Motorward

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• Missed Gymkhana? Here’s Some Bonus Edit!
• Video: Mercedes C Class Diner Commercial
• Trussardi BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo
• Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS Arrives In America
• Audi R15 TDI Makes Final Appearance at Sebring
• Video: Best View Yet Of 2012 BMW M5
• Vauxhall Corsa Street Style Facebook Campaign
• smart fortwo nightorange Pricing Announced

Missed Gymkhana? Here’s Some Bonus Edit! Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:25 AM PST Yea it’s been a while since the last fresh dose of Ken Block Gymhkana, so they released this bonus edit of the Gymkhana 3 part 2 to keep the fans amused. It features new scenes and more camera angles which basically make it look like a new episode. So if you, like me, won’t go out this weekend and have some time to kill, give it a spin.

Video: Mercedes C Class Diner Commercial Posted: 12 Mar 2011 09:09 AM PST The latest TV spot for the new Mercedes C Class boasts its ATTENTION ASSIST system. This system has sensors and stuff that detects if the driver is drowsy and warns he or she to take a break. The title Diner hints at that. You see, if it wasn’t for the drowsiness sensor the lady in this video wouldn’t stop by that diner full of  creepy people and encounter a potential date! So this system also works as a dating service. It’s a stupid ad to be honest.

Trussardi BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Posted: 12 Mar 2011 08:35 AM PST Car makers joining force with fashion brands to offer limited and special editions is not a new trend. But this BMW by Trussardi is something new because they’ve picked a very ugly car for their project! To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Italian brand Trussardi has come up with a unique version of the BMW 5 Series GT.  Now, the 5er GT is widely known as a catastrophically ugly car and it’s the last thing you would think of promote your brand with! But it’s a clever idea actually. They picked an ugly car and tried to make it better with their own touches. In Trussardi 5er’s case the car gets a magnificent Heraldic Brown paint job garnished with logos of the brand and complemented by 20-inch dark finished alloy wheels. They could take customization even further inside the cabin where they’ve used beige leather reminiscent to Trussardi glove design. You also get more logos on the headrests and dashboard. This treatment can be had for all variants of the 5 Series GT. So, what do you think? Have they been successful in improving the car’s look with their stylish modifications?

Video: Porsche 911 GT2 RS Arrives In America Posted: 12 Mar 2011 08:03 AM PST Porsche 911 GT2 RS is a very special car. To celebrate its arrival in America Porsche set up an event at the El Toro Air Station in Irvine California and invited all the buyers who’ve been waiting for the RS for months, and treated them with a special driving course. They brought along professional instructors to teach the customer how to familiarize with the untamed beast that is the GT2 RS. This to be honest is the most necessary option for every GT2 RS buyer! Even the ace test drivers find the GT2 very tricky to handle, so a fat businessman who just bought it as a birthday gift to himself needs to be instructed how to deal with it!

