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Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 takes to the track

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Porsche

porsche 911 gt3 rs 4.0 on the Porsche development test track

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 – Click above to watch the video after the jump

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 certainly has the stats of a kick-ass track car. Who can argue with a naturally aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six with 500 horsepower, an 8,250 rpm redline and a Nürburgring time of 7:27? Just as exciting is the fact that the GT3 RS 4.0 weighs only 2,998 pounds soaking wet, thanks to a host of weight-saving measures like light-weight carpet and scads of carbon fiber. And when was the last time you saw a street-legal production car with front dive plates for added down-force?

You know what else we like? Video of the GT3 RS 4.0 on the track. After the jump is video of the 997 911’s final iteration tearing up the Porsche development test track in Germany. While you’re watching, you can also learn more about the 4.0 from Porsche GT boss Andreas Preuninger. It’s too bad that we’re only $184,948 short of the GT3 RS 4.0’s starting price of $185k, because we’d sure like to be one of the 600 owners to have this 911 in our long-term garage. Hit the jump to enjoy the sights and sounds.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 takes to the track

Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 takes to the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sebastian Vettel takes Infiniti for a spin at the Shanghai International Circuit [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, China, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Infiniti, Celebrities, Luxury

Sebastian Vettel in the Infiniti G37

Sebastian Vettel drives the Infiniti G37 – Click above for high-res image gallery, click here to watch video

What’s the point in an automaker pouring millions into an F1 team if it can’t leverage a little star power? In Infiniti’s case, it’s not even running its own F1 team or even supplying engines. Instead, it’s sponsoring the Red Bull Racing outfit that’s out there defending both its titles. (That said, we wouldn’t be surprised if Infiniti’s involvement turned into an engine rebranding initiative for next season.)

As any marketing whiz could tell you, sponsorship is only worth as much as you promote it. So while Red Bull’s world champion Sebastian Vettel was in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, he took a couple of Infiniti’s finest for a spin.

Vettel being Vettel, he didn’t just drive around the block: he took to the Shanghai International Circuit. (Or, at least an Autocross setup on the circuit’s back lot.) And while he wasn’t about to set any lap records behind the wheel of the G37 sedan or FX50 crossover, he seemed to enjoy the experience, hanging the G37’s tail out making some smoke for the crowd. Follow the jump to watch the video footage and check out the still shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Sebastian Vettel and Infiniti at the 2011 Chinese Grand Prix

[Source: Infiniti]

Continue reading Sebastian Vettel takes Infiniti for a spin at the Shanghai International Circuit [w/video]

Sebastian Vettel takes Infiniti for a spin at the Shanghai International Circuit [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Veteran journalist Gillies takes job as VW product and technology communications manager

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Volkswagen

Former Car and Driver executive editor and veteran automotive journalist Mark Gillies has signed on with the Volkswagen PR machine as product and technology communications manager. Gillies spent 28 years making the rounds among automotive publications, working as an editor at David E. Davis, Jr.’s Automobile Magazine, and churning out copy for England’s CAR and Autocar. Gillies also spent time hunting down stories for AutoWeek and Classic & Sportscar.

In his new role at Volkswagen, the former scoop will report to Scott Vazin, the company’s newly-hired vice president for public relations formerly from Nissan. As a former journo, Gillies will be shouldered with helping to promote new VW products and technologies.

Gillies’ new boss has been working in the automotive PR business for more than 20 years, getting his start at Mitsubishi in 1990. From there, he moved on to a job at Nissan, finishing his time there as general manager of Corporate and Public Communications in Europe.

Vazin starts his new job on April 18, followed by Gillies on May 1.

[Source: Volkswagen | Image: Damon Lavrinc/AOL]

Continue reading Veteran journalist Gillies takes job as VW product and technology communications manager

Veteran journalist Gillies takes job as VW product and technology communications manager originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Vicki from Fifth Gear takes BMW’s M3 GTS out for some fun in the rain

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, BMW, Racing

Vicki Butler-Henderson in the BMW M3 GTS

2011 BMW M3 GTS – Click above to view video after the jump

Vicki Butler-Henderson has driven her fair share of amazing cars. She started racing karts when she was a kid, has been an instructor at Silverstone and has been a TV host and automotive journalist since the mid-1990s. Suffice it to say, it takes a lot to impress Ms. Butler-Henderson.

As the following video shows, the 2011 BMW M3 GTS managed to do just that. She describes exactly what she loves about the GTS while hooning its wheels off around a very wet, very slippery test track, and between guttural sounds and breathless description, Butler-Henderson points out that the M3 GTS’s prodigious power, phenomenal brakes and telepathic steering make it “an amazing, amazing car.” Click past the jump to check out the footage for yourself.

Gallery: BMW M3 GTS

[Source: Fifth Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Vicki from Fifth Gear takes BMW’s M3 GTS out for some fun in the rain

Video: Vicki from Fifth Gear takes BMW’s M3 GTS out for some fun in the rain originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: P4/5 Competizione takes on the Nürburgring

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Specialty, Racing

2011 P4/5 Comeptizione

2011 P4/5 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery

James Glickenhaus’s P4/5 Competizione made its debut at the Nürburgring this weekend ahead of the actual running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The test sessions reportedly went well and got as much hype and attention (yep, we’re guilty as charged…) as anything Glickenhaus’s now-famous racer does.

The P4/5 Competizione looked right at home on the track, though tests were cut short after a red flag limited driver Luca Cappellari to one lap. Mika Salo got plenty of seat time though, and the car looks just about ready for competition.

