Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid to contest Nurburgring 24 Hours

Porsche will enter its 911 GT3 Hybrid race car in the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race this weekend

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid will make its return to the race, following a successful debut last year when it led the race for 8 hours, or a third of the race. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid leads Porsche’s team of eight cars in this year’s race, and has been modified in accordance to the new race regulations for 2011.

The car’s flat-six engine has been restricted to 448bhp, with the power sent to the rear wheels. But the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid also features two electric motors driving the front wheels that add an additional 200bhp. The flywheel motor remains unchanged however, spinning up to 40,000 rpm and storing kinetic energy during braking.

Toyota preps LFA and GT86 for Nurburgring 24 Hours

Two of Toyota's latest racers - the LFA and GT86 get set to tackle the gruesome race track at the Nurburgring 24 Hours this weekend.

Toyota is all set for this year's Nurburgring 24 hours. Held at the famous Nordschleife track, the ADAC 24 Hours is into its 40th running. Toyota claims that the Nurburgring played an important role in the development of both cars - the LFA and GT86. Such importance is paid that engineers of the carmarker will too be present at the race event, to gain real-time experience for their future sports car projects.

Speaking after the most recent race, Gazoo Racing driver Akira Iida said: “The momentum of our team is very good. Our target for the 24 Hours Nürburgring race is to maintain a steady pace, in line with the way we have chosen to set up the vehicles.  Nevertheless, we have run at good speed and confident we will be full ready before the 24-hour event.”

Taking place from 17 to 20 May, the 2012 season will see Gazoo Racing contesting a race-prep Lexus LFA and GT86, while Toyota Swiss Racing Team will enter two examples of the GT86, race-prepped by Toyota Motorsports.

Audi starts production of cars in Indonesia

Audi has announced that it has begun production of cars at its new factory in Jakarta, Indonesia, in a collaboration effort with INDOMOBIL/Garuda Mataram Motor

Under the deal, Audi, together with INDOMOBIL/Garuda Mataram Motor, will produce A4 1.8 TFSI and A6 2.0 TFSI models exclusively for the Indonesian market. The German carmaker hopes to strengthen its position in South East Asia, and will aim to assemble 2700 cars annually at the Indonesian plant, including 2000 A4 models, by 2015.

"After having done so in key markets like China and India, we've now found an outstanding partner for local assembly of our Audi models in Indonesia: INDOMOBIL/Garuda Mataram Motor," said Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG.

"As one of the most important countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Indonesia is one of Asia's most dynamic growth regions. We'd like to contribute to this growth, since growth is an important component of Audi's brand strategy," Dreves added.

Toyota to release new small cars for emerging markets

Toyota is planning to design, build and launch a new small car specifically for China, as well as manufacture other small cars for Brazil and Indonesia

According to Reuters and the Japanese business newspaper Nikkei, Toyota will launch a new small car, designed and engineered specifically for the Chinese market, in China by 2013. The new car will be a little larger than the Etios sedan that is currently sold in India, and will have a 1.5-litre petrol engine.

Toyota will try to keep cost low for its new budget car, and the car will be heavily based on the Etios. The new car will be built in China at the rate of 200,000 cars per year, in a joint venture with Toyota’s Chinese partners, the China FAW Group and the Guangzhou Automobile Group. Toyota hopes that the new model will help increase its market share in China to above the current 5%.

As for other markets, Toyota plans to more than double the production of the Etios in India, from 80,000 currently, to 190,000 units by the end of 2013. Additionally, the Japanese carmaker plans to produce another budget car for the Brazilian market by the end of 2012, with a 70,000 annual production target, as well as producing even more low-priced cars in Indonesia.

Stunning Renault Alpine A 110-50 Concept Car

This is the absolutely gorgeous Renault Alpine A 110-50! The car has been created to mark the Alpine Berlinette turning 50 this year. This new concept features carbon fibre bodywork in a blue that is a re-interpretation and refresh of the classic original ‘Alpine Blue’.

The engine is mid-rear; a 3.5 litre 24-valve V6 churns out around 400 horsepowers. The car uses the carbon air intake employed for Mégane Trophy V6. Transmission is a semi-automatic six-speed sequential gearbox, as well as a twin-plate clutch that can be controlled using either the clutch pedal or a paddle on the steering wheel. Braking is equally impressive. At the front, large 356mm-diameter steel discs are slowed by six-piston calipers. At the rear, the discs are 330mm in diameter, while the calipers are four-piston models.

Developed on the same technical platform as Mégane Trophy, the Renault Alpine A 110-50 concept car also boasts the same chief technical characteristics.

“For everybody on the team, it was a dream come true to work on an Alpine concept car. We wanted to put this car firmly in the modern day, while resonating with its heritage.” said Laurens van den Acker, Senior VP, Corporate Design.

This is probably one of my favourite car designs of recent memory. It looks purposeful, futuristic and racy with elegant flowing lines. The jewellery on the car sets it off beautifully and the fact that it comes with the Alpine name makes it even more special. So it might show the diamond badge of a Renault. I don’t care. Even if it is only half as good as the figures suggest, I want one.