Audi R15 TDI Makes Final Appearance at Sebring Posted: 12 Mar 2011 07:53 AM PST Before handing over the torch to the new R18, Audi R15 TDI will make its final appearance at the 12 Hours of Sebring – ILMC season opener – on March 19. The R15 was just as successful as its predecessors and started its career in 2009 by a victory – the ninth for Audi in this traditional event in US state of Florida since 2000 – at the very same track that it’s going to retire at. The new car has very big shoes to fill. Due to the new regulations, Audi R15 TDI features a couple of modifications. It is known as “R15 plus plus” internally and faces greatly restricted engine power because the new rules dictates that cars should have a closed cockpit, just as the new R18. Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Mike Rockenfeller (D/F/D), last year’s Le Mans winners, as well as Dindo Capello/Allan McNish/Tom Kristensen (I/GB/DK), Le-Mans winners from 2008, drive the two diesel race sports cars. Press Release: Drastic cuts in technology The new LMP1 prototype regulations limit engine displacement for new models such as the Audi R18, which will contest its first race in May, to 3.7 liters. Older cars like the Audi R15 TDI will be slowed down accordingly. To this end, the 5.5 liter V10 engine in the Audi R15 TDI must now draw air through two intake-air restrictors of 33.5 millimeter diameter – this is four millimeters less than before. At the same time the boost pressure is reduced by 23 percent to 2,000 millibar – 2,590 millibar was allowed before. The fuel tank may only hold 65 instead of the previous 81 liters of diesel, the fuel flow restrictor in the autonomous refueling tank was also reduced by five to 28 millimeters. “The drivers felt the engine restrictions very clearly during the test in Florida. They miss several dozen horsepower,” explains Ralf Jüttner, Technical Director of Audi Sport Team Joest. “The reduction in tank volume sounds drastic at first, but the engine obviously also consumes less. The slower flow rate from the external tank means that pit stops will certainly not be any shorter despite the smaller fuel tank volume.” Proven drivers, new partners The Audi R15 TDI makes its farewell appearance in Florida in the hands of two successful driver line ups. Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas, who won at Sebring in 2008, share the car with start number “1″ with Mike Rockenfeller. Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish, the Sebring winners in 2009, drive the “2″ numbered Audi. Two new partners are also part of the team for the first time at Sebring: Lining up alongside Bosch, Mahle, Michelin and TAG Heuer to partner the Audi sports car program from 2011 are Alpinestars, specialists for motorsport and extreme sports clothing as well as street wear, and lubricant manufacturer Castrol. With Castrol a familiar face returns to the side of Audi Sport; the two companies were already very successful together in competition as partners in the DTM, super touring cars and in rallying. Topical points of interest at the weekend How fast is the R15 TDI, which should actually be called “R15 plus minus” after being modified to comply with the new regulations? Can Audi exploit the reliability of the established R15 TDI around the tough Sebring track with its experienced drivers on board? How will the balance differ between the modified 2010 cars, the Audi R15 TDI and new LMP1 models? Quotes by the officials Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich (Head of Audi Motorsport): “Sebring is the circuit on which up to now practically all of our new sport prototypes have made their race debuts – and in doing so have always won. For the R18 project it would have been a monumental logistical task to compete at this early stage at Sebring. This is why we now bid farewell to the R15 TDI. With the R15 TDI having been modified again we know that we do not have the same base as each opponent competing at Sebring with a new LMP1. Having said this we still want to score as many points as possible for the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. During the 12 Hours of Sebring there are many other factors in addition to the cars that dictate how things look at the checkered flag: the normally hot weather, the heavy traffic, specific race situations with the typical fullcourse yellows, the performance of the team and obviously also our experienced driver squads. This is why anything is also possible at this race with an ‘old’ car.” Ralf Jüttner (Technical Director Audi Sport Team Joest): “I’m delighted that we are taking part again. It really was a strange feeling in 2010 to test at Sebring but not to participate in the race. Now our sports car season begins in Florida, where we want to give the final evolution of the Audi R15 TDI a resounding send off. The car has been modified to suit the new regulations and competes against other modified ones, but also against new cars. When we tested this evolution of the R15 TDI together with the R18 we had a good impression of both cars. In addition to the pace at Sebring it is also a question of consistency and well developed technology. And not forgetting that five of our six drivers at Sebring have won the race once in the last three years.” Facts and comments from the Audi drivers Timo Bernhard (30/D), Audi R15 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest) Celebrated overall victory at Sebring in 2008 Races together again with his Le Mans winning team mates “My goal to contest the ILMC came true. This is the result of excellent cooperation between Audi and Porsche, for which I am very grateful. The 12 Hours of Sebring marks the opening event of this program. With 59 cars – including many slower GT cars – on a track only five kilometers long, it’s important to have good all round visibility. Many corners are quite unique and also difficult to read on entry. To this end I am quite grateful to be racing in the open Audi R15 TDI. I still have good 4/8 memories