There aren’t any concrete lap times yet, but best guesses are in the 8:30 range, which would put the P4/5 Competizione right where it needs to be. Click past the jump for videos from the test weekend, and be sure to check out the latest set of images of the exquisitely beautiful showpiece below.

Gallery: 2011 P4/5 Competizione Nurburgring tests

2011 P4/5 Competizione

[Source: P4/5 Competizione Images: P4/5 Competizione]

Continue reading Video: P4/5 Competizione takes on the Nürburgring

Video: P4/5 Competizione takes on the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Lamborghini Aventador takes it to the streets

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Europe, Videos, Lamborghini, Luxury

2011 Lamborghini Aventador on the street

2011 Lamborghini Aventador – Click above for video after the jump

Lamborghini delivered one of the first of its latest Aventador supercars to a dealership in Berlin recently, blocking traffic and generating quite a crowd on a busy street. Despite some awkward maneuvers in busy traffic, nobody seemed to care… at least not once the Aventador’s 7.0-liter V12 fired.

The best part of the clip by far is the Aventador’s hostile cackle, even without turning much above idle through the entire video. In spite of it being shot in grainy medium-resolution, the latest big Lambo looks as good out in public as it does all gussied up for the auto show circuit. Click past the jump to check out the full video. Thanks for the tip, Rick!

[Source: Youtube]

Continue reading Video: Lamborghini Aventador takes it to the streets

Video: Lamborghini Aventador takes it to the streets originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan of Canada takes a pass on Murano CrossCabriolet

Filed under: Convertible, Crossover, Nissan, Canada

Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re really curious as to whether or not the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet has what it takes to succeed in the U.S. market. If our friends to the north are any indication, it won’t be such a big hit, especially in regions that receive snow and ice.

The Globe and Mail reports that Nissan Canada isn’t interested in selling the funky crossover/convertible, preferring instead to sit back and gauge the vehicle’s U.S. launch before committing to anything. Ian Forsyth, Nissan Canada director of planning and strategy, told the newspaper that they “continue to assess the opportunity and success in the U.S. market to see if there is evidence to support a change in our position.”

The top of the Canada sales chart is typically filled with economy cars like the Mazda3 and trucks like the Ford F-150, so we can see why a country with six months of snow can do without the CrossCabriolet. Still, since we Americans are all too used to being overlooked for vehicles that are offered in Europe, we know some of our Canadian friends won’t be too happy to hear this.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet: First Drive

2011 Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet

[Source: Globe and Mail]

Report: Nissan of Canada takes a pass on Murano CrossCabriolet originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Two-time WRC champ Gronholm takes day one victory at Global Rally Cross

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Ford, Racing

Global Rally Cross at Irwindale Speedway – Click above to watch video after the jump

Global Rally Cross kicked off its inaugural even yesterday at Irwindale Speedway. Drivers raced in bracket-style competition on a mixture of dirt and gravel stages. Competitors each ran events in two and four-wheel-drive cars.

Marcus Gronholm sealed victory at the wheel of a 550-horsepower Ford Fiesta in the all-wheel-drive round, beating out Swedish star Michael Jernberg in second and Formula Drift superstar (and U.S. Top Gear host) Tanner Faust in third.

Gronholm’s victory shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who watched him drive WRC cars in the early 2000s. For his part, Gronholm wasn’t too shocked either, and attributed his victory in part to experience with motocross. Check out video of the event after the jump.

[Source: Rally Buzz via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Two-time WRC champ Gronholm takes day one victory at Global Rally Cross

Video: Two-time WRC champ Gronholm takes day one victory at Global Rally Cross originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Inside Line takes us behind the scenes with the Lamborghini Aventador

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Lamborghini

Lamborghini Aventador

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Our compatriots over at Edmunds’ Inside Line said it best: The new Lamborghini Aventador looked pretty striking sitting still upon its debut at the Geneva Motor Show this year, but a Raging Bull like this one shouldn’t be sitting still. It needs to be run, and run hard.

Fortunately, our friends had the opportunity to accompany the new Lambo on a video shoot in the Californian desert to let it stretch its legs and get it good and covered in silt. Follow the jump to watch the video footage.

Gallery: Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4: Geneva 2011

Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4

[Source: Inside Line]

Continue reading Video: Inside Line takes us behind the scenes with the Lamborghini Aventador

Video: Inside Line takes us behind the scenes with the Lamborghini Aventador originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevrolet takes it easy on the competition with Corvette ZR1 ad

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, BMW, Chevrolet, Porsche, Ferrari

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 ad spot – Click above to watch the video after the jump

We’ve seen plenty of luxury sports cars that are later tuned for the 12 Hours of Sebring. Porsche, Ferrari and BMW all do it, and so does General Motors with its Corvette Racing team. So why do the advertising types at GM feel it necessary to talk up their car at the expense of the aforementioned makes by way of this 30-second commercial? GM has earned bragging rights because, unlike the other cars, the stock ZR1 actually had to be de-tuned by 168 horsepower in order to qualify.

Unfortunately for Chevrolet and its racing team, the race cars could have used a few of those ponies, as BMW took first and second, while The General had to settle for third place. Still, the spot serves as a reminder of just how ridiculous it is that the ZR1 comes fresh from the factory with 638 horsepower and a whole world of whoop-ass. Hit the jump to watch the commercial for yourself.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

[Source: Corvette Blogger]

Continue reading Video: Chevrolet takes it easy on the competition with Corvette ZR1 ad

Video: Chevrolet takes it easy on the competition with Corvette ZR1 ad originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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