Citroen GT Supercar Production Likely, Decision Expected Soon

ACCORDING TO Citroen’s chief product planner, a decision on whether or not the low slung and curvaceous GT concept car is destined for production will be made soon - and the answer is likely to be ‘yes’.

First unveiled virtually on Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and in real life at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the GTbyCITROEN concept showcased French automotive styling at its most extreme. Cars like this normally don’t get put on a production line, but it appears that Citroen is keen to build a limited number of the cars.

“We are now thinking of a limited run, possibly as many as 20 units,” said Citroen’s Products and Markets Manager Vincent Besson earlier this year.

Now, according to Besson, final approval for the project is expected to be given within the next four weeks. Should it be approved, a production-ready model will likely appear at the Frankfurt Motor Show this September with customer deliveries to commence next year.

It’ll cost a pretty penny too. Citroen doesn’t intend to lose any money on the low-volume GT, and as such each example will probably cost in excess of €1 million (AU$1.75

“The object of the car is not to earn money but not to lose money either,” said Besson.

When it eventually makes the transition from concept to road car, it will ditch the electric motors of the concept and instead be powered by either a Chevrolet or Ford V8. France’s answer to the GT40? We like where this is going.

F1: Ferrari Remains Opposed To Budget Cap

FERRARI TEAM PRINCIPAL Stefano Domenicali has denied the team’s decision to lodge a conditional entry for next year’s championship signals its acceptance of the budget cap.

The nine remaining members of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) lodged a block application last week on the proviso that the FIA and Formula One Management sign a new Concorde Agreement by June 12.

This will ensure any future rule changes will need to be approved by a variety of stakeholders including the teams, sponsors and promoters, ultimately diminishing FIA President Max Mosley’s ability to make unilateral decisions.

If the new Concorde Agreement is not signed by the FOTA mandated deadline, all nine members will withdraw their applications for 2010, firmly placing pressure on Mosley and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone to submit to their demands.

In a statement, Domenicali said that Ferrari remains opposed to a compulsory cap, with the team’s main concern believed to be the potential for intrusive auditing from external accounting agencies.

“Absolutely not. The request to make the 2009 regulations the starting point, means there will be no budget cap,” he said.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikonen during Qualifying at the 2009 Spanish F1 Grand Prix.

However, Domenicali said that FOTA remains committed to slashing spending, albeit on its terms.

“[Cost cutting] should be done by implementing a self-regulating procedure within FOTA, so that the body itself and the teams carry out the monitoring. We know exactly what must be done and we can do it on our own, as can be seen from what has been achieved so far,” he said.

“In fact, this is exactly what has been happening for years as regards testing, where it is the teams that have reached an agreement among themselves to manage the situation and it works well.”

Meanwhile, Mosley has again stubbornly defended the budget cap despite facing the prospect of a mass withdrawal by FOTA, claiming it is crucial to Formula 1’s survival.

Speaking to Deutsche Presse Agentur, Mosley said Ferrari was wrong to dismiss the new outfits currently jostling for entry next year after the Italian manufacturer declared the sport was becoming ‘Formula GT3’ in an extraordinary piece on its website.

“Ferrari forget that the current BMW team started as Sauber, the current Williams team started with Williams buying a March [and] Tyrrell started a little team at the end of the sixties that was Honda and is now Brawn,” Mosley said.

“Even Enzo Ferrari himself came along in 1948 and started from nothing. If you stopped those new entrepreneurs coming in, Formula 1 will die. You can’t have just a lot of old men running it.”

2009 BMW M3 Edition Revealed

DESPITE THE ODD name, the BMW M3 Edition should prove appealing to those seeking a little more ‘uniqueness’ in a hi-po Bimmer.

Almost a purely aesthetic affair (although lowered by 10mm over a standard M3), the M3 Edition will be available in Alpine White Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic and Monte Carlo Blue Metallic.

Folks with a solid dislike for all things chrome will be especially pleased with the M3 Edition, with the grille, side gills, side mirror caps and exhaust tips all finished in a dark, ‘eloxy-plated’ satin finish.

The interior gets a white centre console and armrests in the Alpine and black models, with “carbon structure leather” trim, while the seats feature black Novillo leather with white stitching.

The requisite commemorative numbered plaque is in place, along with chequered-flag door sills.

The 2009 BMW M3 Edition sits 10mm lower than the standard M3, with 19-inch Edition-specific rims available in black, brushed metal, or polished white – depending on the model.

As with the regular M3, the M3 Edition develops 309kW from its V8 engine, with a 0-100km/h sprint covered in about 4.6 seconds.

While pricing has not yet been announced, the M3 Edition will be available worldwide from July, and will only be available for six months.

