The Grand Tour is back this October!

"October is when you'll first be able to see it, but after that, you'll be able to see it whenever you want, of course. I'm told to say that!"

This is the quote James May has left us in regards to the return of The Grand Tour during his interview on The One Show - and we're getting excited!

On being asked how much the budget has been for the second season, James seemed unwilling to tell The One Show a quantifiable figure, but says, "As little as possible. No, it's about the same, I would think. It is quite an expensive show to make. "There's a lot of travel involved. There's a lot of crew involved. There's a lot of tech involved, filming in 4K. But that's boring stuff. It's going to look largely the same, but we've moved it on a bit in a way that I can't really tell you about yet because you're the enemy and it's secret!"

Have they taken what everyone has said into account? Will the American be joining them again? There are still plenty of questions needing answers, but as soon as we find out, we will let you know! We can't wait to be greeted with the next season of The Grand Tour, and I'm sure you're all in the same boat. The same, jet powered, amphibious, boat.

Article by Alex Harrington

Source: https://drivetribe.com

Mk2 Ford Escort RS2000 rally car.

John Surtees dies at 83.

"Only man to win Formula 1 and motorcycle world championships."

John Surtees, a Formula One great who won the 1964 championship with Ferrari and remains the only man to win world titles on two wheels and four, has died at the age of 83, his family said in a statement.

The Briton won his four 500cc and three 350cc motorcycling world titles with Italian marque MV Agusta between 1956 and 1960.

Surtees was admitted to hospital in London last month with a respiratory condition and passed away on Friday after a short period in intensive care, the family said.

“We deeply mourn the loss of such an incredible, kind and loving man as well as celebrate his amazing life. He has set a very real example of someone who kept pushing himself at his peak and one who continued fighting until the very end,” the statement said.

The statement was released through the Henry Surtees Foundation, established after the driver’s son was killed by a bouncing wheel that hit his head during a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch in 2009. Tributes poured in for a man who excelled at a time when motorcycling and grand prix racing was at its most deadly, with Ferrari hailing a ‘motorsport legend” with a black and white photograph of Surtees and team founder Enzo Ferrari.

“Today the F1 family lost one of its all-time greats,” said the official F1 website.

“He was a legend of the sport, a lovely guy who did so much,” three-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton said. “It’s a shock to everyone.”

Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen, who won the 2007 F1 title with Ferrari, spoke fondly of Surtees.

“I met him a few times, he was very easy-going,” the Finnish driver said. “You could tell that he had passion for racing in his blood.”

Surtees, whose father Jack was a national motorcycle sidecar champion, raced in both Formula One and motorcycling in 1960, when he also won the Isle of Man TT. Known in his later years for forthright opinions on motorsport and an equally direct gaze, the Briton later fell out with Ferrari.

“Mr Ferrari agreed with me at the end, just before he died actually, that we’d both made a bit of a mistake in that we’d lost probably championships together with the parting that we did in 1966,” he told Reuters in a 2014 interview. In 1960 Lotus boss Colin Chapman wanted Surtees as his No.1 driver but the place ultimately went to compatriot Jim Clark, for some the greatest driver of all time. Clark would go on to win the championship in 1963 and 1965 while Surtees beat Graham Hill by a single point in 1964 thanks to a scoring system that counted only the best six results.

Source: http://www.ntnews.com.au

The Fate of the Furious - Official Trailer #2

The Fate of the Furious has just dropped a new trailer! The eighth installment in the high-octane feature franchise splits up the family in unexpected ways and takes the gang on a globe-trotting adventure that includes Cuba, New York City, and even Antarctica.

I keep waiting to see if this franchise will run out of gas, but it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. And in terms of the big, dumb action that people show up for, it’s got what you want: cars raining down into the streets, Hobbs doing stuff that only Hobbs can do, etc. But from a plot perspective, there’s some cringe-worthy stuff. For starters, it’s pulling a Spectre where it turns out that all of the bad things in the previous movies were done by the villain of this movie! Mythology made easy! Also, are we really supposed to believe that for a team that supposedly cares about family, they’re going to work with Shaw even though he killed Han? Then again, expecting consistency from Fast & Furious is like expecting acting range from Vin Diesel. It’s not what you came for.

