DasCarBlog

Classic Top Gear: DB9 Race to Monte Carlo

2010-09-09T19:52:00.000-07:00

Jeremy in the Aston Martin DB9 tries to beat James and Richard going by public transport to Monte Carlo. Enjoy.

BMW Ends Production of the M6

2010-09-07T20:52:00.000-07:00

Like it or not, it's officially time to say auf wiedersehen to the potent M6. BMW has just announced that it has ceased production of both the M6 coupe and convertible. The uniquely styled GT cars primarily found favor here in the U.S., with a total of 3,528 of the hardtops and 3,247 convertibles sold on American soil. In total, the company managed to sell 14,152 of the cars since production of the M6 started in 2005. As you may recall, the drophead version didn't hit the assembly line until 2006.

We're sure the loss of the M6 is a heartbreak to some out there, but we know that there's a replacement model on the horizon, and we're more morose over the news that BMW is also sending the muscular V10 at the heart of the car to pasture at the same time. That's right, kids. BMW is no longer planning to shoehorn a 10-pot into any vehicle it makes, opting instead for forced induction and eight cylinders. The 5.0-liter engine with its astronomical 8,250 rpm redline is the stuff of mechanical daydreams.

Autoblog article w/ press release

US Top Gear Update #2

2010-09-02T19:29:00.000-07:00

New clip for US Top Gear aired today. After watching it, I have really high hopes for it now. Enjoy.

2010 Belgian Grand Prix

2010-08-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS

The Belgian Grand Prix
Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium;
44 laps; 308.052km;
Weather: Mixed.

Classified:

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h29m04.268s
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault +1.571
3. Kubica Renault +3.493
4. Massa Ferrari +8.264
5. Sutil Force India-Mercedes +9.094
6. Rosberg Mercedes +12.359
7. Schumacher Mercedes +15.548
8. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari +16.678
9. Petrov Renault +23.851
10. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari +29.457
11. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes +34.831
12. De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari +36.019
13. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari +39.895
14. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth +1 lap
15. Vettel Red Bull-Renault +1 lap
16. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth +1 lap
17. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth +1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth +1 lap
19. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth +1 lap
20. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth +2 laps

Fastest lap: Hamilton, 1m49.069s

Not classified/retirements:

Driver Team On lap
Alonso Ferrari 38
Button McLaren-Mercedes 16
Senna HRT-Cosworth 6
Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1

Lotus Evora Cup Car GT4

2010-08-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

Lotus has set about proving that the Evora is more than just a pretty face, just recently putting its Evora Cup GT4 and 2-Eleven GT4 racers through their paces at the infamous Nürburgring and most recently at Laguna Seca. Both cars were hooned 'round the Green Hell by none other than Olie Hancock, the Lotus rookie test driver. The company didn't release any lap times for either car, but we're guessing the two are plenty quick. Lotus has entered the Evora Cup GT4 in the European GT4 Championship, where it will campaign against the best and brightest of the sports car world.

In order to get the car fit for battle, the company trimmed a total of 441 pounds from the car's curb weight, landing the track-going Evora at just 2,623 pounds. Throw in a 360 horsepower V6 and you've got yourself a recipe for tarmac glory.

Meanwhile, a total of four 2-Eleven GT4 racers will be entered into the same championship, two of which will be campaigned by NFS Racing Dubai. The other two will be flying under the Scuderia Giudici banner – the team that currently leads the GT4 Super Sports category.

Original Autoblog Article

American Le Mans - Road America 2010

2010-08-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

Coverage of ALMS at Road America. THE WHOLE SET.

Who is the Stig?

2010-08-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

Is everything made by Aston Martin better than everything made by Ferrari? Is the Porsche 911 really nothing more than a glorified Volkswagen? Is a three-wheeled Reliant Robin the best possible choice as a replacement for the out-of-service space shuttle? And, finally, Who is the Stig?

