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Automotive News is reporting that stories in two other papers, France’s La Tribune and England’s The Financial Times, assert that General Motors and PSA Peugeot Citroën are “in advanced talks about an alliance.” Neither maker would comment on the stories, but it has been well documented that both are looking to turn around their European operations. Peugeot’s parent announced 6,000 job cuts late last year and the immediate cessation of Le Mans racing this year. Opel lost hundreds of millions last year and took on a new CEO with a near-vertical climb ahead based on the prognosis for the European market.

If the talks are concluded in the way reports indicate, Opel/Vauxhall and Peugeot would cooperate on projects from developing engines and transmissions to complete models that each could sell. Peugeot already has partnerships with several other automakers, but none are as involved as this one could potentially be. It’s understood that no shares in either company would change hands, but a partnership this intense would still require the approval of the Peugeot family.

We wonder if Opel/Vauxhall and Peugeot can do together what each can’t seem to achieve alone. Sure, Opel could lower its development costs and with a joint model Peugeot could gain less expensive access to wider markets, but can the two different cultures create cars that would serve their respective brands? Suggestions are that talks are far enough along that an agreement, if achieved, could be announced at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

GM, Peugeot in “advanced alliance talks”

There are two additional performance versions of the Renault Twingo joining the base model introduced earlier this year: the Twingo R.S. and Twingo Gordini R.S. They are set apart from the donor hatch by a lower bumper element meant to mimic the nose of an F1 car (Mercedes-Benz once did something similar with its sporty cars). The rear bumper is also reshaped, getting a diffuser and “aerodynamic extensions,” and the tailgate is topped by a spoiler.

Flared wheel arches set the tone along the flanks of the R.S., but the optional Design Package and 16-inch wheels add contrasting accents, and the Gordini R.S. swaps for 17-inch diamond-effect black rims. Yellow stitching, white and gloss-black inserts highlight the interior, and an optional telemetry system called R.S. Monitor can highlight your driving. Under the hood is the familiar 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 133 horsepower.

Both machines go on sale this month in France and will roll out 19 other countries in March, the U.S. not among them. The Twingo R.S. will require €16,900 ($22,187 U.S.) of your hard-earned cash in France, while the top-flite Gordini R.S. needs €18,100 ($23,762 U.S.). Follow the jump for the press release and more info.

Continue reading Renault announces facelifted F1-inspired Twingo R.S.

Renault announces facelifted F1-inspired Twingo R.S.

A minivan is not what you’d expect to see winning a racing series. Nor would a budget brand like Dacia. That’s where Alain Prost comes into the picture.

The three-time Formula One world champion isn’t quite retired: he’s still competing in the Andros Trophy, a French ice-racing series. After hoisting the trophy twice in a row with a snow-spec Toyota Auris rally machine, Prost switched over to Dacia, for which he has now claimed his third personal title and the first for Renault’s Hungarian budget brand.

The title fight came down to the last race in Auvergne, France, where the natural snow and best efforts of race organizers could not separate Prost (or his son Nicolas) from the bare tarmac. The vehicle with which he did it was a new racer (loosely) based on the new Lodgy, an MPV that doesn’t make its production debut until theupcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Check out the high-res photos in the gallery for a closer look and follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV

Alain Prost wins ice-racing series in Dacia Lodgy Glace MPV

The automotive industry tends to work by certain norms and patterns. For example, by the time one model is ready to be phased out, we usually have a pretty good idea of how its replacement is shaping up and when it will appear. But Bugatti, of course, is no typical automaker.

The House that Ettore Built has, for the past seven years, subsisted on the Veyron alone. Don’t get us wrong, it’s one heck of an automobile around which to build a brand, but it won’t be around forever. In fact, Bugatti announced a while ago that Veyron production was running its course and nearing its end. The open topped Grand Sport, as it turns out, was outside that original allotment, but even that is nearing the end of its road.

So you can imagine our surprise when Ricardo, the company that makes the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for the Veyron, announced today that it had extended its contract with Bugatti for another two years. Which would be straightforward enough if there were cars in which Bugatti would be installing said transmissions, but as we already established, the marque’s sole product is nearing the end of its life-cycle, with no replacement in sight.

So where are these transmissions going? There can only be a few explanations. One is that Bugatti is planning to extend Veyron production with another derivative – likely the Super Grand Sport that is expected to combine the removable roof panel on the Grand Sport with the more powerful engine and bodywork of the Super Sport. Another is that the Galibier – a four-door super-sedan in the pipeline at Bugatti’s Molsheim, France HQ – is closer than previously expected, but that model is expected to shift to a different type of transmission altogether.

