Mini Countryman WRC

Today has certainly been the day for new World Rally Championship cars. Not only were the Citroen DS3 WRC and Ford Fiesta RS WRC unveiled, but also the Mini Countryman WRC got its debut at the Paris Motor Show.

The car has been developed in partnership with Prodrive, no strangers to WRC success. Like the DS3 and Fiesta, Mini’s entry uses a 1.6 turbocharged engine, in accordance with the new FIA regulations for 2011. Developed by BMW Motorsport, it will transmit its power via an Xtrac six-speed sequential gearbox.

Mini has confirmed that it’ll be entering six out of the thirteen scheduled WRC rounds in 2011, before going on to campaign the full season in 2012. Prodrive will also be building customer cars for independent teams to use.

As expected, Kris Meeke has been named as the first driver who will compete for Prodrive in the Mini Countryman WRC. Meeke, from Northern Ireland, is the current Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion. It’s rumoured that he could be joined at Mini by two-time WRC champion Marcus Grönholm.

Concept Jaguar C-X75: First Live photos + video

Jean Pierre has given you all the info from this very nice surprise for Paris: The Jaguar C-X75. I can not help you publish some photos this afternoon (53 to be exact) further conducted on the stand of the British brand.

Purity, elegant lines, the Supercars still know us dream, like the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento are fabulous gear and tan bad if you can never ask our sitting up in, we like them because they represent the elite of the automobile.

Audi E-Tron Quattro Spyder: Live Paris 2010

We have supplied the technical information for the e-Tron Spyder and the Quattro before but here are some additional pictures from the Paris Motor Show in Paris.

I love the most muscular American Quattro which resurrects a legendary model. The wink of the flat back to the original version of 1980 is also very pleasant.

For younger and refresh the memories of others, here is a brief history of the quattro. The Quattro as its name suggests is the first large series sports coupe AWD permanent. The first generation receives a 5-cylinder 2.1L 10 valves (WR), equipped with a turbocharger and an air exchanger that increases the power to 200hp (170hp instead of the version without heat exchanger fitted to the 200 Turbo ).

The Audi quattro is easily recognized by its flared fenders and bumpers specific that differentiate the Audi Coupe GT which it derives. 0-100km / h is in 7.1 seconds for a top speed of 222km / h

2011 Saab 9-4X : first official pictures of the SUV

The Saab 9-4X was nearly a Arles. This SUV Swedish repeatedly delayed because of a troubled situation, finally makes its nest and turns through two photos ... informal. Because yes, it has not been formally presented.

It will be shown a preview before the exhibition in Los Angeles in early November. We discovered today some differences with the lean concept herald Saab 9-4X Biopower January 2008. Yes already.

They reside in the design of the rear bumper and the size of the lower air intakes. Otherwise copy it. The cabin is close to the Saab 9-5 sedan by the privileged attending a private presentation.

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento: the 1st live photos

After the first presentation of Jean Pierre, here are the pictures of the presentation of self in the great VW press conference held this evening.

New Spy photos of the new 2011 Nissan GT-R

Photographers-spies caught the new supercar Nissan GT-R in the camera lenses during the test car at the Nürburgring. According to preliminary data, Nissan brought the updated model at auto show opens tomorrow in Paris, but it will be presented only VIP clients and the general public sees the car later.

Judging from the spy shots, Nissan GT-R has received updated front LED headlights, and front and rear bumpers of the new design. In addition, previously reported that a supercar should "lose weight" of 30 kg.

Due to the refined turbine and exhaust system engine power V6, fitted to the model increased to 506 hp at 6400 rpm, while torque has increased to 607 Nm at 3200-5200 rpm. Among other things, supercar Nissan GT-R got a modifed suspension.

Skoda showed a prototype electric Skoda Octavia wagon 2011

Skoda Company introduced at the Paris Motor Show, his first electric concept car Octavia Green E Line. Road test of the electric vehicle, built on a platform of versatile Octavia, will begin next year.

The car is equipped with a 114-horsepower electric motor, lithium-ion batteries. Maximum torque of this engine is 270 Nm. No extra charge electric car overcomes a distance of 140 kilometers. Acceleration from zero to hundred kilometers per hour and the machine takes 12 seconds and a top speed limited at around 135 kilometers per hour.

Ergonomics salon electropenalty Octavia is the same as gasoline and diesel is universal: in the back row freely placed three adult passengers. In this case, the trunk on the electrical modification was reduced to 115 liters - 490 liters. This is due to location of batteries - they are embedded in the passenger compartment floor, as well as the bottom of the trunk.

Ford Fiesta WRC showed a new car for the World Rally Championship 2011

Ford is at the Paris Motor Show unveiled a new rally car Fiesta WRC, which will be used in the World Rally Championship since 2011. This model will replace the current Ford Focus RS WRC, which was used in the competition since 1999.

