The amazing Nissan GT-R piloted by The Stig managed to get around Top Gear’s track faster than the likes of the Porsche Carrera GT, McLaren SLR, Lamborghini LP640 and just 0.2 seconds slower than the Ariel Atom.
I’ll let the video do the talking… watch it after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Top Gear drives the Nissan GT-R
This is a promotional video of the V8-powered Porsche Cayenne GTS featuring a rock climber, a glider, and a Porsche Cayenne GTS, with no apparent connection between the three at first… but you’ll see in the end.
Related Posts: Click here to read the rest of Porsche Cayenne GTS Promotional Video
2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS - Specifications
BMW has released more info, photos and videos of the new MINI John Cooper Works. Since BMW bought the rights to the JCW brand in December 2006, the MINI JCW is now developed in-house and rolls off the MINI production line at Plant Oxford. It will go on sale on the 22nd of July 2008 for £20,995 OTR for the Cooper version, with the JCW Clubman pricing to be confirmed later.
Enhancements over the standard Cooper S and Clubman S are found in the areas of engine, transmission and styling. The engine now has a larger twin-scroll turbocharger, resulting in an upgrade from 175hp to 211hp, with torque now at a peak of 260Nm between 1,850-5,600rpm with a 280Nm overboost. 0 to 100km/h takes 6.5 seconds (6.8 for JCW Clubman). The transmission and 22mm larger Brembo brakes are adapted from the MINI CHALLENGE race car.
For reliability and strengthening due to the higher boost pressure (up from 0.9 bar to 1.3 bar), the intake valves, valve seat rings, pistons, and cylinder head have been strengthened. Compression ratio has been reduced to 10.0:1 to compensate for higher boost, although this is still high for a turbocharged engine thanks to direct injection. The crankcase remains the same pressure die-cast block made of aluminium.
The DSC system in the MINI now has the DTC mode found in BMW cars. DTC is sort of a mid-way point between stability control being turned on or off. In DTC mode, stability control only activates in extreme cases, allowing you to slide the car around a little and do a little wheel spinning.
WIth DSC totally off, there is still the Electronic Differential Lock Control which will slow down the inner rear wheel when you power out of a corner to ensure power is transferred to the wheel with more traction. ELDC does not do this via retarding engine power. Three suspension settings are available - standard, sports (firmer with stiffened anti-roll bar) and JCW (firmer, stiffer anti-roll bar, and 10mm lowered ride height).
You can view videos and high-res photos of the MINI JCW after the jump. Click here to read the rest of MINI John Cooper Works Details and Photos
BMW Web TV interviewed Robert Kubica on the BMW Sauber F1 Team’s recent double victory at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, Canada. Robert Kubica finished the race first with team mate Nick Heidfeld coming in second. Coulthard in a Red Bull Racing RB4 came in third.
The BMW Sauber F1 Team is currently in second place in the contructor’s championship lagging only 3 points behind Ferrari. Kubica currently leads the driver’s championship. Watch the interview after the jump. Click here to read the rest of BMW Double Victory at Montreal, Interview with Robert Kubica
We had a look at the race-specced version of the E92 BMW M3 Coupe back in March this year, but had to make do with only three photos of the car and a specs sheet which revealed a 1,150kg kerb weight, 485 horsepower and 500Nm of torque. Now BMW Motorsport has released this video of the racing specification M3, so we get to watch the car in motion and hear its engine as well! It will be raced in the American Le Mans Series. Watch the high resolution video after the jump. Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: BMW M3 Race Edition on the track
This promotional video showing driving scenes of the new Ferrari California GT (F149) appears to have been done with the Gran Turismo game engine. Watch the video along with a photo gallery of the Ferrari California after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Ferrari California GT CG driving footage
This video from Porsche takes us inside the new Porsche PDK twin clutch gearbox to see how it works, and is a must watch for those who can’t quite imagine how all the gear pre-selection and two clutches inside a twin clutch gearbox gel together and work to result in ultra fast and near-gapless torque transmission from the engine to the wheels.
Watch the video after the jump. Click here to read the rest of VIDEO: How the Porsche PDK gearbox works
This is for fans of cockpit recordings from the race track. General Motors recently announced that the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 had completed a Nurburgring run in 7 minutes and 26.4 seconds. The standard ZR1 was driven by development engineer Jim Mero, and he said it was likely that the ZR1 could have completed the lap in an even faster time if there was less headwind going against the car during the straights.
The Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (codename Blue Devil) is powered by the new supercharged Chevrolet LS9 engine (based on the LS3 block), producing 638 horsepower at 6,500rpm and 819Nm of torque at 3,800rpm, with a 7100rpm redline. Its Eaton TVS R2300 roots supercharger is intercooled and boosts at 10.5 psi or 0.7 bar. 0 to 100km/h acceleration time takes 3.4 seconds.
View the video after the jump. Click here to read the rest of Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 laps Nurburgring in 7:26.4
Here’s a short clip just over a minute from BMW about the BMW 3-Series which is, according to the narrator, where BMW began and it is the car that built its current customer base. View the video after the jump. Click here to read the rest of BMW 3-Series Heritage Video
This TV commercial shows the entire BMW 3-Series range beginning from the E91 Touring, the E90 Sedan, the E92 Coupe and finally the E93 Convertible. The E91 sheds a part of its “roof” to become the sedan and so on, cool concept. Video after the jump. Click here to read the rest of BMW 3-Series Range Transformation TVC