These are the ongoing questions asked time and time again by fans of the hit British motoring show Top Gear. And, in the case of the Stig, that topic is also one of Google's most often searched queries. Interestingly enough, those in the know claim they've had the answer for quite some time.

If you don't want the elaborate ruse to be spoiled, stop reading now. Still with us? Okay, good. It's Ben Collins. Allegedly. In this particular case, though, the evidence seems almost indisputable since it comes from financial information obtained from Collins Autosport, Ben Collins' own company.

According to the paperwork, the former Formula Three racing driver had a big increase in pay in 2003, which just so happens to be the first year in which the White Stig took over for the recently deceased Black Stig. That income was reportedly from "driving services provided for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear programme." So there you go. Mystery solved?

P.S. – Can we get that autobiography already, then?

original autoblog article

CarPorn Friday, Aug 20

2010-08-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

Pagani Zonda R - enjoy! Worth watching in HD

918 Spyder shows its face

2010-08-17T20:30:00.000-07:00

While we've heard rumblings that Porsche was going to show its hot new 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept here at Pebble Beach, it appeared that the car was only going to be shown to a select few at private events scattered around the Monterey Peninsula during the week.

Well, today at the Pebble Beach Lodge, site of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the company surprised us by driving the hybrid supercar up to the concept lawn for all to see – and hear. They did a quick turn around after sitting still for a second and as the V8 rumble died away, the car started moving forward again. A couple of people were taken by surprise as they thought the driver may have forgotten to engage the parking brake, but no, the car had switched over to battery power.

We shot a little video and took a few pics as we pushed through the massive scrum surrounding the car when it finally came to rest. Follow the jump to see the video and click below to see our high-res images.

UPDATE: Porsche has revealed that the 918 Spyder actually made its driving debut a couple days earlier on a closed road in Monterey. The company kept the drive a secret, though produced a nice video of their own that really shows off how the car sounds under its own power. Added after the jump.

Original Autoblog Article

Countdown to Motion: Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Drives.
from TangentVector on Vimeo.

US Top Gear Update

2010-08-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Jalopnik recently interviewed the US Top Gear crew.

You've seen the trailer, now hear the stars of American version of Top Gear give Jalopnik some dirt on the upcoming show in an exclusive interview, including how two of them nearly died in the backseat of a Camry.

Top Gear is popular in America... or at least the British version is. This latest show will be the third attempt at bringing the show to audiences in the U.S. and it comes after NBC declined to produce the Adam Carolla-helmed version.

We spoke with the new Top Gear cast last Friday, before the trailer was released. Adam Ferrara, Rutledge Wood and Tanner Foust were crowded around a phone in a room in the Hilton. The chumminess on display in the trailer was noticeable in the phone conversation, but it wasn't quite as romantic and it didn't sound like they were wearing matching plaid shirts. A rep for the show later explained that trailer was cut for the Hollywood press, not car guys, so they picked a clip that showcased their chemistry.

Much of the discussion revolved around cars and adventures, with Ferrara summing up most of their stunts so far as "Foolhardy, stupid, but fun."

Those beater cars captured by Jalopnik readers filming earlier this year were part of a "Moonshiner's Challenge" previewed in the first trailer, which has the hosts battling in cars they bought for under $1,000 dollars. As with the British version, the producers seem to delight in making the hosts uncomfortable.

Wood says the piloting the T-Bird Turbo Coupe "was like driving in an ant bed for days."

But that's not the only challenge. On the phone the cast made reference to a more adventures, including a trip to Alaska.

"Tonight, the three of us are flying to Alaska. We've heard things like 'grizzly bears,'" says Ferrara. "We'll be camping for three nights, not just staged camping and (then) run off to the Radisson. We've heard thing like 'salmon suit' - like a suit made out of salmon fillets."

They've also transformed cars into paintball war machines.