Check out the new trailer below. The Fate of the Furious stars Vin Diesel, Charlize Theron, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Helen Mirren, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Ptaky, Scott Eastwood, and Kurt Russell, and opens in theaters on April 14th.

Source: http://collider.com

Bentley points to next-gen sports car with Geneva concept.

This could be Bentley's next sports car. Except it isn't, at least officially. Instead, the car before you is Bentley's EXP 12 Speed 6e concept, a statement designed to capture the attention of enthusiasts at the 2017 Geneva motor show.

While it's not ready for production, Bentley says the concept showcases the future of its interior and exterior design direction - which means you can expect its styling to feature on the next Continental coupe and convertible.

The classically handsome roadster features smooth lines and elegant proportions, along with exquisite details that blend classic and modern elements with a range of materials including copper and rich red leather. 

 The two-seat vision for the future could point to a more compact, engaging sports car to rival the likes of Porsche's 911. But what we know for sure is is that this car is an expression of Bentley's electric intent. The concept promises inductive charging, a useful range and stirring performance likely to come from hardware shared with Volkswagen Group products such as Porsche's upcoming Mission E Tesla fighter.

Bentley chair Wolfgang Dürheimer says the brand wants to hear from customers about the potential for an electric sports car.

"The EXP 12 Speed 6e is a concept to show that Bentley is defining electric motoring in the luxury sector, with the appropriate technology, high quality materials and refinement levels you'd expect from a true Bentley. This concept enables us to engage with luxury customers and gather feedback on our approach," he said.

"Bentley is committed to offering an electric model in its future portfolio and we are interested to receive feedback on this concept."

Article by David McCowen

Source: http://www.drive.com.au

Topgear Season 24 Episode 1.

Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid return for the 24th series of Top Gear. This week features the astonishing, ultra-exclusive Ferrari FXXK, tested to the max by Chris Harris at the Daytona circuit in Florida. Matt, Chris and Rory then race across Kazakhstan in three high-mileage cars: a Mercedes saloon, a Volvo estate and a London taxi, all of which have done atleast 480,000 miles, the equivalent distance of going to the moon and back. Actor James Mcavoy guest stars in the studio and the famous Topgear test track.

Range Rover Velar points to an evolved design language.

One glance at the all-new Range Rover Velar, and it’s clear Land Rover is previewing an evolved design language destined for the wider line-up.

Chief Design Director at Land Rover, Gerry McGovern, talks about filling the ‘white space’ between Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport – but he also talks about a process of ‘reductionism’, which he says, “is a discipline faithful to the original Range Rover, but enabled by the very latest thinking in design, precision engineering and technology.” Features of the exterior include super-slim Matrix-Laser LED headlights, flush deployable door handles and burnished, copper-coloured detailing.

There’s a new, state-of-the-art Touch Pro Duo infotainment system in the centre of the cabin that does away with almost all the usual switchgear. In its place are two high-definition 10-inch touchscreens, complete with two multifunctional rotary dials, which mirror the minimalist approach to the Velar’s exterior design. On SE models and above, there’s a 12.3-inch virtual instrument cluster behind the steering wheel with four visual themes, including a full-screen 3D navigation display. Key information such as speed, navigation instructions and active safety system warnings can also be displayed using the latest-generation full-colour head-up display. But on the Velar, the virtual images projected onto the windscreen appear to hover a couple of metres in front of the driver.

Moreover, the steering wheel features capacitive switches, which allow the driver to program specific functions without removing hands from the wheel.

The Velar also offers a Premium Textile sustainable interior alongside the more traditional leather upholstery. Developed with Danish fabric specialist Kvadrat, this unique textile combines a highly durable wool-blend fabric with a technical suede cloth made from recycled materials included plastic bottles. It’s an interior (in terms of colour and materials) that’s like no other we’ve seen in a Range Rover. It’s also industry leading, according to Amy Frascella, Chief Designer Colour and Materials at Land Rover.

“With the Velar, we wanted to challenge the traditional conventions on luxury materials. When we began designing and developing materials for Velar three years ago, we began to see a shift in the customer landscape. People are focused on wellbeing, sustainability and provenance of materials, as well as how these things are made,” Frascella says.

“Beauty and functionality – all these things are important to them, so our collaboration with Kvadrat, Europe’s leading manufacturer of premium materials, was a perfect fit for Range Rover.”

