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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Motus hits the track with MST-01 and MST-R

Filed under: Performance, Videos, Motorcycle

Motus MST-R on the track

Motus MST-R – Click above to watch video after the jump

The last time we heard from the Motus crew, they were packing up their gear and hitting the road for a long trip designed to put both the MST-01 and the MST-R through their paces. Now it would seem that the American-built bikes recently put in some time on the track with the suspension gurus from Ohlins to get the kit sorted before full production kicks off. Fortunately for us, they brought along a video crew to document the action and give the whole world a sample of exactly what a pushrod V4 sounds like.

We like what we hear.

So, how long will it be before you can get your hands on either bike? Motus isn’t handing out any set dates just yet, but the company does say that it’s currently shopping for dealers. If you think there’s a dealer in your area that might be into selling American-made sport tourers with 160 horsepower on tap and an Ohlins-tuned suspension, drop Motus a line. Hit the jump to check out the full video for yourself.

[Source: Motus via YouTube]

Continue reading Motus hits the track with MST-01 and MST-R

Motus hits the track with MST-01 and MST-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale gets on track

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

2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale – Click above for high-res image gallery or click here to watch video

The 2011 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale is the regular GranTurismo’s crude, hairy-chested brother. It’s loud, muscle-bound and doesn’t make any apologies. With a 450-horsepower version of Maserati’s 4.7 liter V8 under the hood, its got the brawn to back up its big talk.

Despite its unruly demeanor and aerodynamic tweaks to the body, the fastest Maserati also manages to be as drop-dead gorgeous as its tamer stablemate. Now, there’s video of Maserati’s wild child tearing up the race track. The car looks poised and right at home, and sounds like Lucifer’s personal symphony at full blast. For the full five-minute immersion, check out the video after the jump.

Gallery: Paris 2010: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL
[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale gets on track

Video: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale gets on track originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Apr 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 24 new track logos discovered on Gran Turismo 5 website

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games

gran turismo 5 trailer

Gran-Turismo 5 promo at El Capitan – Click above to watch the video after the jump

There are some truly fanatical Gran Turismo gamers out there. Case in point? GT Planet Gamer Yonis was searching the GT5 website when he unlocked the key to a treasure trove of unused track titles. Yonis reportedly stumbled upon the image directory in a GT5-specific part of the site, and none of the tracks are available on the game.

el capitanOur first thought when we saw the track logos was that the folks at Polyphony Digital could find it in their hearts to offer the tracks at a future update. GT Planet points out that El Capitan was already spotted at the Red Bull “Horse Power” trailer, so we know at least some of these tracks can be on the way to our PS3s. Another possibility is that Polyphony Digital could be saving the tracks for a later pay-for-play add-on to GT5 like the Need for Speed franchise did with the Ferrari Racing Pack for Shift.

Head over to GT Planet to check out all 24 track logos, and you can hit the jump to watch the GT5 trailer with El Capitan one more time.

[Source: GT Planet]

Continue reading Report: 24 new track logos discovered on Gran Turismo 5 website

Report: 24 new track logos discovered on Gran Turismo 5 website originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Austin U.S. F1 track to officially be called Circuit of the Americas, also play host to MotoGP

Filed under: Motorsports

circuit of the americas

We’ve all known that Formula One racing is coming to Austin, Texas. Now we know what to call the track that will play host to the 2012 U.S. Grand Prix. Called the Circuit of the Americas, this 3.4-mile racetrack features 20 turns, 133 feet of elevation change and a 10-year F1 contract.

Circuit of the Americas won’t simply play host to four-wheeled machines, though. The two-wheeled action of MotoGP will also be coming to the Texas track. Beginning in 2013, CotA starts a 10-year contract with the motorcycle racing series.

[Source: Autoweek]

Austin U.S. F1 track to officially be called Circuit of the Americas, also play host to MotoGP originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Ford Focus ST caught cold-weather testing and track tuning

Filed under: Spy Photos, Hatchback, Ford

spy photos ford focus st

Spy Shots: Ford Focus ST test mule – Click above for high-res image gallery

We saw the 2012 Ford Focus ST in the flesh at the 2010 Paris Auto Show, but at the time, the hot-hatch unveiled to the waiting press was merely a close-to-the-real-thing concept version. The production Focus ST should be arriving at an auto show in the near future. Apparently it’s not quite ready, however, because our spy photographers managed to capture Ford engineers working over a mule-bodied example, both at the track and in the snow.

It may appear to be a standard Focus from the outside – note the standard front fascia instead of the show car’s more aggressive look – but a closer inspection reveals a few unique touches first seen on the concept. For instance, a centrally mounted exhaust outlet at the rear expels emissions from the 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit lurking under the hood. Speaking of which, power is expected to be up around 250 horsepower, and the engine will be paired with a six-speed manual transmission.