"Since the Humvee's gone, we thought 'What could we make to replace it?' says Ferrara, who came up with the idea for the stunt and picked an appropriately awesome, bloated 70's El Camino, while Wood selected a salvaged Del Sol "because they're cheap, and you could hide guns on them."

Foust jokingly complained most of the ideas were created by producers sitting inside an office in Santa Monica, shipping the instructions to cast and crew who had to pull them off without serious bodily harm.

"We almost died the other day," Wood blurts out before asking the spokesperson for History, "Can we talk about that?"

"We decided to take the most boring car in America, the Toyota Camry, and we thought how could we make it more fun, and we realized it would be if we weren't driving it," says Wood.

So they created a remote-control Camry and strapped themselves into the backseat with someone else driving them. According to the cast, the battery cables connected to the actuators and controllers suddenly became detached, leaving the car unmanned with Ferrara and Wood in the backseat.

"We get about 30 yards and the car takes off, and now that the battery is off, the actuators can't release off the gas," says Wood. "We're flying off the road towards some trees and we make it about three inches from the tree and we stop...and then the car starts rolling backwards. There was a cliff. A gentle cliff, but there was vegetation. We'd have to tell people we died in a Camry."

Foust's above joke aside, the new Top Gear isn't just about beaters (although it seems to be the favorite topic of the hosts). As with the original, there will be car tests. We've already seen the hosts driving a Dodge Viper, Hyundai Genesis, Porsche Panamera, two Lamborghinis, a Mitsubishi EVO X and a Morgan.

They also hinted at a few head-to-heads including a BMW X6 against a Honda Crosstour and a Nissan Cube against Kia Soul, although neither sounds particularly exciting.

Both the presence of sunlight and the absence of English accents is a bit jarring to fans of the original, but the hosts also see this as a positive. Their show is different, even if it uses a similar format, because of their personalities.

"Adam's a muscle car guy... and Rutledge hits the heart of NASCAR and the south," explains Foust, who seems to represent everything else and prods Wood by pointing out "His people usually have fewer teeth than fingers."

The show will debut sometime in the fourth quarter of this year on History, which means they'll be shooting in studio in the next few months. They'll also be attempting the power tests, though no one will confirm or deny the existence of an American Stig.

"The idea isn't that we fill a role, there's no Jezza, no Captain Slow," says Wood before pointing out "but there's no Route 66 in the UK."

There's still a lot they have to prove, and the hosts are aware of this fact as they've confessed to reading the comments on Jalopnik and other sites. On the other hand, American automotive television is defined by Motorweek, which is unwatchable by anyone not on a slow morphine drip.

EXTRA: Alex Roy and J.F. talk about Top Gear on the Road Testament

Infiniti Performance Line

2010-08-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

The much-rumored Infiniti Performance Line launched today with the Infiniti IPL G Coupe, a slightly more aggressive version of the standard G37S with a tweaked 348 hp V6 and "lets go racing" look. But will it please the Infiniti enthusiast?

Our dreams of a twin-turbocharged AMG-slaying Infiniti were for naught, as Infiniti seems interested in upping its fun quotiant by just a few degrees. It'll feel faster, thanks to a new dual exhaust replacing the old Y-pipe and a tweaked engine management system designed to let the horsepower top out at 7,400 rpm. As for being any faster, the moderate power boost (16 hp and 6 lb-ft) isn't going to send anyone to the 'Ring breaking records, but this doesn't seem to be the goal.

Anyone who complains about this not being an M3 is missing the point almost as much as someone saying it is. With a close-ratio 6-speed manual with a short-throw shifter and a "sport-tuned suspension" this may finally unshackle what is a competent but restrained luxury coupe. The G37S coupe is a fine car, but it's lacked an aggressive character you can find in its competitors.

Performance specs to come, but the real challenge will be if it feels right.

Original Jalopnik Article

US Top Gear Trailer

2010-08-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

It's finally here!

more news when it comes.

Leo at Lime Rock ALMS

2010-08-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

Leo Parente of fastlanedaily visits BMW at the ALMS Lime Rock race.