One possibility we can’t quite accept is that Bugatti is stockpiling components as substantial as a gearbox without having a model in which to install them, so watch this space for more news. In the meantime, scope out the press release after the jump to inspect for yourself.

Continue reading Bugatti orders two more years worth of transmissions… but where are they going?

Bugatti orders two more years worth of transmissions… but where are they going?

What would a Nissan GT-R be without the racing pedigree that’s helped make it what it is today? The truth is that we don’t even want to know. But we don’t have to, because the car known as Godzilla is as devastating on the race track as it is on the street.

Very different racing versions have been made to challenge the FIA GT1 World Championship and for Japan’s own Super GT series, the latter powered by a naturally aspirated V8 to satisfy regulations instead of the twin-turbo V6 in the production model. Getting your hands on either of these, however, could prove a bigger challenge than passing one in a race. Fortunately, Nissan has just released a competition-spec GT-R you can buy.

Co-developed by Nismo (Nissan’s in-house tuning department) and JR Motorsports (which campaigns a pair of GT-Rs in the aforementioned GT1 series), the GT3-spec model first debuted at the Magny-Cours circuit in France back in August, but is now available for order by privateer teams and gentlemen racers alike. It packs the same 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 as the production model, tuned to deliver 523 horsepower.

That may be slightly less than the current production model (due to the constrictions of GT3 regs) but the Nismo GT3 model also offers a fully adjustable suspension, stripped-out interior with roll cage and all the trimmings, extra cooling ducts and an aggressive aero package. The extra grip is where the extra speed comes from, and it can all be yours for a hair under 300,000 euros, or about $390k at today’s rates.

Nissan taking orders for new GT3-spec Nismo GT-R

The sudden departure of Peugeot from the Le Mans racing scene came as quite a shock, we know. But don’t count the inaugural FIA World Endurance Championship – or the famed 24-hour race at its center – out for the count before it’s even started, because another powerhouse is already gearing up to take Peugeot’s place. And that powerhouse is Toyota.

The Japanese auto giant announced its plans to build and campaign a new LMP1 racer at Le Mans and the WEC back in October. Toyota Motorsport GmbH (which ran the company’s F1 team until its withdrawal in 2009) then set about designing the car, partnering with Team Oreca to help with the logistics of entering the pinnacle of endurance racing, and hired three top pilots to, you know, actually drive the thing.

With all those pieces in place, the Toyota team began testing their new prototype racer last week at the Paul Ricard test track in France. Toyota itself didn’t release much in the way of details, but Alex Wurz was said to have led the shake-down, with his team-mates Nicolas Lapierre and Kazuki Nakajima on hand to share in the driving duties as well.

And while no “official” photos were “officially” released, Toyota PR rep Scott Brownlee tweeted a couple of snapshots to whet our appetites. The result looks, predictably enough, much like the latest LMP1 racers fielded by Audi and the departed Peugeot, but as with most things, it’s what’s underneath the surface that will count the most. In Toyota’s sake, that would be a gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain of some sort, but we’ll have to wait a little while longer – as the next round of testing and the car’s anticipated debut at Spa come May approach – to find out more.

Toyota begins testing new hybrid LMP1

There’s plenty of racing that takes place at the Olympics, so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There’s running, cycling, sailing, speed skating, luge, bobsledding and skiing. The thing is, none of these sports are mechanically powered, so motorsports are decidedly excluded from the highest-profile sporting event in the world.

It wasn’t always that way, though. The 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, France, included both car and motorcycle racing, but only as demonstration events that did not return. That may or may not change in the future, but one step has been taken closer as the FIA – the body which governs most forms of motor racing around the world – has been officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

The recognition is provisional for two years, and it encourages the FIA to abide by the principles embodied by the Olympics and the establishment of an Athlete’s Commission.

Of course, even if the IOC gives the FIA permanent recognition, that doesn’t mean we’ll be seeing auto racing at the Olympics any time soon: the Committee already officially recognizes a number of sporting bodies, sanctioning everything from motorcycle and powerboat racing to chess, bowling and billiards. Follow the jump for the official statement.

Continue reading FIA gains official recognition from International Olympic Committee

FIA gains official recognition from International Olympic Committee

Think “supercar” and only a handful of countries are likely to come to mind. And most of them are in Europe: Italy, Great Britain, Germany… even Sweden and France have pitched in here and there with such notables as Koenigsegg and Bugatti. Consider examples like the Dodge Viper, Ford GT and Corvette ZR1 and you can deal America in on the action, and with vehicles like the Acura NSX, Nissan GT-R and Lexus LFA, Japan has lent its hand, too. But India?