“These days, designers of automotive cabins look to the likes of furniture, fashion, performance sports and consumer electronics, and Kvadrat’s textiles are used by many high-end furniture brands, and we wanted to bring some of this premium tailoring into the Velar’s cockpit – because furniture can be just like car seats.”

“But it was more than just about new materials; it was about moving the Range Rover DNA forward. This is a new Range Rover for a new customer. And when you look and feel the materials on the Velar from any angle (inside and out), every single element on the vehicle is speaking the same language.”

Article by Anthony Crawford

Source: http://www.caradvice.com.au

The Dakar: Return to Africa.

 

DRIVETRIBE

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Why you need to join a car club.

A fire extinguisher is one of those must-have items in any car, whether it be classic or modern. Especially when it’s your own car that catches fire and there’s no sign of any help.

Recently, I witnessed someone’s pride and joy catch fire, and I know this sounds strange, but I was impressed by what I saw.

My local car club was on a road trip with 20 other cars when smoke began pouring out of the back of an old blue Volkswagen Beetle. The car pulled over straight away and the driver jumped out with his fire extinguisher. Watching from further down the convoy, I witnessed every single VW owner stop and race towards the car also with fire extinguishers in hand. While some stood back in horror, others were getting completely covered in powder trying to extinguish the flames. Thankfully the fire was put out quickly, with little to no damage. A loose fuel line was the culprit. For the rest of the trip, I was wondering what the situation would’ve been like if it wasn’t for all those members – and their extinguishers – lending a quick helping hand.

Owning a car, especially a ‘classic’, isn’t just about working on it and then driving it. It’s the people keeping the passion of the brand, the car, alive. As an avid Volkswagen devote and owner, when I moved to Melbourne to join CarAdvice, I joined the Volkswagen Club of Victoria. Soon after, I became a committee member and to be honest, I wish I had done it sooner, because for the last 13 years, I was driving my classics thinking my car life couldn’t get any better. Oh, how wrong I was. Before joining the club, I used to drive to car shows on my own and would then walk around admiring the other classics on display. I’d sit next to my car as if it was my partner for the day.

When I had a small problem with my Beetle, I would spend hours scrolling through countless online forums and YouTube videos searching for a solution, and most of the time not finding the answer. And there were a few times that I was broken down and stuck on the side of the road needing Dad to come rescue me. I just accepted it as part of car life, but after joining a club, I soon realized there’s another car life that’s far more enjoyable.

Now, I am driving to car shows in a convoy of other enthusiasts, and stopping for coffee breaks along the way to talk about the latest accessory added to someone’s car. When there’s an issue with my ‘Dub’, I now look to members with the know-how and experience who happily answer my questions in a heartbeat. And luckily, I haven’t broken down yet, but there’s always safety in numbers if it does happen, just like our friends in the blue Beetle. But joining a car club is not just about having an endless stream of technical and mechanical know-how on tap. There are many other reasons that make it worthwhile. The social calendar is always full, with some fun events. Dress-up nights, mechanic workshops days, a nice dinner or a simple coffee meeting. Really, at its heart, it’s an excuse to get together to talk cars. And who would say no to that?

Most clubs also have a standout event that is organised by the club, and every member is asked to help out. Even though it might be hard work at the time, you reap the rewards at the end of the day when you see the number of cars in attendance, the happy faces of their owners and not to mention, the money raised for the club.

Some clubs are small, and some are big, but every club needs that money to survive. Those funds go into a lot of things, like the publication of a newsletter, hiring a location or for a social event. More often than not, money is donated to local charities too, which really makes you feel proud to be a part of something.

It’s always important to attend the monthly meetings, where you catch up on any future events. Even though clubs are more connected through social media now, it also gives you the chance to meet new people or to catch up with old friends. And if you want to take it a step further and get really involved, join the committee, where you will be much closer to the action and can help the club move forward. You just never know how your expertise could help the club out.

So, if you’ve been thinking about joining a car club, I sincerely urge you to. You will make some lifelong friends and it will literally give you a new lease on your car life. And if your classic ever goes up in flames on an event, there will be dozens of people with fire extinguishers at the ready.

Article by Mandy Turner

Source: http://www.caradvice.com.au

Katukurunda 2017 Drags.

A message from Jeremy Clarkson: DRIVETRIBE .