Tom Cruise: The Race Car Driver?

2010-08-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

Jalopnik looks at Tom's brief attempt at becoming a race car driver. His amazingly fast time at the Top Gear track seems to make a lot of sense now.

Tom Cruise's crazed two-wheels-off-the-ground record-setting lap around British motoring show Top Gear's track wasn't a surprise to those who've seen him race. One of Cruise's driving instructors gave us an exclusive look into his terrifying, short-lived, and accident-prone racing career.

There once was a handsome, well-loved actor who turned the driving lessons he picked up in preparation for a racing film into an impressive career in racing. That man was Paul Newman. In the late 80s Newman partnered with his old friend Datsun/Nissan guru Bob Sharp to campaign race-prepped Nissan 300ZXs in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) competitions.

One of their drivers in the SCCA GT-3 class was a young pre-Days of Thunder Tom Cruise, who was apparently interested in turning his acting fame into racing accolades a la Newman. Unfortunately, according to Roger French, an SCCA regional champion, any natural talent Cruise might possess was overwhelmed by his aggressive attitude.

French was at the old Bryar Motorsports Park, now the site of the New Hampshire International Speedway, when Bob Sharp approached him and asked if he'd seen Cruise race and to ask him what he thought.

"Doesn't look too good," French said.

FULL ARTICLE

The Smoking Tire: 458 Italia

2010-08-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Matt Farah drives the new Ferrari 458.

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 6

2010-08-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

The Last episode of the season unfortunately.
- Jeremy drives the 458 Italia
- Old British Sports Car Challenge
- Star: Jeff Goldblum

torrent here in 720p

or go to finalgear.com

Top Gear will be back sometime in the fall. Still awaiting more info on US Top Gear.

2010 Hungarian Grand Prix

2010-08-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Analysis
WINNERS
Webber - beats Vettel, gets 4th win this season
Alonso - gets 2nd
Petrov - wants to keep his job, showed at this race
Hulkenburg - outpaces Barrichello
De La Rosa - first points
Kobayashi - comes for 23rd to 9th
Barrichello - fight at the end with Schumacher meant a lot

LOSERS
McLaren - Button doesnt do anything, Hamilton has engine problems
Vettel - Drops to 3rd and get drive thru penalty
Force India - Force India who?
Kubica - unlucky
Shumacher - gets 10 spot Spa penalty for dangerous maneuvers on Barrichello
Rosberg - promising but unfortunate as wheel flies off
Massa - had every oppurtunity to show up Alonso but did not

full results

CTS-V Vs. RS5 Vs. M3

2010-07-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

Motor Trend compares the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, Audi RS5 and BMW M3 Coupe

Car Wallpaper Series I

2010-07-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Some car wallpaper for you guys to use. Dimensions in 1280x800.

California, 911, LP560, Viper

8C

Mugen Si

S2000

GT-R

Jay Leno's Garage: Porsche GT3

2010-07-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Jay Leno and Justin Bell talk about the GT3, Justin test drives the GT3 and visits Patrick Long at the ALMS race at Laguna Seca.

Toyota FT-86 Set to Launch Nov. 2011

2010-07-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

The FT-86 is set to launch next year Nov. 2011, contrary to popular belief that Toyota put it on hold or were scrapping it all together. I for one am really excited about this car. A Toyota.....

During a press conference related to the new G performance division, Toyota revealed that the FT-86 model’s development is going according to plan, as 7Tune reports.

This means that the long-awaited car will be released ahead of the media reports-suggested date (2013), being set to hit the market in November next year.

In addition to that, Toyota has confirmed the all-important element that can make the difference between a history books vehicle and just another go-fast coupe: the pricing. The new car will come with a wide range of prices, depending on its spec. The middle-of-the-pack FT-86 will set you back about $29,000. This means that an entry-level version will be available for around $20,000, making the car affordable for a vast public that hasn’t got a strong financial background to support the desire for a sportscar.