The populous subcontinent may not be the first that comes to mind, but DC Design is eager to change that. The company has popped onto the scene here and there with its Rolls-Royce coachbuilds and dolled-up Tata Nanos, but is now preparing to step up to the big leagues with the vehicle you see teased here.

Set to be unveiled at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo (which is not, to our chagrin, a display of pastrami delivery trucks), DC’s first independent project is set to be powered by a forced-induction V6 engine sourced from Honda, delivering about 400 horsepower. Considering the low target weight of less than 3,500 pounds, that could prove more than enough. 30 lakh rupees (about $56,000) is the target price, with production capped at 3,000 units per year.

DC Design previews India’s first supercar

Chevrolet is running deeper and deeper into social media, its latest reach-out to frienders and lurkers being a video contest called Chevrolet Route 66. More than 190 films from filmmakers in 32 countries have been submitted for the chance to have their effort aired during the 2012 Super Bowl.

On top of that, Chevrolet has partnered with Mofilm to let you – that’s right, you – help decide which clip will reach the end zone. But wait, there’s more: by voting and scribbling an answer to the question, “If you could drive to any destination in your home country, where would you go?”, you’ll get the chance to win up to $10,000.

The contest is open to “eligible fans” from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, the UK and U.S. So head on over to the link to get watching and ranking, and remembering which hidden locale in your homeland most calls to you.

But before you do that, be sure to check out the high-res gallery of stills from some of the submitted vids (pictured above is from “Generations”), and then head on after the jump to watch one of them, “Spy Thriller,” and to read all about the contest.

Continue reading Pick your favorite Super Bowl ad from Chevy, win a prize [w/video]

Pick your favorite Super Bowl ad from Chevy, win a prize [w/video]

Vicki Butler-Henderson of Fifth Gear has taken the 2012 BMW M5 into her deft hands and massaged it oh-so-gently through the corners and curbing of southern France. All right, quite the opposite of “gently,” instead preferring to put a billowing white chokehold on every single one of the M5’s 560 horsepower and 502 pound-feet.

Check out the video after the jump for VBH’s detailed take – and plenty of powerslides. Her conclusion? Much the same as ours – BMW’s new super saloon is almost perfect.

Continue reading Vicki from Fifth Gear wrings out BMW’s new M5

Vicki from Fifth Gear wrings out BMW’s new M5

Many eyebrows were raised when Red Bull jumped from sponsoring existing F1 teams to buying its own 2005, but then the energy-drink giant surprised the pundits again by buying an unprecedented second team in 2006. So why’d they do it? To give the aspiring talents, which the outfit nurtures through its extensive young driver development program, a leg up into the pinnacle of motorsport.

That’s what has prompted Scuderia Toro Rosso to change its drivers from time to time, but it usually does so one driver at a time. But the upcoming season marks a drastic change for the team, which has just dumped its current drivers in favor of an entirely fresh line-up.

In the place of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, STR will be fielding newcomers Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne for the 2012 championship. Both are known entities among Toro Rosso’s engineers, having tested for the team previously: Ricciardo as the team’s official back-up driver, and Vergne as the team’s nominee for the Abu Dhabi young driver test this season.

Australia’s Ricciardo also drove eleven races this season for HRT, and both he and France’s Vergne are former champions of the British Formula Three series. As for Alguersuari and Buemi, well, they both drove admirably these past few seasons, but with months still to go before the start of the new season, hopefully they’ll find drives elsewhere.

Toro Rosso ditches its drivers for fresh talent in 2012

We’re firm believers in the fact that there are few things on this green Earth that can’t be improved with the addition of a General Motors small block. Need proof? Take a peek over Jon Sibal’s site for a look at a BMW 1 Series M Coupe powered by a good old-fashioned American lump.

The GC10-V8 is actually a silhouette race car, which means the vehicle makes use of a complete tube chassis which is then covered in whatever sheet metal (or carbon fiber) you like. This machine was built by Global Concept Automobile, and began with a 1 Series M Coupe shell.

The team then applied some seriously-aggressive composite fender arches to cover the vehicle’s meaty race rubber. Sibal says the eight-pot at work in the GC10-V8 is good for a blistering 550 horsepower, and that a three-way Ohlins adjustable suspension takes care of keeping the coupe planted on the tarmac.

The racer has already gotten its feet wet in a couple of endurance races around France this year. Awesome. Head over to Jon Sibal’s site for more information and photos, and be sure to click past the jump for a look at the GC10-V8 in the pits.