Published on Nov 21, 2016

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May invite you to DRIVETRIBE - the new home of epic motoring and pulse-racing adventure. Over 20,000 tribes and half a million videos, stories and posts. All yours at DRIVETRIBE.com.

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Rolls-Royce Has Built A One-Off Electric Toy Car For A Children's Hospital.

Good guy Rolls-Royce has produced a stunning little miniature car and donated it to a specialist children's unit at a hospital close to its Good-wood factory.

How’s this for a feel-good story to brighten up your hump day? Rolls-Royce has donated a unique, electric-powered toy car to a children’s hospital unit. The miniature motor, dubbed the SRH after its new home St Richard’s Hospital, runs on a small battery and has enough power for a top speed of 10mph, but that can be restricted to as low as walking pace, or 4mph.

Around 400 hours of work went into crafting the brilliant little thing, including the striking two-tone blue and silver coachwork and classy red leather upholstery. It has the proper Spirit of Ecstasy over the front grille, and the red and silver accents are carried over to the wheels. St Richard’s, in Chichester, is based not far from Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood home. The SRH will see service with the children in the paediatric ward there, many of whom have long-term illnesses.

Two of those kids took over from company CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos to drive the car alongside the production line – a ceremonial sign-off job normally reserved for the boss alone. Mr Muller-Otvos said:

“We are a proud member of the community here in West Sussex. We hope the Rolls-Royce SRH will serve to make the experience for young people during treatment a little less stressful.”
What a genuinely sweet thing to do. Hats off to Rolls for this one!

Article by Matt Kimberley.

Source: www.carthrottle.com

2017 Lamborghini Aventador S - Review (CarAdvice)

The Best Driving Road In The World? Lykan Hypersport, Ferrari 488 Spider, McLaren 650S.

Together with a Lykan Hypersport, Ferrari 488 spider, McLaren 650S and with the assistance of the Ras Al Khaimah police, a 32km road that snakes through a stunning mountain range in Ras Al Khaimah. Could this be the best driving road in the world?

For more videos Subscribe: http://bit.ly/1Q2RWK4

Dubai’s Road and Transportation Agency to introduce self-driving taxis by July.

Dubai is a city known for its innovative technology and progressive approaches to transport. After all, the city will play host to the first Hyper loop project connecting Abu Dhabi to Dubai in a hurtling 12 minutes. And as of July, passengers will be able to ride in a self-driving taxi.

The Chinese-made Ehang 184 is an egg-shaped eight-propeller drone that can ferry passengers across the sky and high above congestion. Designed for short haul trips, the drone can carry one passenger with a maximum weight of 100kg and has a top speed of 160km/h. Similar to the Uber platform, calling for an Ehang taxi will be relatively easy and users just need to enter their destination into an app. The drone will then map the route and transport the passenger to their destination.

Although pilot-less, the drones will still be monitored from a centralized command centre. And according to the company, the drone has a “fail safe” system and if there’s a malfunction of any kind, it will automatically land at the nearest safe destination. Could these self-driving taxis really ease ground traffic congestion and be a viable mode of transport?

The idea of flying taxis all seems a bit surreal. The line “Newspaper taxis appear on the shore, waiting to take you away. Climb in the back with your head in the clouds…” in the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is our current thought soundtrack.

The sky really does appear limitless and the future is exciting. But we remain skeptical that this venture will take off.

Article by Natasha Laging

Source: http://www.motoring.com.au

The Grand Tour: Navigating to a City.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May are traveling throughout central Europe on The Grand Tour. In this clip, the guys attempt to program their sat navs to a specific location.

Is this the answer to city parking?

Parking app Divvy aims to disrupt Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane CBD car parking industry.

According to Nick Austin, founder of a new parking app called Divvy, approximately 30 per cent of congestion is caused by people driving around looking for a car space. And major Australian cities have some of the most expensive parking in the world — yet there are thousands of vacant car spaces in office buildings and hotels that we don’t know about!


We’re all familiar with the dilemma of fighting for spots in the street. We become aggressive and incredibly selfish when it comes to finding a car space and we don’t want to share. Yet, the concept of the ‘sharing economy’ is still on the rise with thousands of tech start-ups emerging and embracing the idea of collaborative consumption.