Toyota is also offering enthusiasts a huge relief, as the company said that the coupe will not include any hybrid technology, staying true to the sports car spirit. Tree-huggers will be pleased too, as Toyota is currently also working on a hybrid performance vehicle.

As for the car’s design, this will remain virtually unchanged (is it just us, or is it raining good news?). To be more precise, the Japanese automotive producer made it clear that the coupe could use new parts (this refers to items like modified body panels) but it will keep its overall shape.

quoted article

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 5

2010-07-27T11:26:00.000-07:00

Top Gear, episode 5 released.

Amazing episode after what seemed to be a somewhat disappointing season.
- Captain Slow attempts to become Captain Fast in the Veyron SS
- Hammond drives the new Touareg in the Arctic Circle
- Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz drive the Reasonably Priced car.
- Great segment on Ayrton Senna

download here on 720p

or go to finalgear.com

2010 German Grand Prix

2010-07-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Massa should have won.

Race Report

Results
Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts
1 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 67 1:27:38.864 2 25
2 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 67 +4.1 secs 3 18
3 5 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 67 +5.1 secs 1 15
4 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 67 +26.8 secs 6 12
5 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 67 +29.4 secs 5 10
6 6 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 67 +43.6 secs 4 8
7 11 Robert Kubica Renault 66 +1 Lap 7 6
8 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes GP 66 +1 Lap 9 4
9 3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes GP 66 +1 Lap 11 2
10 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 66 +1 Lap 13 1
11 23 Kamui Kobayashi BMW Sauber-Ferrari 66 +1 Lap 12
12 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 66 +1 Lap 8
13 10 Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 66 +1 Lap 10
14 22 Pedro de la Rosa BMW Sauber-Ferrari 66 +1 Lap 14
15 17 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 66 +1 Lap 15
16 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 65 +2 Laps 21
17 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 65 +2 Laps 19
18 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 64 +3 Laps 23
19 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth 63 +4 Laps 20
Ret 19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 56 Accident damage 18
Ret 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 50 Suspension 24
Ret 20 Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 19 Mechanical 22
Ret 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 3 Gearbox 17
Ret 16 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 1 Accident damage 16

Classic Top Gear: Porsche Challenge

2010-07-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

1500 pound Porsche Challenge. enjoy

Back to the Future?

2010-07-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

Subaru decides to bring back the iconic Sti sedan for 2011

autoblog does a review

By most accounts, something went awry while Subaru was baking the last generation Impreza WRX STI. Maybe someone slipped in an extra cup of civility or forgot to add enough dashes of hardcore, but what was once little more than a thinly-disguised rally stage escapee had come out of the oven a little weaker than its predecessor. Subaru itself diplomatically admits that the priorities for the last generation STI were somewhat different from the 2011 model. The company stripped the line down to just the five-door hatchback in 2008, stressing functionality over style, and the whole recipe simply felt less focused than what we had come to expect from Japan's all-wheel drive hero.

But that was then, and this is now. The company assures us that for 2011, we can expect a return to the fundamentals that helped establish the STI as a force to be reckoned with. Though the drivetrain remains unchanged, a slew of suspension adjustments and a lower stance have given the STI the ability to hoover up tarmac and gravel stages indiscriminately once again. It isn't a completely new generation – more like a much needed do-over – but the changes are enough to make the 2011 model instantly recognizable from behind the wheel.