Continue reading This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video]

This BMW 1M makes 550 hp thanks to American muscle [w/video]

We’ve seen plenty of tablets embedded into concepts and project cars, but Renault looks to be the first major automaker to bring a fully functional and embedded tablet into a production vehicle. And it’s doing it in two new cars due to arrive next year.

At the LeWeb consumer electronics show in France, Renault unveiled R-Link, a voice-activated telematics platform that combines entertainment, navigation and social functions into a single, integrated seven-inch touchscreen display.

The tablet – which we assume is removable, so this isn’t just a glorified touchscreen – can be controlled through either voice commands, the screen or the steering wheel, and Renault claims that 50 apps will be available when it launches on both the new Clio and Zoe models next year.

Navigation is provided by TomTom and Renault is courting developers to bring even more apps to market. However, the French automaker remains mum on specs and the operating system, both of which could pose a challenge to devs. Hit the jump for the release.

Continue reading Renault integrating custom tablet into 2012 Zoe and Clio

Renault integrating custom tablet into 2012 Zoe and Clio

The Brutus is a relic from another time. A time when men approached automobile racing with reckless abandon by cramming the largest, most powerful engine available onto a chassis supported by the world’s skinniest tires. Suspension, brakes and cumbersome safety equipment were all scrapped for bullet-shaped bodywork and testicles the size of small planetary bodies. The Brutus boasts a 46-liter BMW V12 engine pulled from a post-World War II fighter plane and a chassis from a 1908 American LaFrance. The engine alone weighs 1,124 pounds and puts out a potent 500 horsepower. Now Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson has decided that the creation needs to tango with the latest BMW hot rod; the 1 Series M Coupe in his new DVD, Powered Up.

This is not your typical drag race. The Brutus is a chain-driven, fire-breathing hulk that’s happier scaring school children than darting down the drag strip, while the 1 Series M Coupe is as civilized as a sports car gets. How does the competition shake out? Hit the jump to check it for yourself.

Continue reading Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Watch Jeremy Clarkson pit 1908 V12 Brutus against BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Of the world’s innumerable natural wonders, the French Alps are particularly spectacular. Stretching along the border between France and Italy, the mountain chain offers exceptional vistas and, for braver folk, incredibly challenging terrain. Freestyle trials rider Julien Dupont recently brought a few friends out for a day of playing in the mountains, and Ride the World Productions tagged along to film the whole event. The camera crew spent some time playing with its own toys, including a camera-equipped Air Drone remote-control helicopter.

The result is one very well-shot, very well-edited video of some impressive freestyle motorcycle riding. Watching Dupont work his magic with mountain and machine is a real treat, and it makes us itch for a little time in the saddle ourselves. Hit the jump to check out the full video for yourself. You can also poke around the RTWprod YouTube page for more clips of awesome riding.

Continue reading Freestyle motorcycle riding in the French Alps film is gorgeous

Freestyle motorcycle riding in the French Alps film is gorgeous

DTM is one of Germany’s best-kept secrets. The series features (ostensibly) production-based touring cars piloted by a mix of up-and-coming talents and retired F1 drivers around some of Europe’s finest racing circuits. But the series won’t be a secret for long as a number of developments aim to up its profile.

First of all, with the 2011 season now complete, the German touring car championship is about to switch to a new formula that will see a new generation of racing coupes replace the older sedans. The new crop just made their track debut this weekend at Hockenheim for the DTM season finale, and we’ve put together a little gallery of high-res images for you to check out.

The 2012 field is also growing thanks to the arrival of BMW, which is joining the series as of next season to take on Audi and Mercedes-Benz, which have been dueling it out mono-e-mono for the past few seasons. Having only shown the new M3 DTM in matte black until now, BMW has finally showcased its new racer in full regalia, packing the marque’s signature striped white livery.

BMW is eager to leverage its new DTM program beyond Germany’s borders. This year’s calendar included races in Austria, Holland, England and Spain, in addition to those within Germany, and has in recent years raced in such locations as Italy, France, Belgium, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Turkey and even China. However, a closing gap in regulations between DTM and Japan’s Super GT series could soon see the two competing on common fields.

More intriguing, however, is a development BMW is keen to pursue that would see DTM come to the United States. Touring car racing – as distinct from stock cars – is not very popular in America, and the organizers of the German series have been working at filling that gap by pairing an American version of the series as support races for series like NASCAR, Grand-Am or IndyCar. Sources indicate the move could happen as soon as 2013 – in other words, the racing season after next. Follow the jump for press releases from Audi and BMW on the track debuts of their new racers.

