Car News Articles

What could Australia’s most successful motorsports star possibly wish for? A Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 and a matching Eurocopter.

Mick Doohan worked hard to earn his fun. He spent 11 years putting his body on the line in the cut-throat 500cc World Championship motorcycle racing circus. He amassed an incredible five world titles in the sport’s premier class despite receiving terrible injuries that left permanent scars.

So it’s hard to begrudge him his fun, even when it comes in the form of a $297,990 Mercedes-Benz AMG sports sedan and a helicopter worth $2.9 million. To celebrate that it is almost 10 years since he claimed his final 500cc world title at Phillip Island, he decided to cut loose at the classic grand prix venue in his two favourite toys.

Doohan has been an international ambassador for AMG since 1996 and enjoys the perks of the job. Only 55 examples of the IWC Ingenieur were built and only seven came to Australia. Doohan’s AMG role helped make sure he was one of the lucky few.

After manhandling the world’s fastest prototype motorbikes, the Mercedes and the Eurocopter are toys for Doohan. Magnificent and expensive toys, but still toys for a man who won 54 grands prix.

The CLS 55 IWC Ingenieur is the result of a collaboration between AMG and Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen.

As you’d expect from a joint effort between a German car company and a Swiss watchmaker, attention to detail is immaculate.

The car is finished in a dark titanium-grey metallic paint. Every exterior element is colour matched in a matt titanium finish, including the radiator grille, fog-light rings, side-window bezels and doorhandle inserts.

The car sports 19-inch AMG wheels, also in a titanium finish. The treatment also carries over to the inside. The instrument cluster was redesigned to match the limited-edition IWC Ingenieur AMG watch the company produced as part of the deal.

The dashboard gauges are black with silver needles and white lighting and the cluster is ringed with titanium.

The seats are finished in dark nappa leather and have matt titanium AMG badging on the backs to continue the theme.

Doohan liked the look of the CLS so much he had his Eurocopter specially finished in the same colour. With an imposing 350kW of power and a staggering 700Nm of torque, a racetrack is the only place Doohan can explore the car’s limits.

The Eurocopter is the AMG’s airborne cousin. It is one of the fastest helicopters for sale to the public. With its high-load capacity and high rate of climb, it is an incredibly flexible helicopter and can be used in a wide range of conditions.

It is fitted with the latest hi-tech digital engine control system and multi-function dashboard. The instrumentation means that the pilot can glance at the chopper’s critical information on a dual LCD screen.

“The CLS 55 AMG and the Eurocopter AS350 are a perfect match,” Doohan says. “They’re at the high-performance end of their respective spectrums and, as you can see, they’re a lot of fun.”

“They both change direction quickly and accelerate with a fair bit of force. Sure, they’re the same colour, but there are more similarities than just their paint finishes.”

Doohan is no stranger to aircraft. Since retiring from racing he has established a successful corporate aviation charter business called Global Jet International.

But that’s business and the Mercedes and Eurocopter are all about fun for one of Australia’s most successful motorsport stars.

Snapshot

Mercedes-Benz CLS 55 AMG

Price: $297,000

Body: 5-seat sedan

Engine: 5.5L/V8 350kW/700Nm

Eurocopter AS350 B3

Engine: Turbomeca Arriel 2B turbine 623kW

Transmission: main gearbox and one in tail

Performance: range: 650km, rate-of-climb 12.1m/sec, top speed 259km/h (140 knots)

- The Daily Telegraph

Sydney’s Star City Casino has seen some prestige personalities pass through its doors…

…but while many are high-rollers, few would roll as fast as the guest currently posing in its main foyer.

The facelifted version of the insane Koenigsegg CCX – worth around $2 million – is spending a few days at the casino as its introduction to Sydney, and as a warm-up to its appearance at the Australian International Motor Show in October. 

Its predecessor was the fastest street legal car in the world with a 388.87km/h notch until the title was snatched by the Bugatti Veyron in 2005 with 407.5km/h – although some critics say that differences in the tracks used by Bugatti and Koenigsegg raise questions about the gap.

Koenigsegg says the CCX reaches a top speed of more than 395km/h – although this has not been officially clocked – and hits 100km/h in 3.2 seconds.

Bristling with carbon fibre and with “no gadgets or unnecessary features on the car, only what is absolutely vital in the name of efficiency and purity’’ according to the Swedish maker, it has an enviable weight-to-power ratio of 1.59kg/hp.

Australian distributor Carl Trad, who brought the previous model to Sydney’s motor fest two years, says the CCX breathes better than the CCR.

“The engine now has a twin supercharger rather than a single, and is better vented,’’ he says.

He says there are also subtle cosmetic changes, most noticeably around the light clusters, wheels and some trim.

And Trad he couldn’t resist getting the new model here.

“After I’d driven a Koenigsegg at the factory in Sweden, I just had to get them,’’ Trad says.
“It’s taken me four years, but here it is: road registered and ready to go.’’

Trad says his earlier attempt to import the Koenigseggs met with regulation hurdles.
“The first one that came in, we had a bit of drama with homologation and compliance issues with emissions,’’ he says.

“This new one has been built to the American emission standards and complies with the Australian regulations.

“We did the inspection on it a couple of weeks ago and it was perfect.

“Basically, every one that comes into the country now will be built specifically for Australia.

“There are not many supercars that are right-hand drive with this kind of power.

“Words can’t describe what it’s like to drive. The lateral G-forces are unbelievable.’’

