Organisers of the Dakar Rally, Amaury Sports Organization, say they hope to bring the event back to Africa by 2012, if security can be guaranteed.
“We’re totally dependent on the geopolitical situation, I don’t know if it will be permissible for us to return by 2011 or 2012,” said Patrice Clerc.
This year’s race was cancelled just 24 hours before the start due to security concerns. Militants linked to Al-Qaida murdered a family of French tourists in Mauritania (where eight of the fifteen stages were to be staged).
We’ve just spotted this awesome-looking BMW M1 on eBay. The mid-engined sports car is driven by a magnificent 3.5L twin-cam straight-six unit fitted lengthwise in front of the rear axle and developing maximum output of 277 bhp.
According to Tim Pollard of Car Magazine, Audi’s much-awaited R8 Spider will wear twin speedster humps, and have a targa roof with detachable panels rather than a canvas hood or folding hard top. The open-topped beauty is expected to sell for around £85,000 (compared to the Coupe’s £78,200 price-tag.)
The magazine also claims that a V12 TDI version will be available. News to Audi…
The new-generation A-Class will be stepping into the limelight at the “Auto Mobil International” (AMI) motor show in Leipzig from 5th - 13th April, 2008. Following an extensive facelift, the successful compact car is younger, more attractive and more environmentally friendly than ever before.
Audi has already produced more than one million units of its current-generation Audi A3 since 2003. The anniversary car has now rolled off the production line at the factory in Ingolstadt. It is a Brilliant Red, 140 hp 2.0 TDI Audi A3 Sportback intended for a customer in Franconia, Germany. In fact, more than 1.9 million units of the world’s first premium model in the compact class have been manufactured and delivered to customers since the market launch of the Audi A3 in 1996.
Here’s something you really don’t see for sale every day; the mythical RUF CTR Yellowbird. The CTR was based on the 911 Carrera 3.2 as opposed to the 930, Porsche’s factory turbocharged version of the 911, a decision made because of the 3.2’s slightly lower curb weight and drag coefficient.
The Indian government’s Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) and the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) have both approved the establishment of the Daimler Hero Motors Corporation Ltd. joint venture by Daimler Trucks and the Indian company Hero Group in the first quarter of 2008.
The Volkswagen-owned brand SEAT gained an operating profit of 44 million Euros according to Spanish accounting standards in 2007. The result represents an improvement of 136 million Euros on 2006. At the same time profit after tax was 170 million Euros, which represents an improvement of 219 million Euros on 2006. Operating income was 5,971 million Euros, 1.5 percent up on 2006 (5,880 million Euros). Expenditures for Research & Development, for investments in new products, improved processes and product related facilities increased to 504 million Euros, 24.4 percent up on 2006 (405 million Euros).
Here’s the latest commercial showing Mercedes’ 451bhp sledgehammer, the C63 AMG torturing some rubber. It really doesn’t need a voice over, the sound of that V8 is more than enough.
From mid-2008 onwards, Gorden Wagener is to head the globally active design division of Mercedes-Benz. The diploma’ed designer, aged 39, is to succeed Professor Peter Pfeiffer, who will be retiring after forty years of service with the company. Currently, Gorden Wagener heads the Strategic Advanced Design department and as such acts as director of the Mercedes design studios in California and Japan.
Sustainability is the central theme of Mercedes-Benz at the Techno Classica 2008 – the leading classic car show worldwide – held this year from March 26 – 30 in Essen. Exhibits spanning seven decades document the on-going developments of engine technology, from the earliest years of the four-cylinder to the Mercedes-Benz F 700 research car, whose DIESOTTO drive system delivers high output coupled with low consumption and low emissions – signaling the way ahead for the future of the internal combustion engine.
KTM Sportcar GmbH is pleased to announce the entry of two of its stunning Audi-engined X-Bow track cars in this year’s FIA GT4 European Cup. Competing in the newly-created ‘Sport Lights’ class, the cars will be prepared and raced by German-based motor racing specialists Reiter Engineering, which has operated successful Lamborghini racing teams in the FIA GT1, GT2 and GT3.
When the 64th Paris Motor Show opened its gates in autumn 1978, sports car fans and lovers had only one destination - the stand of BMW Motorsport GmbH. There they were able to admire a super-low, extremely dynamic new model making it quite clear at very first sight that this was Germany’s fastest road-going sports car: the BMW M1, 1,140 millimetres (44.9´´ ) high, 204 kW (277 bhp) strong, and well over 260 km/h (160 mph) fast.
