NEW PORSCHE 911 CARRERA AT FRANKFURT

World premiere of new 911 at 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, Sept 13-25

True to the 911 tradition, the distinctive Porsche design language exudes power and elegance. The unmistakable silhouette still catches the eye while incorporating new, exciting contours and precisely designed details; a 100mm longer wheelbase for improved stability and greater interior space; front and rear overhangs are shorter, maintaining the compact footprint that has been a longstanding 911 attribute; the sporting stance is emphasised by the lower roof line and a wider front track increases on-road presence further still while raising the renowned chassis dynamics.

The rear-mounted, flat six cylinder engine is an equally symbolic component of the 911 identity; and behind the rear axle of the new car lies an uprated range of powerful, efficient and evocative ‘boxer’ engines. The 911 Carrera is powered by a new 3.4-litre engine developing 350 hp, and the Carrera S features a 400 hp version of the familiar 3.8-litre. These new engines offer performance improvements for both models. The 3.4-litre Carrera with PDK accelerates from 0-62mph in 4.6 sec, 0.1 sec quicker than the prior model. Pressing the Sport Plus button on the optional Sport Chrono Pack cuts that to 4.4 sec. The 3.8-litre Carrera S with PDK can accelerate from 0- 62 mph in 4.3 sec (Sport Plus 4.1 sec), 0.2sec quicker than its predecessor.

Source & more info: Porsche

MEET THE ENGLISH - NEW iPHONE/iPAD APP!

Meet the English is a light-hearted look at some of the history, customs, traditions, people, and places that help make England England, and the English so very ... well, English! It will help visitors to begin to appreciate, if not fully understand, this unique country and its people.

If you are English, please read this app with a light heart and do what the English do best - have a laugh at yourself. If you are a visitor, or are planning to visit England's sometimes sunny, sometimes cloudy, and sometimes windy shores, this app will help you to begin to appreciate, if not fully understand, this unique country and its people.

Each page of the app features a section entitled 'Metaphorically Speaking' - a testimony to the English love of metaphors, which can often cause confusion if English is not your native language. These sections explore some of the many unusual metaphors a visitor might hear, and offer helpful advice on when to use them. Featuring humorous illustrations throughout, this is a hilarious and informative read for all nationalities.

Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.

AVAILABLE NOW for iPod Touch/iPhone and iPad on the iTunes App Store. Price: £2.49 UK / $3.99 US

AT LAST! THE ALFA ROMEO V6 ENGINE HIGH-PERFORMANCE MANUAL IS NOW AVAILABLE

Years in the making and following in the tracks of the author's well-known Alfa DOHC tuning manual this new book is the result of a huge amount of research and firsthand experience gained through many projects concerning Alfa V6 rear-wheel drive models, from the GTV6 series to the last of the 75 3.0 models.
A wealth of completely new information can be found here regarding cylinder head modifications, big brake modifications, LSD adjustment procedure, suspension modifications for road and track, electrical system improvements, flowbench diagrams, dyno plots, and much more!
The Alfa V6 has been around for nearly three decades, so this comprehensive performance-enhancing guide for the Alfa V6 is long overdue. V6 enthusiasts everywhere now have a perfect guide for preserving, improving and modifying these excellent cars.
Covers Alfa Romeo 1981-1993 on GTV6 and 75 2.5 and 3.0-litre rear-wheel drive models and all 3-litre Alfa Romeo 164 models.
With over 200 photos and diagrams, and including coverage of the peripheral modifications necessary to deal with the massive increase in power, this book is a must-have for any Alfista.

AVAILABLE NOW!
The Alfa Romeo V6 Engine High-performance Manual (SpeedPro)
By Jim Kartalamakis
Alfa Romeo V6 engines and cars have been around for a good 25 years now, so it is about time enthusiasts of these great cars were offered a tuning/performance manual leading to more power, pleasure and excitement from the last high performance rwd Alfas.
Here is the first ever Alfa V6 tuning book covering all aspects of engine/chassis improvements. Cylinder head mods, flowbench diagrams and dyno plots, big-brake conversions and suspension mods as well as electrical system improvements. More info.

FIRST GLANCE: JAGUAR C-X16

The Jaguar C-X16 production concept will make its global debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 13.

Designed by the same team that produced the Jaguar XJ, XF and XK – headed by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum – the C-X16 concept is a precursor to future Jaguar sports cars that will aim to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology.

As the concept neared completion Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar Cars commented: 'Great Jaguars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future. The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate.'

Adrian Hallmark, Global Brand Director, Jaguar Cars commented: 'Jaguar has set in place bold, ambitious plans for the future. This production concept demonstrates the depth of design and engineering ability we have within Jaguar to make these plans come to life – I look forward to sharing this latest, exciting step at the Frankfurt Motor Show.'

Source: Jaguar

Available now from Veloce!

Jaguar XJ220 – The Inside Story By Mike Moreton
The Jaguar XJ220 supercar evolved from Jim Randle’s sensational 1988 UK Motor Show concept car.
The planned production of 350 limited edition cars, each with a price tag of £360,000, was over-subscribed by a factor of four in a single day!
In this book, Mike Moreton, ace director of impossible projects, who was headhunted for the XJ220 project by Tom Walkinshaw, relives the extraordinary inside story of this fantastic, hi-tech car. More info.

Jaguar Trivia AVAILABLE NOW for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad on the iTunes App Store.

STIRLING MOSS MAKES TRACKS FOR CHELSEA

He might have retired (at the age of 81, no less!) from competitive motor racing, but Sir Stirling Moss OBE is still living life in the fast lane.