If that's not enough to convince you, allow us to direct your attention to the rear of the resurrected four-door body style, dominated once again by the kind of spoiler that could double as a civil engineering exercise. Yeah, baby. The STI is back, and on more than just a wing and a prayer.

read full article here

Tesla Roadster mocks others

2010-07-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

hint: look at the license plate

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 4

2010-07-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

- Jeremy compares the Audi R8 Spyder against the 911 turbo convertible
- Jeremy, James and Hammond go caravaning
- The Stig still hates Rubens and gets paid in porn.

download here in 720p

or go to finalgear.com

BullRun Rally 2010: Day 7

2010-07-18T13:31:00.000-07:00

final day of BullRun Rally

BullRun Rally 2010: Day 6

2010-07-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

BullRun Rally 2010: Day 5

2010-07-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Team Black Magic in Colorado

The Forgotten Ferrari F50

2010-07-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

original article on jalopnik

It’s got an F1-sourced V-12. It’s rarer than an F40 or an Enzo. So why is the F50 the unloved middle child in Ferrari’s line of hypercars?

I just can’t put my finger on it. Some say it’s simply not as hard-core as the F40 was. The lunatics! Sure, it doesn’t have the punch-you-in-the-face-‘till-your-nose-bleeds twin-turbo V8 of its predecessor. Instead, Maranello put a V-12 in it, developed from the company's 1990 641 F1 car. In fact, the Italians sourced most of the F50 from that car. (The rest is probably from a Fiat Ducato.) Some also say it just wasn’t as advanced for its time as the Enzo in 2002. Wrong again. Everything Ferrari knew in the first half of the ‘90s is in the F50. And they knew quite a lot.

Soft? Compared to what? A group of Hellfire rockets aimed at your kitchen table?

I’m starting to blame Pininfarina. Maybe it’s simply the fact that the F50 is not as pretty as the F40 or the Enzo. Like me, the F40 turns 23 this year. But while I’m gaining weight due to intense beer consumption, the F40 remains slim, light, and beautiful. Like Sophia Loren, it's aging very well.

How about the Enzo? It took me about a year to understand it after it came out, but time has passed. Believe it or not, the Enzo is eight years old. Hard to believe, as it was so ahead of its time. If it was introduced this year, no one would be complaining about the design. The Enzo is like a bottle of vodka. It just doesn’t, you know, go off.

The F50 is almost four times as rare as the F40. Only 349 were ever made, which makes it even rarer than the Enzo. Yet a good one won’t cost you more than an F40 in similar condition. So is it really just the looks? Must be. What else?

In their February 2004 issue, the staff of Evo magazine voted the F50 the best Ferrari supercar in their 288 GTO vs. F40 vs. F50 vs. Enzo group test. The F50 has even made it to seventh place on the magazine's Top 100 Driver’s Cars list. Again, way ahead of the F40 or the Enzo.

It must be a fantastic car. No question about it. What's wrong with it? Nothing.

Don't like it? Give me yours. Really. It's no trouble. If you want, you can even pay me to take it off your hands.

BullRun Rally 2010: Day 4

2010-07-14T12:18:00.001-07:00

Day 4 of the BullRun Rally

BullRun Rally 2010: Days 1-3

2010-07-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Matt Farah and the Smoking Tire Team go on the BullRun Rally 2010. They have already started their journey. Days 1-3 have already been posted.

Day 1

Watch Day 2

Watch Day 3

New Sections Added

2010-07-13T16:25:00.000-07:00

I have added new, About the Editor and Car Wallpaper sections in the navbar below the title. I hope I am slowly improving this blog for the better and will continue to post updates on anything related to cars as often as I can. New sections will later be added.

Eimantas

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 3

2010-07-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

Another great episode by the Top Gear crew.
- Jeremy, James and Hammond compare the Maserati Quattroporte, Aston Martine Rapide and Porsche Panamera Turbo

- Rubens Barrichello and Rupert Grint stop by for a visit.

- Hammond compares the new Camaro SS to the new Merc E63 AMG.

download(torrent) here in 720p

or go to finalgear.com to get other versions or episodes

2010 British Grand Prix

2010-07-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

Kobayashi continues to amaze and Webber does not back down.