We hope to see the 2012 Focus ST hitting dealer showrooms by the end of 2011. We also hope to score some seat time before that happens. Until then, we’ll just stare at the spy photos in the gallery below, and dream about the sporty action going on under the suspiciously plain wrapper.

Gallery: Spy Photos: Ford Focus ST

Spy Photos: Ford Focus STSpy Photos: Ford Focus STSpy Photos: Ford Focus STSpy Photos: Ford Focus STSpy Photos: Ford Focus ST

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Ford Focus ST caught cold-weather testing and track tuning originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster hits the track and the town

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

spy photos: mercedes-benz sls amg roadster

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster – Click above for high-res image gallery

A note to prospective buyers of the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG: you might want to wait a bit longer to hand over your hard-earned gold bullion. The roadster version should be arriving very soon, provided you’re willing to give up the coupe’s gullwing doors for a bit of open sky. Spy photographers have caught the drop-top Merc pushing around the Nürburgring then taking in the sights around town. Sporting only a dash of camo, this shows us that Mercedes is close to showing the world a production version of the SLS AMG Roadster.

Once on sale, it will pose a buying conundrum for Three-Pointed Star devotees looking for a new supercar. You might have to give up the hardtop’s charismatic doors, but at least you’ll also hear more of the devilish gargle produced by the SLS’ 563-horsepower, 6.2-liter V8. Decisions, decisions…

Gallery: Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG RoadsterSpy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG RoadsterSpy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG RoadsterSpy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG RoadsterSpy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster

[Source: CarPix]

Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster hits the track and the town originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: The newest Mustangs go head-to-head on the track

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford

new mustangs competing at streets of willow

The Mustang family tested head-to-head – Click above to watch video after the jump

The crew over at Inside Line has manged to put together a test that any auto enthusiast should be eager to read about. Ford’s entire lineup of Mustangs has something unique to offer, and IL wrangled up one of each different ‘Stang on offer: V6, GT, Boss 302 Laguna Seca and Shelby GT500. In the end, there can be only one…

All four cars were flogged on a pair of tracks, including the 1.6-mile loop at Streets of Willow. The finishing order based on lap times was predictable, but the numbers are impressive across the board. Also, Inside Line didn’t choose its winner based solely on fastest time around the track. Click past the jump to watch the cars in action, then be sure to head over to Inside Line to read about the results.

[Source: Inside Line]

Continue reading Video: The newest Mustangs go head-to-head on the track

Video: The newest Mustangs go head-to-head on the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chip Ganassi, we salute you and your underground test track [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Videos

chip ganassi tunnel test track

Chip Ganassi’s underground test track – Click above to watch video after the jump

Floyd Ganassi Jr, better known as Chip, is a fixture in the motorsports industry. He currently operates vehicles that run IndyCar, NASCAR and Grand-Am races. That requires knowledge of a variety of racing vehicles, and Ganassi has a unique way to test his vehicles – in a mile-long tunnel built into a Pennsylvania hill.

Opened in 1940, the Laurel Hill Tunnel was originally intended to be a railway tunnel before becoming a part of the local turnpike. Ganassi has since turned the tunnel into his own test track. Vehicles run down the straight roadway, hit a pre-determined speed and then coast while aerodynamic forces are measured. At each end of the tunnel sits a turntable so that the vehicle being tested can quickly be rotated and sent back in the other direction.

A hiker walking by the tunnel managed to capture beautiful noises emanating from within, and you can listen in by clicking past the jump. We also recommend heading over to Racecar-Engineering for a detailed look at what’s going on underneath this hill in Pennsylvania.

[Source: Racecar-Engineering.com via Inside Line]

Continue reading Chip Ganassi, we salute you and your underground test track [w/video]

Chip Ganassi, we salute you and your underground test track [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Volkswagen Golf24 enduro racer hits the track

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Racing

volkswagen golf24 on the trackVolkswagen Golf24 endurance racer hits the track – Click above to watch video after the jump

Volkswagen’s stunning new widebody racing Golf was recently shown off in in photographic fashion and now we finally have some noise and moving imagery of the Golf24 endurance racer thanks to a new VWvideo.

The people’s racer was filmed on a track conducting some shakedown runs before it tackles the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This isn’t just some tarted-up Golf with a roll-cage installed: Under the hood sits a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder producing 434 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque. That go-fast energy is channeled through a six-speed sequential gearbox and sent out to all four wheels. Click past the jump to see the Volkswagen Golf24 in action.

Gallery: Volkswagen Golf24

Volkswagen Golf24Volkswagen Golf24Volkswagen Golf24Volkswagen Golf24

[Source: Volkswagen via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Volkswagen Golf24 enduro racer hits the track

Video: Volkswagen Golf24 enduro racer hits the track originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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