For more photos and video, see carsguide.com.au

- Carsguide

Volkswagen will unveil a SUV version of its compact Polo in 2010. It will replace the current Polo Dune and will compete with models like the forthcoming supermini 4×4 class rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa SUV and its planned Chevrolet-badged sister model.

Its design will be inspired by the its bigger brother Tiguan. It will feature bold chrome grille and Eos-style headlights, plus protective cladding for the bumpers, wheelarches and side skirts. Roof rails and sporty alloy wheels also feature.

The SUV will be built on the current Polo’s chassis, same that will be used for the standard next-generation supermini, which is due on sale here in 2009.

The SUV will be 20mm higher than the regular Polo and will be fitted with VW’s 4MOTION four-wheel-drive system.

Under the hood there will be the same range of engines as the standard car: a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with either 60bhp or 70bhp, a 85bhp 1.4-litre, a 105 hp 1.2-litre TSI turbocharged. Diesel options will include a 1.6-litre TDI in 75bhp, 90bhp and 105bhp forms.

Well, you knew this was coming. Porsche has followed up the debut of its freshened 997 rear-wheel-drive range with the introductions of the all-wheel-drive 2009 911 Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S. Visually, the C4 and C4S are immediately distinguishable from their 2WD counterparts via the red reflector strip spanning the width between the taillamps. That’s a nice touch that brings back some fond memories of the 911s of our youth. The C4’s rear bodywork is also wider than that of the 2WD cars. Up front, you’ll find the same schnoz introduced a couple of weeks ago.

As with the Carrera and Carrera S, the C4 range also gets the new, direct-injected engines and the optional seven-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) twin-clutch gearbox. Power is up, and so is efficiency, while emissions output goes down. The Carrera 4’s 3.6L flat six makes a stout 345 horses, and the step-up Carrera 4S pumps out 383 ponies from its 3.8. It’s not just the engine and tranny that are new — the previous car’s all-wheel-drive system has now been replaced by Porsche Traction Management, which trickles down to the C4 from the mighty 911 Turbo. Want to scoff at lousy weather and still drive a 911? Come October (in Europe) your new ride will be waiting.

[Source: Porsche]

PRESS RELEASE:
Porsche Carrera 4 with Electronically Controlled All-Wheel Drive

Stuttgart. Showing the dynamic attitude typical of the brand, Dr. Ing. h.c.
F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, are continuing the generation change of the 911
model series. Just a few weeks after the new 911s with classic rear-wheel
drive, the all-wheel-drive versions Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S are now
entering the market in both Coupé and Cabriolet guise.

A whole range of new technologies surrounding the engine, the transmission
and drivetrain ensures an even higher standard of driving pleasure on much
lower fuel consumption. Particularly the precision and fast response of the
new, electronically controlled all-wheel drive offers an even more intense
driving experience, above all in interaction with the likewise new flat-six
engines with Direct Fuel Injection and the PDK Porsche
Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch gearbox available as an option.

The features and characteristics of the new engines speak for themselves:
Depending on the model, the new all-wheel-drive Carrera offers up to 8.5
per cent more power, up to 12.9 per cent more fuel economy, and 15.4 per
cent lower CO2 emissions. Specifically, output of the 3.6-litre power unit
is up by 20 to 345 bhp (254 kW). At the same time a Carrera 4 Coupé with
PDK, to take just one example, consumes a mere 10.1 litres of fuel per 100
kilometres, equal to 28.0 mpg imp. The improvements on the 911 Carrera 4S
with its 3.8-litre power unit are equally significant, with maximum output
up by 30 to 385 bhp (283 kW) on overall fuel consumption down in the case
of Carrera 4S Cabriolet with PDK to 10.7 litres/100 km, equal to 26.4 mpg
imp.

In the new generation of the Carrera 4 and Carrera 4S electronically
controlled PTM Porsche Traction Management replaces the former all-wheel
drive with its viscous multiple-plate clutch. This superior system
developed for the 911 Turbo and modified for the Carrera models combines
the driving pleasure so typical of Porsche with an even higher standard of
driving stability, traction and agile handling further enhanced by the
mechanical rear axle differential fitted as standard.

The new all-wheel-drive sports cars come with sporting manual transmission
featuring six gears. As an alternative the new models are available with
Porsche’s new Doppelkupplungsgetriebe replacing the former Tiptronic S
automatic converter transmission and offering an even faster gearshift on
less fuel. The Doppelkupplungsgetriebe or double-clutch gearbox comes with
seven gears shifting electrohydraulically without the slightest
interruption of traction and pulling force.

The new generation of the 911 model series stands out clearly through the
discreet but striking modification of the front end and new lights
technology. The new Carrera models come in all cases with bi-xenon
headlights and new LED daytime driving lights.

The newly designed rear light clusters also feature LED technology and for
the first time Porsche offers Dynamic Bending Lights as an option. It
almost goes without saying that all Carrera 4 models come as before with
their muscular rear end 44 millimetres or 1.73″ wider than on the
two-wheel-drive versions. And a new reflector trim bar between the LED rear
lights gives the typical rear end of the car even more dynamic character.

New PCM Porsche Communication Management with its touch-sensitive screen
improves operation of the in some cases optional navigation, information
and audio systems to an even higher standard. And a further important point
is that PCM is now compatible with Bluetooth, USB and iPod requirements.

All all-wheel-drive Carrera models will be at the dealership as of 25
October 2008.