1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1h24:38.200
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 1.360
3. Rosberg Mercedes + 21.307
4. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 21.986
5. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 31.456
6. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 32.171
7. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 36.734
8. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 40.932
9. Schumacher Mercedes + 41.599
10. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth + 42.012
11. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes + 42.459
12. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 47.627
13. Petrov Renault + 59.374
14. Alonso Ferrari + 1:02.385
15. Massa Ferrari + 1:07.489
16. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap
17. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
19. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
20. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps

DNF
Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 45
De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 30
Kubica Renault 20
Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 10

full article on autosport

911 Speedster on the way?

2010-07-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

from autoexpress.co.uk

TALK about a speed hump! A leaked document detailing Porsche’s product plans until the end of 2012 has revealed that the 911 Speedster is set to make a comeback. And our exclusive image shows how the style-
conscious two-seater could look.

Following hot on the heels of other recent retro-inspired special editions, such as the 911 Sport Classic and Boxster Spyder, the Speedster resurrects a legendary name not seen since the early Nineties. That model was the 964 Speedster which appeared in 1989 – a low-roof cabrio with unusual rear bodywork inspired by the
356 Speedster of the Fifties. Exactly 936 examples were built in standard and wide-body styles – a relatively short production run – and the modern incarnation will be an even rarer beast. Only 100 units will be produced, making it one of the most exclusive and distinctive Porsches ever to turn a wheel.

As you can see from our picture, the classic Speedster silhouette will be retained, albeit with a modern twist. The cut-down windscreen and wider bodywork add to the 911’s already low-slung appearance, while the oversize rear humps give the Speedster its signature shape and ensure it’s strictly a two-seater. Much like the Boxster Spyder’s tent-like canvas roof, a semi-permanent fabric hood is likely to be available – hence the red hoops you can see protruding from the bodywork.

Power will come from the same 3.8-litre flat-six as is used in the 911 Sport Classic. It’s based on the Carrera S unit, but engineers will liberate an extra 17bhp to take peak power to 402bhp. Performance-wise, expect the Speedster to live up to its name: 0-62mph will take around 4.5 seconds while a maximum of 190mph is possible. Rear-wheel drive and a limited-slip differential will ensure traditional Porsche handling, too.

However, exclusivity, excitement and a slice of the marque’s heritage won’t come cheap. Our sources say the Speedster is likely to nudge £200,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

And it’s not the only limited-edition model that Porsche is cooking up. A wide-bodied GTS version of the 911 is also due to go on sale next year. Featuring the Speedster’s more powerful 402bhp engine, it will come in both coupé and cabriolet variants costing around £80,000 and £90,000 respectively.

Gran Turismo 5, Coming in November

2010-07-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

The wait is finally over, Gran Turismo will finally be released in November. This may well be the most anticipated racing game ever. November 2, 2010 is the date.

Taken from NY Times Article

Yes, there’s another Gran Turismo 5 trailer. But the good news this time is that it also comes with a firm release date.

At the E3 Expo gaming convention in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sony announced that the latest version of its popular driving simulator series, Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3, will hit stores in North America on Nov. 2.

“GT5 has long been one of the industry’s long anticipated titles,” said Jack Tretton, president and chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment America, at a news conference. “And we’re finally about to get our hands on Polyphony’s masterpiece.”

It has been five years since the release of Gran Turismo 4, an eternity in the video game life cycle. There have been release dates announced before. Last fall, Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the series and president of Polyphony, which develops the game for Sony, said Gran Turismo 5 would be released this March, but then Sony in January announced a delay.

At E3, Sony has gone as far as providing pricing details on a limited collector’s edition of Gran Turismo 5, to be released alongside a standard edition. The collector’s edition will cost $99.95 and come with a 300-page booklet and a 1:43 scale diecast model of a 2009 Nissan GT-R Spec V with the Gran Turismo livery.

Gran Turismo is one of the best-selling games for PlayStation, with more than 55 million units sold worldwide since it was first released in 1997.

In addition to the new platform — Gran Turismo 4 was made for the PlayStation 2 — the new version will feature more than 950 cars and include night racing. The latest E3 trailer also offered a few surprises, including a virtual version of the test track used in the popular British television series “Top Gear” and glimpses of the Formula One racing driver Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull Racing.