Austin says the name of his app derives from the idea of ‘divvying up’ or ‘sharing assets’. The app is modeled on the Airbnb platform and frees up unused parking spots in central areas of cities by connecting users with the vacant car spaces. The user’s licence plate is stored in the app and on approach to a car-park entrance the system will recognise the number plate and open the door. Giving access to under-utilized car spaces and connecting existing buildings into one network, will help remove vehicles from city streets, improve traffic flow and public transport,” Austin said.

Key to Divvy’s growth has been its successful deals with 25 property groups and investment funds including Knight Frank and Dexus. And recently Australia’s National Road and Motorist Association bought a significant stake of the company. Divvy will likely expand into Southeast Asia, Europe and the US. The app is available to download on both Android and iPhone.

Article by Natasha Laging

Source: http://www.motoring.com.au

Nissan GTR Vs a Woman - Top Gear Festival Sydney.

Which is faster - a Nissan GTR or a woman? Jeremy attempts to find the answer.

Top Gear YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/topgear
TopGear.com website: http://www.topgear.com

Top-secret LaFerrari replacement leaked.

Hypercar patented in Europe could be replacement for current hypercar, one-off commission or long-awaited Maserati MC12 replacement.

Ferrari has applied for a patent at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for what appears to be a new hypercar that looks to be based on its current LaFerrari.

Published on EUIPO’s website late last night, the new images have provoked huge speculation on whether the vehicle is a direct replacement for the LaFerrari or a one-off LaFerrari-based hypercar commissioned by a wealthy collector. Some are even suggesting the design patented might not be a Ferrari at all and could be the long-awaited replacement for the Maserati MC12. Whatever it is, the new hypercar shares proportions with the current LaFerrari and, it’s thought, its carbon-fibre monocoque.

Under its new skin that means the mystery McLaren P1 rival will come with a development of the same 6.3-litre naturally-aspirated V12 engine that incorporates a 120kW electric motor in a Formula 1-style HY-KERS configuration. Combined, in the LaFerrari the petrol-electric system produces 708kW and 700Nm, which allows the hypercar to reach 100km/h in less than three seconds and 200km/h in a fraction under 7.0sec.

Featuring slimline front LED headlights and a re-skinned body that includes Ferrari 599 GTB-style flying buttresses, the design screams a completely rethought aero package that’s almost certain to incorporate new active spoilers. At the rear of the car, again, there’s an LED light bar that stretches across the car and triangular exhaust tips — hinting there’s no chance this is a planet-saving pure-electric supercar.

This year Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary and a new hypercar could be its birthday present to itself. If so, some are predicting it will follow in the tyre tracks of Ferrari’s 40th anniversary gift to the world and be called the F70.

For more pictures

Source: http://www.motoring.com.au

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport are Live in 360 unveiling their new car for 2017.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport is live now.

LIVE F1 Revealedl! Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Toto Wolff unveil the new Mercedes-Benz F1 Silver Arrow in 360.

Ariel Nomad vs Welsh Mud - Rory Reid's Road Trips. (Top Gear)

In the second of an online-only series Rory Reid takes the Ariel Nomad for a spin around the muddy roads of Wales. What better surroundings for the Nomad than miles of prime Welsh B-roads draped across mountains, valleys and dams.

Top Gear YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/topgear
TopGear.com website: http://www.topgear.com

Drive a Tesla? There's an app for that.

Some Tesla owners already think of their EVs as mobile devices with apps, and to reinforce that worldview, there's a new app that wants to crank up the efficiency of those mobile devices to "eleven," a number that might or might not be trademarked at the present time.

The Tesla app connects to a Tesla-produced four-wheel mobility solution and then goes to town on the data collected by the EV. The app distills that information to a range of different efficiency metrics, displaying efficiency graphs over a map to show the driver where he or she were using the electric juice well, and where they were wasting power.

"You install the app and drive your car like you normally would," Teslab says. "The app keeps track of many parameters your car shares, and takes that info and breaks it down into interesting metrics that you can use to satisfy your driving needs."

The variety of metrics Teslab can display also tackles range anxiety, showing a comparison between the battery miles and actual miles traveled. There is a community feature as well, which can let drivers compare how efficiently they are using their four-wheeled mobile devices compared with other users of mobile devices. So there can an element of efficiency competition if you're into that sort of thing.