of Sebring 2008 when Romain Dumas, another team mate and I celebrated overall victory.” Romain Dumas (33/F), Audi R15 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest) Returns to the scene of his 12-hour victory in 2008 Views Sebring as one of the most important sports car races “Sebring is always something very special. The 12 Hour race and the 24 Hours of Le Mans are the two most important sports car races in the world for me. Traditionally there are many safety car periods in Florida due to the high number of competitors. Consequently the race is usually completely open until the very end. Bad for those in the lead that repeatedly lose their advantage, good for those chasing behind! I expect high temperatures. Also, the bumpy track is very hard on the material and us drivers. It’s also a question of reliability, and in this respect the Audi R15 TDI certainly has nothing to be ashamed of.” Mike Rockenfeller (27/D), Audi R15 TDI #1 (Audi Sport Team Joest) Starts for the first time since his Le Mans victory in an Audi R15 TDI His season with 16 races kicks off in the USA “To start the season at Sebring is something very special. We can expect an enormous field of starters. The key to a good result will be getting through the traffic without problems for 12 hours. We’d certainly like to present the Audi R15 TDI with exactly this in its final outing. For Timo (Bernhard), Romain (Dumas) and me it is also an important part of our preparation to compete once again as a trio of drivers. After all we’ll also face the competition in this formation at Le Mans.” Dindo Capello (46/I), Audi R15 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest) Has already recorded four victories in the 12 hours Sebring Won the endurance classic for the first time 10 years ago “I have a lot of fond memories of Sebring. I contested my first race with an LMP sports car with Audi at this track. Michele Alboreto, Stefan Johansson and I claimed a podium finish with the Audi R8R – a great debut. Exactly ten years ago I celebrated my first victory, together with Laurent Aiello and Michele. It was his final victory in his last race for Audi. I will fondly remember a photograph I have of us on the podium forever. Now we race for the last time with the R15 TDI which started its winning ways at Sebring in 2009. The competition comes with completely new cars. I’m intrigued to see just how good we are at the end.” Tom Kristensen (43/DK), Audi R15 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest) Is the most successful driver ever at Sebring with five victories On the debut of new Audi race cars in 2000, 2006 and 2009 steered the winning car on each occasion at Sebring “I still love to race in the USA, and especially at Sebring where the atmosphere is incredible. The actual number of Sebring victories is of little interest to me in my active career. Our new season starts here and certainly a long, long way away from the European winter. The race is always difficult. The circuit is an incredible challenge – according to old tradition and very hard. Different types of tarmac and other surfaces, lots of bumps and corner apexes that you can’t see – the perfect recipe to test the reliability, performance and durability and stamina of car, team and drivers. We have already won here in the past with new designs, for example in 2000 with the Audi R8, in 2006 with the Audi R10 TDI and in 2009 with the Audi R15 TDI.” Allan McNish (41/GB), Audi R15 TDI #2 (Audi Sport Team Joest) Celebrated the R15 TDI’s debut victory two years ago at Sebring Has achieved a remarkable podium ratio in the 12 Hour race “Tom (Kristensen), Dindo (Capello) and I scored a debut victory for the R15 TDI at Sebring in 2009, the R15 TDI recorded a fantastic Le Mans one-two-three finish last year while Tom and I narrowly missed taking another win in China last November. So we know what the R15 TDI is capable of and what defines its performance. I think we can challenge the opposition. Sebring is one of the toughest races held where both temperatures and humidity are high. I drove for the first time at Sebring in 1997. I have won the 12 Hour race three times and mounted the podium six times in total from seven starts. It has been a successful place for me to date. I aim to continue this trend in 2011.” The Audi drivers at Sebring Timo Bernhard (D): * 24.02.1981 in Homburg (D); domicile: Dittweiler (D); married to Katharina; height: 1.73 m; weight: 61 kg; Audi driver since 2009; Sebring wins: 1. Dindo Capello (I): * 17.06.1964 in Asti (I); domicile: Canelli (I); married to Elisabetta, one son (Giacomo); height: 1.72 m; weight: 66 kg; Audi driver since 1994; Sebring wins: 4. Romain Dumas (F): * 14.12.1977 in Alès (F); domicile: Basel (CH); single; height: 1.74 m; weight: 60 kg; Sebring wins: 1. Tom Kristensen (DK): * 07.07.1967 in Hobro (DK); domicile: Monaco (MC); single (partner: Hanne), two sons (Oliver and Oswald) and one daughter (Carla Marlou); height: 1.74 m; weight: 72 kg; Sebring wins: 5. Allan McNish (GB): * 29.12.1969 in Dumfries (GB); domicile: Monaco (MC); married to Kelly, one son (Finlay), one daughter (Charlotte Amelie); height: 1.65 m; weight: 58 kg; Sebring wins: 3. Mike Rockenfeller (D): * 31.10.1983 in Neuwied (D); domicile: Altnau (CH); single (partner: Susanne); height: 1.75 m; weight: 67 kg; Sebring wins: 0. Every winner of the 12 hours of Sebring (since 2000) 2000 Frank Biela/Tom Kristensen/Emanuele Pirro (Audi) 2001 Dindo Capello/Laurent Aiello/Michele Alboreto (Audi) 2002 Dindo Capello/Johnny Herbert/Christian Pescatori (Audi) 2003 Frank Biela/Philipp Peter/Marco Werner (Audi) 2004 Frank Biela/Pierre Kaffer/Allan McNish (Audi) 2005 Tom Kristensen/JJ Lehto/Marco Werner (Audi) 2006 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (Audi) 2007 Frank Biela/Emanuele Pirro/Marco Werner (Audi) 2008 Timo Bernhard/Romain Dumas/Emmanuel Collard (Porsche) 2009 Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (Audi) 2010 Anthony Davidson/Marc Gené/Alexander Wurz (Peugeot)