Continue reading DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim

DTM steps into new era (and maybe America) as new racers debut at Hockenheim

Remember back in the day when Bugatti released the Veyron? Nobody could pronounce it. Same thing with Koenigsegg. And more recently, the Pagani Huayra. Heck, we even saw a British film crew stumbling through the name Aventador when Lamborghini lifted the veil on that one… and that one’s a lot easier to say than Murcielago. Well now we’ve got one more to add to the ranks: Akylone.

The latest independent supercar project does not hail, like most, from Italy or England. Like Bugatti, it comes from France – St. Yorre to be specific – where upstart automaker Genty Automobile hopes to join the supercar elite. (Note that the first part of the company’s name is pronounced like the French word for “nice” or “friendly”, and the second is – realistically – in the singular.) To get there, they’ve gone with a (theoretical) 4.8-liter twin-turbo V8 driving that magical figure – 1,000 horsepower plus – through a seven-speed sequential gearbox to the rear wheels.

With a low curb weight of 2,425 lbs (again, theoretical since we’re dealing with vaporware here), and a coefficient of drag claimed at 0.35, the carbon/aluminum chassis and its svelte GT-R meets Koenigsegg bodywork is earmarked to hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.7 seconds en route to a 220 mph top end.

Genty reportedly hopes to build 15 examples, but that’s presuming it can get the orders in place at what’s sure to be a lofty price point. If it doesn’t, the renderings in the image gallery and video after the jump may be as close as we get to ever seeing one, so check ‘em out.

Continue reading Genty Akylone joins the glorious ranks of obscure unpronounceable supercars [w/video]

Genty Akylone joins the glorious ranks of obscure unpronounceable supercars [w/video]

Scooters can be a great way to negotiate the hustle and bustle of urban traffic. That’s seemingly one of the only things that the engine-powered machine has in common with its much more simple pedal-powered two-wheeled sibling, the bicycle. Unless you’re name is Boulon, a scooter rider who hails from Marseille in France.

Marseille is home, logically enough, to the Bowl of Marseille, a well-known skatepark that attracts adventure seekers from around the globe. Whereas most people hit the Bowl with inline skates, a skateboard or a BMX bicycle, Boulon chooses to attack the course with a motor scooter.

We know what you’re thinking, and the answer is yes. There is video. The Vimeo description incorrectly calls the scooter a Vespa, but that’s okay. What really matters is the footage, and that doesn’t disappoint, with multiple camera angles and even some slow-motion action shots. Want to watch? Hit the jump.

Oh, and while we of course suggest you don’t try this at home, if you do, at least wear a helmet…

Continue reading French man rides skatepark on motor scooter

French man rides skatepark on motor scooter

It seems we may never get enough of Jeremy Clarkson. The Top Gear host always attracts loads of attention no matter what he does, and it doesn’t hurt that he always seems to surround himself with some of the most beautiful machines on the planet.

That doesn’t change for his new DVD, which is titled ‘Powered Up.’ Clarkson and his band of highly skilled photogs shot the DVD at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, and the post-jump trailer gives us a good idea of the automotive stars of this show.

Hit the jump to watch four minutes of Sir Clarkson as he takes on the McLaren MP4-12C, Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder, Jaguar E-Type Convertible and plenty more. Even Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok got in on the fun, if a high-speed spin-out in a 911 GT3 is your idea of a good time. ‘Powered Up’ goes on sale on November 7.

Continue reading Jeremy Clarkson releases trailer for new ‘Powered Up’ DVD

Jeremy Clarkson releases trailer for new ‘Powered Up’ DVD

In 2001, Bentley returned to Le Mans after an absence of more than 70 years with a machine known as the Speed 8 (pictured above), eventually winning the 24-hour race in 2003. Bentley hasn’t been involved in motorsports since, although a new report indicates that could change soon.

In a recent interview with Autocar, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer stated that a new LMP1 race car could be in the works to compete against Audi and the upcoming Porsche LMP1 racer. Interestingly, all three automakers are part of the VW Group. “There is nothing saying the same brands can’t compete against each other – the only important thing is that the racing activity supports fully the brand identity,” he said. “The three brands of Bentley, Porsche and Audi could race in different regions and come together five or six times a year for the world sportscar championship and then once per year in France. It’s not decided, but it is possible.”

In addition to the usual marketing benefits of a racing program, Durheimer indicated that the main motivation for getting Bentley back into motorsports would be to develop a connection with the race team and the company’s production facility in Crewe. “I am also keen that people from the road car side sample the racing side – I saw at Porsche that one or two years with the race team can really change how people work.”

Bentley considering new LMP1 race car