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- Motorsport Weekend: Spanish MotoGP, WTCC Marrakech, NASCAR Richmond races results
- Audi R8 GT officially revealed: lighter and faster
- Video: Tanner Foust goes drifting in his Scion tC on Mulholland Highway
- BMW returning to DTM in 2012
- Tesla planning electric crossover after Model S
- 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee might get performance SRT8 version
- Video: Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer has cars, beaches and babes
- Ford unveils 2011 DUB Mustang V6 special edition
- 167,000 2004-2008 Acura TSX sedans recalled over potential fire hazard
- Fiat and Alfa Romeo want fans to contribute on unique 500 and Giulietta models
| Motorsport Weekend: Spanish MotoGP, WTCC Marrakech, NASCAR Richmond races results Posted: 03 May 2010 02:44 AM PDT  Welcome to a new edition of Motorsport Weekend, our own feature where we talk about and share the results from the latest and most popular motorsport races and events from the last three days. This weekend was filled with something for almost everyone, with the Spanish MotoGP, the WTCC Marrakech race and the Nascar Richmond events, that took place in the USA. Curious to see how Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Gabriele Tarquini or Kyle Busch faired in their respective races? Then hit the jump and find out.  The 2010 Spanish MotoGP treated us to a breathtaking race. Honda’s Dani Pedrosa started in pole position, but couldn’t keep it until the end of the race, largely due to the aggressive pace started by Yamaha riders Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo. But while many Spaniards were already expecting Rossi to take a win, it was their compatriot, and Rossi’s teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, who passed the checkered flag first. The Spanish rider managed a thrilling race, climbing through the ranks from fifth to first, overtaking Pedrosa at the beginning of the last lap. The Honda rider finished second while Rossi, still not 100% after a shoulder injury, rounded off the podium. Overall standings for MotoGP find Lorenzo in first place, with Rossi trailing by 4 points and Pedrosa by 16.  The World Touring Car Championship finally saw its second stage take place on the street circuit at Marrakech, in Morocco. As you all know, street circuits guarantee almost always some type of crashes. The two WTCC races made no exception, but given their already limited number of laps per race, the safety car cut off all the racing spectacle. The first event was won by Gabriele Tarquini from Seat. The driver only had to resist in front of Chevrolet’s Robert Huff for six laps, as multiple crashes prompted the first race to end behind the safety car. The second race was filled with even more crashes, and pole position sitter Andy Priaulx from BMW (pictured above) only had to defend his position in front of Chevy’s Yvan Muller for just 2 racing laps. While heavy on the crashes, the WTCC Marrakech event was too short on the actual racing. Overall standings show Tarquini in the lead, followed by Yvan Muller who trails by 7 points and Robert Huff, trailing by 24 points. NASCAR fans were treated to two interesting events at the Richmond International Speedway in Virginia, the Bubba Burger 250, counting for the Nationwide Series, and the Crown Royal 400, counting for the Sprint Cup. The Bubba Burger 250 event was dominated by Brad Keselowski, who managed to see the checkered flag first. Still, this doesn’t mean he didn’t have any competition, as he was neck and neck with Greg Biffle until the final lap. Third place was nabbed by Jamie McMurray. Overall standings for the Nationwide Series see Keselowski in first place, followed by Kevin Harvick, 59 points behind, and Kyle Busch, trailing by 84. The Crown Royal 400 event, counting for the Sprint Cup, followed, and was fiercely disputed by Kyle Busch and Jeff Gordon, both leading the race for extended periods of time. The race was eventually won by Busch, who managed to overtake Gordon with five laps to go. The third spot was conquered by Kevin Harvick. Overall Sprint Cup standings show Harvick still in the lead, but Jimmie Johnson is close behind, trailing by 10 points. Busch follows, but given the gap of 109 points, he isn’t a big threat. Photo Source: Fiat Yamaha Team’s Flickr, BMW Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Audi R8 GT officially revealed: lighter and faster Posted: 03 May 2010 01:41 AM PDT  In the last few months, rumors started appearing about a performance version of the Audi R8 supercar. While the normal version and its even more powerful V10 edition were plenty for many fans, some wanted even more. As such, the Ingolstadt company officially revealed the Audi R8 GT limited edition. The engineers have worked their magic and applied the age-old recipe for improving supercars: decrease weight and increase power. Through a thinner front