Video: Best View Yet Of 2012 BMW M5 Posted: 12 Mar 2011 07:37 AM PST This might not come directly from BMW, but to all intents and purposes this video is the third teaser for the new 2012 BMW M5 F10. They let EVO’s Chris Harris to take the car out for a spin on some snow! He spends most of his time sideways, but as he’s sliding cameras capture some very good shots of the new M5, which of course is wearing a light camouflage. Despite that you get a good idea on how BMW’s most anticipated car of the year looks. This video also includes some fabulous exhaust noise.

Vauxhall Corsa Street Style Facebook Campaign Posted: 12 Mar 2011 07:28 AM PST Vauxhall is trying to use the power of Facebook to promote the Corsa. They’re targeting younger generation with the Street Style campaign, which is a follow up to the TV ad, and offers them the chance to win a free Car. What you have to do win this limited edition Vauxhall Corsa is to first make sure you are over 18! Then you use an application on the car’s Facebook page to paint a scene featuring a Corsa as seen in the example below. That will enter you into a competition in which the winner who’s come up with the best design – decided by both fans vote and Vauxhall judges – gets the car. Each week a selection of gallery images will be showcased on the site. The competition runs until May 3rd 20110.   Fans have until 10th May to cast their votes before the judges decide who wins the competition. The lucky winner of the New Vauxhall Corsa (first place) will also have their work of art hand drawn on a billboard in their local area, plus they get a canvas print of their artwork. Five runners up will also receive canvas prints of their artwork. Commenting on the company's latest social media campaign, Vauxhall UK's Marketing Director Peter Hope, said: "New Corsa is the perfect car to use a social media activity like this with. Given the British public's affection for Corsa, colours and art, it seemed logical for us to use Facebook as a platform to enhance our direct interaction with customers and Vauxhall fans." Created by Marvellous to run in parallel to the British brand's 40-second TV ad which broke last month, the online activity centres around the Facebook fan page, http://www.facebook.com/Vauxhallcorsa which encourages the UK public to start painting and posting their entries onto a central gallery.  Fans of the page are then asked to vote for their favourite piece of artwork. Entrants are then encouraged to share their work of art with their friends and family to bag votes, whereupon the 20 most voted for entries will be judged by Vauxhall and three independent judges from the world of Graffitti and Street Art.

smart fortwo nightorange Pricing Announced Posted: 12 Mar 2011 07:09 AM PST smart puts a price tag on the latest special edition of the fortwo called the nightorange. It start from £9,995 and for that you get a forwto, some orange paint, and a lot of garnish. To elaborate, smart fortwo nightorange features a bright orange body like AMG’s very special models, which is complemented by black three-double-spoke 15-inch alloy wheels, tridion safety cell, door mirror caps and radiator grille. It also gets headlamps with titanium-coloured inserts and nightorange badging on the door mirror triangles. Inside the tiny cabin you will enjoy soft black nappa leather and fabric seats plus orange stitching and sport stripes on the seats and dashboard which is a nice touch. There is a black nappa leather finish to the three-spoke steering wheel and the gear knob for the softouch five-speed automatic transmission, whilst the dashboard, door trims, cockpit clock and rev counter are all in elegant matt black. As it’s the case with all special edition smarts, this one too benefits from a number of extra goodies. The highlight of this the nightorange is the audio system lowline featuring USB/AUX interface. You can also order navigation via a 6.5" touchscreen display, RDS radio, iPod interface and a Bluetooth hands-free system. This smart is limited to 235 units and is available as both coupe and cabrio. As for the engine, it can be had with either a 71bhp micro hybrid drive with 65.7mpg or a 84bhp turbo.

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