"Efficiency is our measure of how your car is performing against how the car is rated to perform," Teslab says. "For example, if the car claims you can drive 200 miles, you drive 10 miles, and the car claims you can now drive 190 miles, your efficiency would be under 100 percent. Conversely, if you drive 10 miles and the car claims you can drive 195 miles, the efficiency would be above 100 percent. Things that can affect efficiency include acceleration, average speed, braking and weather."

The app is still in beta stage, but the developers claim that a lot of owners have signed up. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the app is that Tesla itself has not created a largely similar app to judge your efficiency.

Source: http://autoweek.com

Aston Martin unveils the Vantage S Red Bull Racing Edition

The partnership between Aston Martin and Red Bull Racing has already given us the AM-RB 001, a hypercar with a 6.5-liter V12 engine and a price tag of $3 million. Now, Aston Martin is rolling out V8 and V12 Vantage S Red Bull Racing Editions. These new editions might not be as wild as the hypercar, but they certainly do stand out.

Q by Aston Martin, the automaker’s personalization division, created the special-edition Vantages. The Red Bull Racing Edition comes finished in either a satin Mariana blue or a gloss tungsten silver. Red trim on the fender vents and grille is standard along with yellow calipers. However, Q can flip this color scheme. A carbon-fiber grille, front splitter, diffuser and fender vents complete the racing-inspired appearance.

Inside, there is Red Bull Racing headrest embroidery, a color-coded steering wheel and carbon-fiber trim inlays. Making the F1 inspiration more obvious, Red Bull Racing drivers Daniel Ricciardo or Max Verstappen can sign the doorsill and final inspection plaques for a bit more exclusivity.

We expect pricing information to drop closer to the car’s on-sale date, set for the second quarter of this year. Interested parties should contact their local dealers directly.

Source: http://autoweek.com

Student Driver Tips.

2017 Porsche 911 GTS - Review (CarAdvice)

Geely to bid for Malaysian car maker Proton and Lotus.

Chinese automaker Geely is expected to bid as early as this week for a strategic partnership with struggling Malaysian car maker Proton, two people familiar with the bidding process told Reuters. As part of its pitch following discussions with Proton's owner, Malaysian conglomerate DRB-Hicom, Hangzhou-based Geely, which owns Sweden's Volvo, is expected to offer Proton some of the latest vehicle technologies it has developed with Volvo's input.

DRB-Hicom said earlier this month it was waiting for prospective foreign car makers to submit bids for a strategic partnership. Proton, founded in 1983 by former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad, received 1.5 billion ringgit ($451m) in government aid a year ago on the condition that it implement a turnaround plan and seek a foreign partner to help its research and development. Other potential bidders have included Peugeot maker PSA, Japan's Suzuki and French car maker Renault. In response to Reuters requests for comment, Mahmood Razak, DRB-Hicom's head of strategic communications, said: "We have nothing new to say," noting a previous statement about it being a complex process. It has said it expects to announce a decision in the first half of this year.

"We are evaluating the bids received. No disclosures until we have selected a FSP (foreign strategic partner)," he added.

A Geely spokesman declined to comment.

It was not clear whether Geely's pitch - part of what the sources said was the final bidding round - includes a cash offer for a stake in Proton. The people with knowledge of the bidding said Geely is looking for at least a 51 per cent stake.

Source: http://www.drive.com.au

Ferrari just unveiled its most powerful production car ever.

Ferrari just introduced a new set of wheels that lives up to its name: 'Superfast.'

The high-end automaker has published the first pictures and specifications for its new 12-cylinder model, which will be its most powerful production car ever. The Ferrari 812 Superfast replaces the F12 model, taking that vehicle's insane power and sonic beauty to a new level. The Superfast has a 6.5-liter V12 engine that cranks out 789 horsepower — at least 20 more than the F12. All that power can get the Superfast to 211 miles per hour.

To help control that speed, the rear-wheel-drive car has four-wheel steering and Ferrari's new "Side Slip Control" designed to keep drivers on the track or road. As for the car's exterior design, Ferrari continues to be more evolutionary than revolutionary. While the Superfast looks similar to the F12, it's got more aggressive curves and a beefier rear flank to provide a downward force at high speeds.