windshield, polycarbonate rear windows, carbon fiber body panels and, we presume, a few sacrifices to supercar gods, the Audi team managed to shave 220 pounds off the curb weight of the R8 GT. Through some fiddling with the V10’s electronics (and more sacrifices) the power output was increased from 525 to a whopping 560 HP. When coupled with the R-Tronic gearbox, the R8 GT will be able to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 3.6 seconds and up to a top speed of 198.8 mph. Only 333 R8 GT models will be made, starting at €193,000 ($256,000) in Germany. No plans for an US launch, but you can be sure the Ingolstadt execs have something planned. Either way, check out the new and improved Audi R8 GT in the photo gallery below. Photo Gallery: Audi R8 GT
Source: Audi Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Tanner Foust goes drifting in his Scion tC on Mulholland Highway Posted: 03 May 2010 01:18 AM PDT  Going on our daily YouTube hunt for interesting car videos that we can share with all you fine folks, we found this video of drift racer and future Top Gear USA host, Tanner Foust. Although the video is a bit old, dating back from March, we knew such awesomeness can always be shared under the motto ‘better late than never’. In the footage below, Foust takes his 600+ HP V8 Scion tC drift car, sponsored by Rockstar Energy, on the famous Mulholland Highway, better known as ‘The Snake’, given its twisty corners. The racer does not disappoint, and the resulting video is a must-see for any car fan. Hit the jump and check out Tanner Foust’s drifting antics on the Mulholland Highway. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Posted: 03 May 2010 12:54 AM PDT  The DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) racing championship is set to become quite interesting once more (not that we disapprove of Mercedes-Benz and Audi duking it out), as BMW has announced that it is returning once more to the championship it left back in the middle of the 1990s. The Bavarian company revealed it will be once again appearing in the German Touring Car Championship if “certain” conditions are met. Those exact conditions weren’t revealed, but seeing as how this might once again complete the trio luxury performance carmakers starting in the championship, we’re pretty sure the organizers are going to do anything so that BMW will enter the fray. Reports are already pegging that, given the 2012 start date, BMW might enter the next generation M3 model in the race, to go against the Audi A4 and the Mercedes-Benz C Class. Either way, experience from the American Le Mans Series, where the German company currently races two M3 models will no doubt be used for this new racing endeavor. Source: BMW Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Tesla planning electric crossover after Model S Posted: 03 May 2010 12:29 AM PDT  Tesla Motors, the company responsible for the well received electric Roadster, has some big plans for the future. As most of you know, the company will enter into production the Model S around 2012, offering a luxury sedan for those with an eco-friendly attitude and a wallet capable of supporting a pricey electric vehicle. But what about after the Model S? Well, the CEO of the company, Elon Musk, says that the lineup will begin to grow at a more consistent pace. When the sedan arrives, the Roadster will end production. It will be followed, a couple of years after, by a new generation sportscar. But even though that’s fine and dandy for those with deep wallets, Musk also says that a crossover electric vehicles and many other such projects are on the drawing board and will be built so that they are affordable to the regular customer, not just rich people with a passion for EVs. Musk, who recently won the Automotive Executive of the Year Innovator Award, concluded by saying that the cars his company will make will push the industry forward and, hopefully, give other carmakers new ideas for EV development. Source: AutoWeek Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee might get performance SRT8 version Posted: 03 May 2010 12:09 AM PDT  Chrysler is betting big on the upcoming 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the first all new model since the carmaker was bailed out by the government and saved by Fiat. With the new SUV, the Pentastar hopes to get Jeep back on top of its off-road game. Judging by the things we heard up until now and by the looks of the new Grand Cherokee, the future model might finally get the company on the right track. But while we know a 3.6-liter V6 plus a 5.7-liter HEMI V8 will arrive with the 2011 Jeep GC, a new report, coming from Car and Driver, says a new engine might also join the lineup. What unit would that be? Oh, just a ’small’ 6.4-liter HEMI V8. Chrysler doesn’t want to comment on the subject, but seeing as how BMW has its X5 M performance variant, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 does have