Gran Turismo 5 is also one of several games that Sony has tapped for 3-D. In April, Taku Imasaki, the United States producer for the Gran Turismo series, spoke to GamerLive.tv about the new feature.

“This is the first time we’re implementing the 3-D feature in Gran Turismo,” Mr. Imasaki said. “For me, it adds more depth, obviously, to the visuals, so you can anticipate more on the next turn or curve, so you can therefore drive better and strategize your driving lines better.”

Gran Turismo site

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 2

2010-07-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

The Porsche Boxster Spyder gives James May a "fizzling feeling." A new episode of Top Gear was just released. Just watched it, a lot better than the first episode and includes a "trackday car" challenge which is worth watching.

You can get it here in 720p.

or go to finalgear.com for the SD or 1080i version.

McLaren crypt

2010-06-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button visit the McLaren garage with all the old F1 cars.

This is Rallying

2010-06-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a video I discovered I while back, titled "This is Rallying." It pretty much goes through great older footage from WRC with the theme song from Gladiator to go with it. Enjoy

Next Generation Corvette

2010-06-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

Looks ..... good.

I usually don't follow American cars but the design of this car is quite interesting. It is supposed to have 440hp and is featured in the Transformers movies.

Link for full details on autoblog

Top Gear: Season 15, Episode 1

2010-06-29T14:04:00.001-07:00

"I've got a cauliflower for if a vegetarian comes." - Jeremy Clarkson

First Episode of the new season of Top Gear was just released.

Get it here in 720p.

other formats available on finalgear.com

CZUZGPU55DUT

2010 European Grand Prix

2010-06-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

RESULTS
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h40:29.571
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 5.042
3. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 7.658
4. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 20.627
5. Kubica Renault + 22.122
6. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 25.168
7. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 30.965
8. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 31.299
9. Alonso Ferrari + 32.809
10. De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari + 42.414
11. Petrov Renault + 43.287
12. Rosberg Mercedes + 44.382
13. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes + 45.890
14. Massa Ferrari + 46.621
15. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 48.239
16. Schumacher Mercedes + 48.826
17. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 2 laps
19. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
20. Senna HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
21. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth + 4 laps

DNF
Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 50
Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 9
Webber Red Bull-Renault 9

Eventful race, lots of controversy, some links

autosport.com - F1 News: Vettel wins controversial European GP
Star of the race, Kamui Kobayashi

Kobayashi's pass on Alonso

2010 Turkish Grand Prix

2010-06-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

2010 Turkish Grand Prix: Good things come to those who wait [SPOILERS] — Autoblog

Results

Pos Driver Team Time
1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1h28:47.620
2. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 2.645
3. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 24.285
4. Schumacher Mercedes + 31.110
5. Rosberg Mercedes + 32.266
6. Kubica Renault + 32.824
7. Massa Ferrari + 36.635
8. Alonso Ferrari + 46.544
9. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 49.029
10. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1:05.650
11. De la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari + 1:05.944
12. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:07.800
13. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap
14. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
15. Petrov Renault + 1 lap
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap
17. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Glock Virgin-Cosworth + 2 laps
19. Di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth + 3 laps

DNF

Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 53
Senna HRT-Cosworth 47
Vettel Red Bull-Renault 40
Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 34
Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 33

"The Fast and the Famous"

2010-05-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a video Jay Leno did with the new AMG SLS a while ago called the "The Fast and the Famous". Hope you enjoy it.

Eimantas

Hello World

2010-05-31T18:29:00.001-07:00

Welcome to Das CarBlog. This is a new site directed towards cars and autosport. I will regularly be posting updates on anything that might be interesting like news, articles, videos, etc. Hope this will be successful. The link to the site is: http://dascarblog.blogspot.com/

Eimantas

by the way, "das" is German for "the"