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Audi R18 TDI to debut at Spa while Aston Martin watches from the pit lane

Filed under: Motorsports, Europe, Aston Martin, Audi

Audi R18 TDI

Audi R18 TDI (above) and Aston Martin AMR-One (below right) – Click either image for high-res galleries

There’s plenty to be excited about in this year’s Le Mans racing season, and the new Audi R18 TDI arguably ranks chief among them. Audi’s new fixed-roof racer will make its debut at the Spa 1000km race next weekend, showing for the first time what it can do against a competitive field ahead of June’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Although we tested at Le Mans recently, we’ll learn a lot more about the new Audi R18 TDI and also how it fares against the competition at Spa,” said Audi’s double champion Allan McNish Aston Martin AMR-One in preparation for the Belgian endurance race. “The 20-minute qualifying session on Friday afternoon will be the first time when we’ll see the true performance of all of the new cars because it will be the first time when everybody is on the same playing field together at the same time.”

That may not exactly be the case, however, because while Audi’s chief rival Peugeot is sure to be mounting its own challenge, word has it that Aston Martin will sit this one out. The British team is also fielding a new racer in the AMR-One, but rather than take the opportunity to put its new LMP through the paces in a real racing scenario as Audi will, Aston’s focus is on testing the car before the main event at La Sarthe. Follow the jump for official press releases from both teams.

Gallery: 2011 Audi R18 TDI (final livery)

Gallery: 2011 Aston Martin AMR-One

2011 Aston Martin AMR-One front three quarter 2011 Aston Martin AMR-One side 2011 Aston Martin AMR-One rear 2011 Aston Martin AMR-One close

[Sources: Audi, Aston Martin]

Continue reading Audi R18 TDI to debut at Spa while Aston Martin watches from the pit lane

Audi R18 TDI to debut at Spa while Aston Martin watches from the pit lane originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 May 2011 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick, Autoblog watches

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Safety, Technology, Hatchback, Ford

2011 Ford Fiesta gets IIHS Top Safety Pick – Click above to watch video after the jump

We have mountains of respect for the men and women who work at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. After being invited to the institute’s Charlottesville, Virginia facility for a front-row seat to the 2011 Ford Fiesta’s frontal-offset test, we can honestly say that if we had their job, we’d have a hard time getting into just any old car ever again. While the Blue Oval’s new sub-compact passed its battery of evaluations with flying colors (being the first and only minicar to earn a Top Safety Pick nod since the institute added a rollover test), we were also treated to a tour of some of the more poorly engineered models from the recent past.

Manufacturers have made an impressive amount progress on the safety front in the last decade, thanks largely to a close partnership with the IIHS. The institute has worked to revise crash tests to more accurately reflect the composition of vehicles on the road. One of its primary functions is to identify crashes where people die in otherwise well-rated vehicles and to adjust crash tests accordingly. While the public identifies the institute with bouncing perfectly good cars off of chunks of aluminum and concrete, the truth is that crash testing is only a small part of the IIHS mission. Of course, it’s also the most fun part. Follow the jump to take a look at a video of the Fiesta’s frontal-offset test.

Gallery: 2011 Ford Fiesta IIHS Crash Tests

Gallery: IIHS Crash Test Exhibition Hall

Continue reading Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick, Autoblog watches

Video: 2011 Ford Fiesta nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick, Autoblog watches originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor

Epic blunder at QuakeCon

Raffle ticket regret at QuakeCon 2010 – Click above to watch video after the jump

QuakeCon is an annual pilgrimage for gamers held near Dallas, Texas. Dubbed the Woodstock of gaming, QuakeCon’s motto is “4 Days of Peace, Love and Rockets.” At least one of this year’s attendees won’t be feeling so peaceful, though. QuakeCon sponsor Ventrilo held a raffle for the chance to win a 2011 Ford Shelby GT500 (two were up for grabs at the con). 100 tickets were awarded to attendees who won various tournaments and contests during the four-day fest.

One of said ticket holders was approached by another attendee a few minutes before the car drawing. For $200, he handed over his raffle ticket. It probably seemed like a great deal at the time. After all, it’s easy money, and it’s not as if he stood a chance of actually winning, right? Minutes later, the seller watched as the ticket he pawned off turned into a brand new Shelby GT500. But hey, at least he got a couple hundred bucks out of the deal – along with a story to tell and a heap of regrets. Bonus: everything is on video, including the fateful transaction. Follow the jump to see how it all unfolded. Thanks for the tip, Sean!

[Source: Vimeo]

Continue reading Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later

Video: Man sells GT500 raffle ticket, watches buyer win car moments later originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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