Ferrari is releasing the car in a new color called Rosso Settanta, created for the company's 70th anniversary. The automaker will debut the 812 Superfast at the Geneva Motor Show in March. For interested buyers, the price will be revealed at that time.

Source: http://www.cnbc.com

New LEGO Speed Champions sets.

Top Gear new series release date.

An official return date has been announced for motor series Top Gear with he BBC releasing the first promo shot following the departure of Chris Evans.

The series will return to BBC2 on 5 March under the guide of Friends actor Matt LeBlanc who takes centre stage in the image with car experts Chris Harris and Rory Reid on either side.

Last year's revamped series saw Evans and LeBlanc take over lead presenting duties from original trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May who now spearhead Amazon series The Grand Tour. While the shakeup was more of an ensemble featuring the likes of Sabine Schmitz and Eddie Jordan, it seems the BBC are hoping to establish LeBlanc, Harris and Reid as an official trio.

Under the watch of Evans, Top Gear's 2016 return saw ratings dip to an all-time low with just under two million tuning into the finale. Evans quit the series in July. A trailer for the 24th series was released just last week. Top Gear returns to BBC2 at 8pm on 5 March.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk

The Grand Tour: Season 1.

Episode 1 - The Holy Trinity
Episode 2 - Operation Desert Stumble
Episode 3 - Opera, Arts, and Donuts aka The return home
Episode 4 - Enviro-mental
Episode 5 - Morroccan Roll
Episode 6 - Happy Finnish Christmas
Episode 7 - The Beach (Buggy) Boys - Part 1
Episode 8 - The Beach (Buggy) Boys - Part 2 
Episode 9 - Berks to the Future
Episode 10 - Dumb Fight at the O.K. Coral
Episode 11 - Italian Lessons
Episode 12 - Past v Future
Episode 13 - [censored] to [censored]

2016 Holden Commodore SV6 Black Edition - Review (CarAdvice)

Porsche Reunion.

Autovision Motorshow 2017. (Colombo ,Srilanka)

India's iconic Ambassador car brand is sold to Peugeot.

One of India's most iconic car brands has been sold by Hindustan Motors to the French manufacturer Peugeot for a nominal $12m (£9.6m), officials say.

The Ambassador car used to be one of India's most prestigious vehicles beloved by government ministers. But it has been out of production since 2014. It is not clear whether Peugeot will revive the brand.

Based on the British Morris Oxford, the Ambassador was for three decades India's bestselling car. Peugeot has long been keen to get a foothold in India and was one of the first foreign car makers to enter the country in the mid-1990s when the economy first was liberalised. The Ambassador was from the 1960s to the mid-1980s a status symbol in India and was the only mass produced luxury car on the market. Although not renowned for its good looks, the car did win plaudits for its spacious interior and sound suspension, which was ideally suited to Indian roads. It was also one of the first diesel cars to appear in India and one of the first to have air conditioning. But its downfall was as spectacular as its rise - dropping from sales of more than 20,000 cars in the mid-1980s to about 2,000 in 2013-14 when production was suspended.

The car was also renowned for its idiosyncrasies. The handbrake rarely worked properly - instead spawning a generation of drivers that could easily do hill starts deftly balancing the accelerator and brake. The indicator controls were often mounted in unusual positions, its brakes were notoriously soft and its steering lock was virtually non-existent.

Source: http://www.bbc.com

2017 Chevrolet Corvette C7 - Review (CarAdvice)

Ceylon Motorshow 2017.

Seven most epic transport operations in history.

2017 Detroit Auto show schedule.

Jan. 8-22, Cobo Center, Detroit

Media preview: Jan. 8-10; open to news media

Automobiliti-D: Jan. 8-12; open to news media, industry analysts and, starting Jan. 11, automotive professionals.

Charity preview: Jan. 13; a black-tie event that benefits a group of children's charities. Tickets are $400 per person, $390 of it tax deductible.

Public show: Jan. 14-22. Tickets are $13, $7 for seniors and children.

For more information

Detroit Motor Show 2017: key cars

The major new car and concept car launches at the 2017 Detroit Motor Show...

• Kia Stinger GT - a four-door GT designed to add extra desirability to Kia's range
• Audi Q8 - Audi's reveals plan to attack the Range Rover with big luxury SUV concept
• Lexus LS - an all-new high-tech flagship for the Lexus range 
• Mercedes GLA - a new look for Merc's popular compact SUV
• VW I.D. Buzz - another concept tempting VW fans with a production Microbus Campervan clone

Detroit Motor Show: top news stories

The top car news stories to emerge from the show floor at Detroit this year...