some things going for it. Reports are also speculating that the powerful GC will arrive in 2012, at least, in order to give the two other variants some breathing room. Either way, SRT8 or no SRT8, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, by all accounts, will no doubt score some sales for the Pentastar. Still, until the end of the year when it will enter the market, we have some waiting to do. Source: Car and Driver Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Video: Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer has cars, beaches and babes Posted: 02 May 2010 11:56 PM PDT  In terms of racing video games, there are just a few big franchises out there, like Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport or Need For Speed. But a few years ago, Test Drive Unlimited burst out onto the racing scene, offering a big lineup of luxury cars and a stunning Hawaii backdrop in which you could race them, and gaining quite a lot of fans. Now, the team at Eden Studios are at it again and revealed the first trailer for the upcoming Test Drive Unlimited 2 racing video game. From the big array of fast cars, to the stunning backdrops of the same exotic island and the babes that populate its beaches, this trailer has it all. Hit the jump and check out the first trailer for Test Drive Unlimited 2, which will arrive this fall for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms. Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Ford unveils 2011 DUB Mustang V6 special edition Posted: 02 May 2010 11:24 PM PDT  Ford has a habit of churning out special editions of its Mustang pony car. With the 2011 model, things haven’t changed, as the Blue Oval partnered up once more with Roush Performance and DUB magazine to reveal the 2011 DUB Mustang V6 special edition. As the name suggests, it is based on the more tamed 305 HP V6, rather than the 5.0-liter V8, but will still look the part, thanks to visual tuning from Roush and media hype from DUB. The team at Roush added a new front fascia, a windshield banner, a stripe package and an all-black interior. DUB, on the other hand, added a plethora of logos and the 21-inch TIS wheels that offer, alongside the Roush lowered suspension, an improved stance for the ‘Stang. This special edition will go on sale this fall, and will be available in coupe, convertible or glass roof form. A six-speed gearbox will be offered, both in manual and automatic flavors. Source: Ford Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| 167,000 2004-2008 Acura TSX sedans recalled over potential fire hazard Posted: 02 May 2010 11:09 PM PDT  Another recall was signaled at the end of last week, with Honda announcing that 167,000 models of its last generation (2004-2008) Acura TSX sedan will be called back to dealerships in order to prevent a potential fire hazard. The problem stems from a power steering hose. It seems that all models equipped with the 2.4-liter inline-four cylinder engine need to have new hoses, an o-ring gasket and power steering fluid added. Why? It seems that because it is exposed to the high temperatures beneath the hood, the hose can deteriorate rapidly, causing fluid to leak out. This fluid can reach the exhaust system, where it can result in smoke or fire. Just one such incident was reported, but Acura wants to make sure it won’t happen again. Acura TSX sedan owners will be informed by mail at the end of the month, but you can call (800) 382-2238 for more info. Source: Acura Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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| Fiat and Alfa Romeo want fans to contribute on unique 500 and Giulietta models Posted: 02 May 2010 10:58 PM PDT  Fiat and Alfa Romeo have a lot of things to celebrate this year. While Alfa, as you surely know by now, is celebrating 100 years since its beginning, Fiat is boasting the fact that in just 2 and a half years, it has sold over 500,000 500 city car models. In order to properly celebrate this moment, the two companies, both owned by the Fiat group, decided to host special events dedicated to their UK fans. As such, 500 owners will be able to log into this website, where they can upload a picture that will be featured in a special mosaic-themed 500 model, the Fiat 500 Thousandth. It will feature over 1,500 pictures from regular owners, famous people and those who placed the new 500 on the map. Alfisti, on the other hand, need to visit this website where they can submit photos of their own Alfa models, both old and new. They will then be added to a mosaic-themed Giulietta that will boast pictures of iconic models from the past of the popular Italian brand. Overall, Fiat and Alfa are certainly going to score some big points for these special celebrations so if you live in the UK, you’d better start submitting your photos. Source: Fiat via Autoblog Post published on Rpmgo.com Related posts:
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