Rowan Atkinson crashed his McLaren F1 supercar for the second time, with reports saying the star comedian ‘cheated death’ after the car spun, collided with a road sign and set on fire.
Report from the UK is that Atkinson is believed to have lost control of the McLaren and spun it several times. It then smashed into a tree and a road sign. After coming to rest beside the carriageway, it set on fire.
Atkinson was taken to hospital after the accident with what is believed to be a shoulder injury.
Atkinson bought his maroon McLaren F1 back in 1997, to celebrate the success of his movie role in Mr. Bean. He made the headlines in 1999 after crashing the iconic supercar for the first time: he wrecked the front of it after hitting a Rover Metro in Scotland.
Audi has brought the look of its A5/S5 coupe, convertible and Sportback range in-line with the just-released all-new A6. Slim new headlights and a smaller grille opening headline the major styling changes to the four-year-old model line.The new A5 base engine is a 125kW/320Nm 1.8-litre DI turbo-petrol four that boasts a 5.7L/100km fuel consumption sticker thanks to the addition of a start-stop function and brake energy regeneration. The 150kW 3.0-litre turbo-diesel six betters that consumption figure, however, sipping 4.9L/100km combined.Arriving next year (in Europe at least) will be a low-emissions clean diesel engine option that Audi claims will make the A5 the first coupe on the market to meet the Euro 6 diesel emissions standard.At the pointy end of the range, the 4.2-litre V8 of the S5 coupe has been replaced by the 245kW 3.0-litre supercharged V6 already seen on the S5 convertible and Sportback variants.An all-new electromechanical power steering system debuts on the A5/S5 range, and an active sport differential will be added as an option to all A5 quattro variants, in addition to the flagship S5.Inside, the Audi multi media interface has also been enhanced, with internet capability added as a range option. Although the coupe and convertible variants remain strictly four-seaters, the Sportback is now (finally) available with a five-seat option.Expect the facelifted A5 and S5 range to hit Australian showrooms early next year.
Nothing like a near-death experience to get the blood pumping.
And so it is with General Motors today announcing second quarter net income of US$2.5 billion, marking the company’s sixth consecutive profitable quarter.On its knees financially in mid-2009, the US Government had endorsed a Chapter 11 (bankruptcy) reorganisation of the automotive giant, taking 61percent ownership in the process. A combination of a GFC-induced drop-off in consumer demand, massive pension liabilities and loss making subsidiaries (Saab, Saturn, Hummer, Pontiac) had crippled a GM already bathed in red ink from five loss-making years prior. The company at one stage planned to also sell its Opel, Vauhxall and Holden subsidiaries.But thanks to the rationalisation of its global brand portfolio, successful new product introductions and thriving joint venture operations in China, the nearly 93 year old corporation is solidly back in the black.Following a public offering late last year US federal government ownership in GM was reduced to 33percent (now 27percent), and according to GM Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson, ”GM’s investments in fuel economy, design and quality are paying off around the world as our global market share growth and financial results bear out. Our progress has been steady and we’re preparing to launch more new products this year, including the Chevrolet Sonic (next gen Holden Barina) in North America, the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira in Europe and the Baojun 630 in China to keep the momentum going.”
Chrysler’s in-house performance division SRT (Street & Racing Technology), recently elevated to a “unique brand” within the group’s structure, will make a comeback to Australia in 2012 with the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 arriving in the first quarter, and the Chrysler 300C SRT8 here mid-year.
Both are powered by a 6.4-litre (392ci) Hemi V8 producing 351kW/637Nm (34kW/68Nm up on the previous 6.1-litre) mated to a five-speed auto transmission. And Chrysler claims the brutal 300C will blast from 0-100km/h in under 4.0-sec and cover the standing 400-metres inside the 12-second bracket.
Ralph Gilles, the newly assigned President and CEO of SRT Brand and Motorsports says, “Every SRT product will be built to excel in five key areas – awe-inspiring powertrains, outstanding ride and handling, benchmark braking, aggressive and functional exteriors and race-inspired interiors.” The proof of that pudding will be in the eating next year.
The SRT division was formed in 2002 and its first offering was the 373kW (500hp) Dodge Viper SRT10 in 2003. It was the first of 10 subsequent models to wear the SRT nameplate.
Be warned that the following footage will make your anticipation levels for the next instalment of Batman peak.The next film in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy – the Dark Knight Rises – is in the midst of production in Pittsburgh and we found some footage that captured a trio of Tumbler Urban Assault vehicles cruising through the city streets.The new colour scheme is a surprising difference from the classic black Batmobile Tumbler look but that makes it all the more interesting!
BMW has lifted the covers on concept versions of its two i models – the full electric i3 city car, and active hybrid i8 supercar.
The close to production ready examples are a clear pointer to the ‘Born Electric’ division’s aim of leading the global auto industry in volume manufacture of alternative propulsion vehicles.At just over 3.8metres long, the four seat i3 hatch is powered by a 125kW/250Nm electric motor, mounted over the rear axle and mated to a single speed gearbox. Normal urban driving range is quoted at 130-160 km, claimed 0-100km/h time is 7.9sec, and the car is governed to a 150km/h top speed.
At 4.6-metres long, nearly two metres wide and a little under 1.3 metres high the i8 is BMW’s hybrid supercar of the (near) future. The combination of the i3’s electric motor driving the front wheels and a 164kW/300Nm turbo petrol engine driving the rears gives the 1480kg 2+2 a combined output of 260kW/550Nm.It will sprint from 0-100km/h in 4.6 sec, run to a limited 250km/h Vmax, and return 3.0L/100km fuel economy on the Euro combined cycle.The cars will be built in BMW’s Leipzig plant in eastern Germany, with the i3’s release scheduled for 2013 and the i8’s on sale confirmed for 2014. More details on the i3 and i8 in Wheels September (on sale Wednesday August 17).