• Hot Audi SQ8 to join new Q8 range
• New Ford Bronco to go global
• Volvo to launch family of EVs starting in 2019
• Mercedes-Maybach SUV confirmed
• Jeep Grand Wagoneer to sit at £100k price point
• 1,000bhp F1-powered Mercedes-AMG hypercar limited to 300 units
• Mercedes compact car range to grow with 3 new models
• Electric Kia Stinger GT to rival Tesla Model 3
• VW MOIA brand to get I.D Buzz as its first model

For more information

2017 Toyota Hilux SR5 - Review (CarAdvice)

Faraday Future FF91 Review.

A special short news update on the recent launch/reveal of the much hyped Faraday Future FF91.

The Ford Mustang Will Go Hybrid In 2020.

Whether you want to call it a fascinating development in the pony car world or a god damn sacrilege, this news is huge: Ford is going to make a plug-in hybrid Mustang by 2020.

Ford announced its part-electric Mustang plans today, also revealing that plug-in versions of the F-150 pickup and Transit Custom van will also be here in three year’s time.

It’s part of a $700 million investment programme that’ll add 700 jobs at the company’s Flat Rock Assembly Plant. The Michigan-based facility will be expanded, using funds which were initially earmarked for a new plant in Mexico. The Mexico factory plans - which had been harshly criticised by US President Elect Donald Trump - were confirmed to be canceled by Ford today.

But what will the car be like? Details are understandably scarce at this stage, although Ford has promised “V8 power and even more low-end torque”. It’s hard to glean much from that statement, but with the V6 Mustang dying off this year, it seems logical to expect something along the lines of the 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine supplemented with electric power in the eventual production car.

All this leads to questions surrounding the future of the actual V8 in the range, but we’re quietly optimistic about this big ol’ N/A eight-banger sticking around for a while longer.

Source: www.carthrottle.com/

Top Gear Season 24 Teased Before 2017 Release.

The series certainly did have a few entertaining segments, namely those absent of Evans, Sabine Schmitz and Eddie Jordan. With those three gone, Season 24 could prove a return to form with Matt LeBlanc, Rory Reid and Chris Harris and the first trailer of the series has been released.

The 21-second trailer simply shows the trio engaging in a curious no-hand and no-knee drag race in three beat-up cars including a famous black London taxi. Based on the desolate landscape featured in the clip, it seems possible it is just a snippet of a larger road trip the presenters embarked upon in an unknown location.

Will the latest season of Top Gear prove a success? It's hard to say, but we'll certainly be giving it a second chance.

Source: http://www.carscoops.com/

2017 Audi Q5 - Review (CarAdvice).

Volvo adds Skype calling to S90, V90 and XC90.

Volvo has announced it will add Skype connectivity to its S90, V90 and XC90 models, making the Swedish brand the first car company to add the connectivity software to its cars.

The system is Skype for Business, which is designed for conference calling, not video calls – so safety anoraks needn’t be too concerned. The system to be added to the S90, V90 and XC90 models will allow drivers to see their upcoming meetings and call participants, while they can join calls by touching the graphic on the center display screen.

Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, vice president consumer connectivity services at Volvo Car Group, said the system will help busy executives stay contactable no matter where they are.

“We’ve all been there. Sitting in the car trying to join a conference call. You either fumble with or drop your phone while trying to connect or you forget the long pin code to join. It’s not the best way to start an important call in the car. On top of all that your attention is not where it should be – on the road. With the addition of Skype for Business all that goes away,” said Tylman-Mikiewicz.

“Skype for Business represents another big step forward for our in-car connectivity and communication offer. With the dawn of autonomous cars we see a future where flexible in-car productivity tools will enable people to reduce time spent in the office. This is just the beginning of a completely new way of looking at how we spend time in the car,” he said.

According to the company, the way the brand approaches in-car connectivity is drive by consumer desires to make their “lives easier and safer”. Microsoft’s Cortana personal assistant (akin to Siri for Apple) is included, too, with voice control and predictive intelligence of driver behaviors.

Source: http://www.caradvice.com.au/