do you agree? [w/poll]

Filed under: UK, Celebrities

Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport 16.4

2010 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery

Here we go again. Dante should have made the question ‘Do Supercars Make any Sense?’ one of his levels of hell near Sisyphus, since so many people love to wail and moan and gnash their teeth on it in circular fashion. James May, a.k.a. Top Gear’s Captain Slow, has taken up the query and come to the conclusion that the speedy little devils are pointless.

He intends to make his point by asking, “what benefit has accrued to Italy, principal arbour of the mechanism of the Renaissance, by their existence?”, and then by comparing the effect that supercars have have on the world to the effects produced by Gore-Tex and penicillin and the radio and the Maxim gun. Mr. May, you have us there – we’d rather our doctor prescribed us antibiotics and not a Ferrari if we had a staph infection. That is, unless we had at least seven days to live, in which case we’d take the Ferrari and trade a ride in it for a prescription.

Most supercars are as useful and as pointless as marshmallows, with little technology actually trickling down to more affordable machinery – at least on a consistent basis. In fact, we’re mildly surprised there’s any debate left in this issue – even in jest. If May wants to talk about pointless things, let’s start with the Salad Shooter or anything else sold by infomercial. We’d live without a Lamborghini Murciélago as soon as we’d live without s’mores, which means that we’d do it but we’d really rather not. Maybe the world hasn’t been changed by supercars, but our world has, and that’s good enough for us. Ergo, when May ends his piece with “Prove me wrong,” we’ll admit we can’t. But we can prove his article pointless.

How about you? Do you see supercars as pointless exercises? Take our poll below and then weigh in with your thoughts in Comments.

Gallery: First Drive: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

View Poll

[Source: Telegraph]

James May explains why supercars are ‘pointless’ – do you agree? [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Canada

Supercars and airstrips go together like Corvettes and gold chains. There are simply few other locations on this blue marble we call Earth that allow owners to legally and somewhat safely tickle the upper limits of their speedometers. That’s exactly why Zahir Rana, the owner of ZR Auto, has organized a charity event to allow supercar owners to have their time on the tarmac at the Canadian Forces Base in Cold Lake, Alberta. For the low, low price of $1,500 per car and $500 per passenger, drivers can ratchet their exotics all the way up to 185 mph or better.

There will even an exhibition in which Rana will put his twin-turbo, 860-horsepower Ferrari Enzo toe-to-toe with a CF-18 Hornet fighter jet, but the best part is that every last dollar will go to four charities. The Military Families Support Society, Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, Bonnyville Health Foundation and Hearts for Healthcare will all benefit from the Race the Base event. There are only 100 slots available, so if you happen to own a car worth wringing out and have $1,500 Canadian burning a hole in your pocket, head over to the ZR Auto site for more information.

[Source: ZR Auto via The Vancouver Sun]

Race the Base fundraising event pits supercars against military jets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby Supercars teases new 2011 Ultimate Aero

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Specialty, Design/Style

Shelby Supercars 2011 Ultimate Aero teaser

Shelby Supercars 2011 Ultimate Aero teaser – Click above to enlarge

Nobody is disputing that Shelby Supercar’s Ultimate Aero is fast. In fact, it may very well be the fastest production car in the world, though Bugatti is sure to raise an eyebrow to that notion. In any case, no matter how aerodynamic it may be, the Ultimate Aero is also ultimately ugly. And we mean really unattractive in an I-drew-this-at-recess sort of way.

Hopefully, that ugly truth is soon to be jettisoned via some well-deserved Jason Castriota love. That’s the news that’s been floating around the interwebs over the last few months, and the resulting car was apparently shown to a small, private party over the course of the festivities in Monterey.

Now SSC is teasing its next supercar for a September debut. All we get to see for now is an up-close shot of what appears to possibly be part of the front fascia, though we can’t really be sure. We wish we could tell you more, but at least we can all rest easy with the knowledge that it couldn’t hardly be any worse, right? Here’s hoping it’s much, much better.

[Source: Shelby Supercars]

Shelby Supercars teases new 2011 Ultimate Aero originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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