TMR Giveaway: Nokia N96 + ‘Need For Speed’ Goodies

THANKS TO THE kind folk at EA and Nokia, we’ve got a neat bag of toys to send to one lucky reader.

To celebrate the recent release of Need For Speed: Undercover on Nokia’s N-Gage mobile gaming platform, Nokia has sent us a Nokia N96 pre-loaded with the game, a 1966 Dodge Charger RC car, some 55DSL goodies, a couple of chequered flags (you know, for racing n’ stuff) and a kit bag to throw it all in.

Want to win it all? Just tell us what you reckon would make the best kind of vehicle for an undercover cop laying rubber and swapping paint with the turbo-charged bad-guys, and why.

The most creative answer will win, so don’t just say “the one from Knight Rider“, or “anything but a police car”.

Remember, it’s gotta be fast enough to keep up with the baddies, robust enough to sustain an impact with a pumpkin-laden handcart and comfy enough for those long, cheeseburger-fueled stake-outs.

So hit this link and sling your entry our way, with “NFS competition” as the subject header. Entries will close at 11:59PM on June 8, with the winner to be announced the following day. Judges’ decision will be final, etc.

Get those creative juices flowing people!

MotoGP: Stoner Ends Rossi’s Mugello Streak

AUSTRALIAN CASEY STONER has taken the lead in the MotoGP championship after clinching a rain-affected Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, recording his second win of the season.

The Australian broke Valentino Rossi’s seven-year stranglehold on the event, benefitting after pitting from a switch to a softer slick tyre than his rivals.

After starting from second on the grid, Stoner charged to the lead early in damp conditions, immediately setting the pace at the front of the pack with compatriot Chris Vermeulen close behind.

However, Stoner’s progress was stymied by the improving conditions as he lost the lead to Vermeulen before slipping down the order to sit sixth as the riders dove into pit lane to switch bikes.

But as his rivals struggled on the cold rubber, Stoner was able to set a strong pace almost immediately, briefly dicing for the lead with both Loris Capirossi and Andrea Dovizioso before establishing the tempo of the race and crossing the line to secure Ducati’s first premier class win at Mugello.

Stoner was rapt with the result, declaring Mugello’s MotoGP event as “the one I really wanted.”

“We started out well in the wet, I felt good and the bike was doing great until the wet tyres were worn out. I kept trying to push to the limit because I didn’t want to lose ground on the others like at Le Mans and stayed out there until I was absolutely sure it was the right time to change tyres,” he said.

“As soon as I went out on slicks I felt comfortable and competitive. Unfortunately I had an issue with the clutch and it started to give me a few problems. Loris came past and was pushing hard and riding very well and he kept me on my toes.”

The Yamaha’s of Lorenzo and Rossi completed the podium positions while Vermeulen fell to 10^th despite the promising start.

Audi R8 ‘e-Version’ Reports Officially Debunked

REPORTS OUT OF Europe last week indicated that Audi would unveil an electric version of its Audi R8 supercar alongside the hotly anticipated R8 convertible, but with very few details of the so-called R8 ‘e-Version’.

Audi has since officially denied any plans for an electric R8, telling US automotive magazine Edmunds that the reports are simply “not true.”

The reports suggested that Audi would unveil an R8 e-Version at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show alongside the petrol-powered topless R8.

While any suggestion that there was an electric R8 in the wind now firmly debunked, the R8 convertible however remains on track for its debut at Frankfurt.

Holden Sportwagon Scores Double Win At Australian International Design Awards

THE HOLDEN SPORTWAGON is an eminently handsome vehicle, that much is undeniable. To many Australians (this writer included), the Sportwagon is an even better-looking car that its sedan stablemate; and it appears the judging panel at the Australian International Design Awards is in agreement.

The Sportwagon nabbed top honours in two categories at the 2009 Australian International Design Awards (AIDA), being judged the winner of the Automotive and Transport category and also clinching the Wheels Automotive Design Award.

Holden’s versatile load-lugger wasn’t assessed on its looks alone either, with the judges scoring it on a range of criteria including its innovation, functionality, quality, and emotional appeal.

We fell in love with it when we drove an SS V Sportwagon last August, and in the intervening months its allure hasn’t faded one iota. When fitted with that big ol’ 6 litre V8, we can also confirm it’s got emotional appeal by the bucketload.

“To have the Sportwagon recognised by Australian and International top designers is a great achievement and one that everyone who worked on the car should be very proud of,” Holden’s Director of Design Tony Stolfo said.

“Equally gratifying is the amazing public response to this vehicle.

“By putting the excitement back into practicality we have proved that clever design can challenge popular perception.”