When it comes to motoring prowess, Italians are arguably masters of the road. Adding to the nation’s gamut of auto achievements, which include Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati, is an intelligent new software application that may change the way we drive.
The new app, developed at the University of Bologna, proposes to reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents by allowing cars to ‘communicate’ a message about changes in traffic conditions in a split second. If an accident occurs further along the road, the car receives a tip off via the software of another car up ahead.
Professors at the northern Italian university used simulation testing to determine that the software could potentially reduce highway pile-ups by around 40 percent, which in turn could slash car insurance claims drastically.
How it works
The software operates using an on-board sensor, which recognises movements and vehicle speed changes unique to a crash and then relays the information immediately to nearby cars, which filter the information on to other vehicles.
Marco Roccetti, professor of internet architecture at the University of Bologna, says: “basically, what we are doing is placing cars in peer-to-peer communication”.
The technology has grabbed the attention of developers at Toyota as well as professors at the University of California, which will road test the new app on the super highways of Los Angeles in coming months.
The technology behind the app is said to be mature and ready to roll out almost immediately if given the green light in testing. So the possibility of having millions of cars ‘online’ may be reality in the near future.
How you’ll save money
While the app is still in its infancy and may not hit Australian roads for some time, there are several ways to trim your car insurance premiums significantly in the meantime. These include:
• Restricting drivers by age
• Increasing your excess
• Installing an alarm or immobiliser to reduce risk of theft
• Garaging your car at night
• Comparing car insurance policies online to find the cheapest option on the features you need
BMW has revealed its new ‘i’ brand, part of a drive to produce eco-friendly cars that are still fun to drive.
Every model under the ‘i’ umbrella will aim to set new standards in lightweight construction, advanced drivetrain technology and cutting-edge design. And to kick off its new line-up, BMW’s unwrapped production concepts of its i3 city vehicle and the i8 hybrid supercar.
You’ve seen the i3 before, under the guise of the Megacity Vehicle, with its 125kW/250Nm electric engine that’s powered by a lithium-ion battery. To keep weight down, BMW will use pioneering construction technology in order to produce the first mass-produced car with a carbonfibre chassis.
Originally previewed as the Vision Concept at Frankfurt in 2009, the futuristic i8 supercar takes the i3’s hybrid electric technology and mates it to a high-output 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo. The diminutive engine produces an incredible 164kW/300Nm and drives the rear axle only. But when used in combination with the electric motors across the front axle, the i8 can bolt to 100km/h in less than five seconds … well into M3 V8 territory. But here’s the rub: it can achieve this while delivering economy of less than 3.0L/100km (try that in an M3).
It works as a parallel hybrid, meaning it can draw power from both engines simultaneously while driving, and uses regenerative energy to recharge the battery. It can also be used as an zero-emission electric car for short distances, but the downside is that it only has a range of 35km. BMW claims it takes two hours to fully charge from a domestic power outlet.
Acclaimed formula one racing car designer and creator of the iconic McLaren F1 supercar, has gone from fast to frugal with his latest design, the ultra compact T.27 city vehicle, claimed by its maker to be the world’s most efficient electric car.
Murray’s company Gordon Murray Design (GMD) says the project went from a clean sheet of paper to running prototype in 17 months, including the design and build of a completely new electric powertrain.
GMD says the T.27 is built for the urban city environment, “setting new standards in weight, footprint, small car dynamics, safety, packaging and efficiency whilst addressing full lifecycle CO2 emissions, congestion, parking and low cost motoring.”
In launching the car, Murray said, “Lightweight is the most powerful tool we have in our armoury in the fight against emissions and fuel consumption. This is true of all cars and especially so with electric vehicles. A lightweight car means a lightweight battery increasing the levels of safety and reducing the retail price dramatically.”
Measuring just 2.5metres long and 1.3 metres wide the tiny three-seater weighs in at 680kg including its Lithium-Ion battery pack. Power is rated at 25kW for a top speed of 105km/h and “less than 15sec” for the 0-100km/h sprint. Range in low-power mode is 210km and 160km in performance mode.
According to GMD, in comparison to other electric cars the T.27 has lower energy consumption per km, for example using 36percent less energy per km than the Mitsubishi iMiEV.
GMD says it’s currently talking to three possible manufacturers for T.27, and the car will make its public road debut at the RAC Future Car Challenge (running from Brighton to London) on 5th November, 2011.
A parade showcasing some of the world’s best and most expensive supercars ended with one hapless blonde crashing her $370,000 Bentley Azure into a $111,000 Mercedes S Class.But that was not the end of the supercar debacle. Monte Carlo’s Place du Casino became chaotic when the driver – her identity restricted to “the blonde” – crashed her 2.7 tonne beast into a $207,000 black Ferrari F430, before crashing head-first into $118,000 Porsche 911 and a $207,000 Aston Martin Rapide.As expected, this expensive bingle caused quite a scene and makes for one memorable insurance claim. It is estimated the crash will cost more than $59,000 with the Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin requiring new front wings and bumpers. The Bentley will need the same repairs, plus a new door.Unfortunately, this story does not help remove the stereotype that women drivers make men nervous. Scientists at the University of Michigan looked at 6.5million car crashes and found a higher than expected number of accidents between two female drivers.Hey, the facts don’t lie!