As before, the development of rally version of the Fiesta was engaged partner Ford, the company M-Sport, headed by former racing driver Malcolm Wilson. The car was created under the new rules c championship, which comes into force next year. In particular, it has a turbo engine capacity of 1.6 liters, instead of two-liter engines that have been used until now.


"The creation of Ford Fiesta RS WRC left countless hours, and we are happy for the first time prodemonstrirovt his audience - said Malcolm Wilson. - We are now conducting its tests, and so far the team is very pleased with the progress tests.

Ford Fiesta WRC debut in the race will be the first stage of the new season, which will be held in Sweden in February 2011. Behind the wheel of a new car factory team riders will sit down, Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. The main competitors Ford will team Citroen, is also preparing a new car for next season.

Opel Astra GTC Paris First Live pics and first live video Paris Motor Show 2010

Sports hatchback Astra GTC Paris with sculptural shapes and trendy 21-inch wheels is named after the largest auto show, where he made his debut today, September 30.

Astra GTC Paris length of 4.46 m is a prototype next-generation Astra GTC. Under the hood lies the concept of a 2,0-liter 220-strong turbocharged engine with direct injection, aggregated to the 6-step "mechanics". Fuel-saving system helps to Start / Stop, which disables the engine at short stops in city traffic.

Opel GTC is different from "basic" five-door Opel Astra brighter look of the front and rear of the car, and a sloping roof in a trendy style today compartment. Despite the presence of all three door concept proved to be longer than the five-door version (the length of the GTC 4.46 meters) and, therefore, still, can accommodate five adult passengers.

Aggressive front bumper with advanced air intakes, body side panels in a new style mark with "knife" podshtampovkami visually sharply tapering when viewed in profile, the rear part of the body with a provocative roof spoiler and a diffuser in the rear bumper - all this creates a very vivid image. Now complement diode lighting in a circle, effectively delineated parallelograms exhaust pipes and 21-inch alloy wheels.

Citroën DS3 WRC 2011

Hot on the heels of the Ford Fiesta RS WRC, Citroën has also today unveiled its 2011 World Rally Championship contender.

The DS3 WRC will have a huge reputation to live up to, seeing as its Xsara and C4 predecessors secured six driver’s titles (all with Sébastien Loeb at the wheel, and all won over consecutive years) and five constructor’s championships. And it looks very likely that Loeb and Citroën will be accomplishing both feats again this year, too.



In developing the new car, Citroën Racing has had to comply with the new 2011 FIA WRC regulations. The biggest change is the shift from 2.0 litre to 1.6 litre turbocharged engines but, with an eye on costs, components such as semi-automatic gearboxes and centre differentials are now banned, while others have to comply with strict cost and weight criteria.

The direct injection engines used in the DS3 WRC have been tuned to produce around 295 bhp (220 kW / 300 PS) and, under the revised rules, each one will be expected to last for up to six rallies. Transmission to the all-wheel drive system is via a fully manual six-speed sequential Sadev gearbox.



Converting the bodywork of the road-going DS3 to WRC specification has involved changing the bumpers and wings in order to reach the maximum permissible width of 1,820 mm. Aerodynamic down force is taken care of by a front splitter and a substantial rear spoiler.

Meanwhile, the door glass has been replaced with polycarbonate, and the doors themselves have been filled with foam to increase side impact protection. Naturally, there’s also a hefty internal roll cage, made from 40 metres of steel tubing.



The 2011 driver line-ups for either the Citroën Total World Rally Team or the Citroën Junior Team have yet to be confirmed.

2011 Audi quattro concept : a tribute to an all-wheel legend

Is it just a reminiscence of the anno 1980 Audi quattro or already presented a preview of a small sports car with four rings? This question should provide many visitors to the Paris Motor Show (2 to 17 October 2010) at the sight of the Audi quattro concept study.

From the first look at the "Col de Turini and white" painted show car appeared on the memory of a legendary ancestor: the 306 hp strong and at the time of 200,000 Mark expensive Sport Quattro was a shortened quattro variant and provided the basis for the famous Rally cars with Walter Röhrl at the wheel. For the current study, a series of transport was reduced, because the base supplies the Audi RS5. Compared to the four-seat coupe, the rear overhang has been reduced by 20 centimeters, the result is a length of 4.28 meters. At the same time, the wheelbase was shortened by 15 inches and lowered the roof line about four inches.

The body of the Audi quattro concept is mainly made of aluminum, there are the hood and the trunk lid as well as other components made of carbon. The result suggests a weight of 1,300 kilograms to book, almost exactly the level of the 1984 Sport Quattro presented. Eye-catching design features are the strongly contoured C-pillar, 20-inch wheels and a large single-frame grille without chrome frame. All lighting units use LED technology, the rear lights remind their straight shape of the Audi 100 from 1976.