And one of the motor racing legend’s first public appearances since hanging up his famous ‘Herbert Johnson’ – his white, open-faced crash helmet from the 1960s – will be as Patron of Chelsea AutoLegends.

It’s a fitting link. Moss has lived in London all his working life while Chelsea AutoLegends has been described as London’s greatest show on wheels. It will be held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Sunday 4 September.

“London is the centre of the world, a place with a real pulse. It is entirely fitting that somewhere as great as our capital has a show as dynamic as Chelsea AutoLegends,” said the 16-time Grand Prix winner.

Sir Stirling’s top flight motor racing career ended in a high speed accident at the Goodwood circuit in 1962, but a more recent career in historic motor sport ended in less dramatic circumstances, this June.

Halfway through qualifying his Porsche RS61 for the Le Mans Legends event, he suddenly realised it was time to call it quits. He drove back to the pits, got out of the car and announced his retirement. “I scared myself and I always said that, if I felt I was not up to it or that I was getting in the way of fellow competitors, then I would retire,” he said.

While he might no longer be driving in anger, Moss still plans to be involved in historic motorsport events, giving demonstrations runs or, as at Chelsea AutoLegends, being involved as a figurehead.

Special themes at the show will include displays of Le Mans cars over the years, Group B rally cars and classic bikes. There will be cavalcades of supercars and motorcycles arriving at the show during the day, plus special tributes to the Jaguar E-type and Mini Cooper – both 50-years-old this year.

The ten most significant road cars of all times, as voted by Autocar magazine, will be on official display with countless other classics in the car parks. It’s not just cars but people, too. As well as Sir Stirling, multiple two-wheel World Champion Phil Read and rally hero Russell Brookes will also visit.

And in keeping with the venue which is just a stone’s throw from the Kings Road, and the many displays from the Swinging Sixties, it is hoped that visitors will get into the spirit of the day by wearing mini skirts, kaftans and bell-bottoms and put flowers in their hair.

Source: Chelsea Auto Legends

Check out our exclusive interview with Sir Stirling Moss on the Veloce YouTube channel!

THE GOODWOOD REVIVAL HONOURS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE JAGUAR E-TYPE

In just six weeks time, the finest collection of significant and authentic racing Jaguar E-types ever assembled will gather at the 2011 Goodwood Revival (16-18 September) for an exceptionalFordwater Trophy race.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the most iconic of British sport cars, as an exclusive race for 2011, Goodwood’s Fordwater Trophy will feature a grid exclusively made up of Jaguar E-types of a type that raced up to 1966. The race will be a 45-minute two-driver race, with driver changes in the pits between 15 and 30 minutes.

The Fordwater Trophy will feature an extraordinary mix of historically-significant competition E-types, including six of the 12 lightweights still in existence racing, plus three more of the surviving cars present on static display.

With significant racing E-type low drag coupés, roadsters and fixed head coupés also competing, the race promises to make for an intriguing spectacle and a fitting tribute to Britain’s most popular sports car and its special relationship with Goodwood.

An exceptional line-up of top drivers will campaign the Jaguars, including ex-F1 stars Gerhard Berger, Jackie Oliver, Jochen Mass, Adrian Newey, Desiré Wilson and Tiff Needell, touring car legends Andy Priaulx, John Cleland and Anthony Reid, ex-Jaguar Le Mans winner Andy Wallace and actor and comedian Rowan Atkinson.

Source: Goodwood

BOOK LAUNCH AT GOODWOOD REVIVAL 2011!
Driven by Desire - The Desiré Wilson story
By Alan Wilson
Forewords by Lord March & Derek Bell MBE.

The story of the driver rated by many as the best woman ever to race cars, and the most capable ever to have driven in Formula One. This fascinating book shows that a woman can, and did, fight her way to the top of motorsport.

Click here for more info about the book!

NISSAN TO GIVE LINCOLN A PUBLIC PLUG

Nissan is to fund the installation of Lincoln’s first public electric vehicle charging point, following the recent Top Gear feature which highlighted the lack of charging infrastructure in the East Midlands city.

In the television programme, presenters Jeremy Clarkson and James May drove a pair of electric vehicles, including the Nissan LEAF, into the centre of Lincoln in an attempt to find somewhere to charge their cars.

Having failed to find any public infrastructure the pair were forced to charge at the University in the centre of the city, dangling cables through an open window.

Should the presenters choose to attempt the journey again in future, they will discover a newly-installed PodPoint charging unit dedicated to them. With two sockets, it would allow both Jeremy and James to recharge their batteries at the same time.

Charging will be free of charge to electric vehicle owners.

Councillor Fay Smith, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services and Public Protection at the City of Lincoln Council, said: "The Top Gear programme highlighted the fact that Lincoln does not currently provide for electric cars and we're really pleased that Nissan is now funding a charging point. We're committed to reducing the city's carbon footprint, but know that we can't do it alone, so it's great that private businesses like Nissan are getting behind this and putting in the infrastructure."

The PodPoint charging unit is due to be installed before the end of the month and the presenters will be invited to return to Lincoln and be the first to plug in to the new charger.

Top Gear Executive Producer Andy Wilman said: "This is excellent news for the electric car community of Lincoln. If the charging point had existed when Top Gear were there, James wouldn't now be walking around with Jeremy's name tattooed on his bottom. Still, better late than never."

Nissan’s Executive Vice President Andy Palmer said: “Research tells us that most LEAF owners will charge their car at home or at their place of work, but drivers like having the ability to ‘top up’ their charge when they are out and about, especially if they are making longer journeys. With its new charging points and the fame generated by Top Gear, Lincoln could find itself becoming a tourist destination for Nissan LEAF owners.”

Source: Nissan

Electric Cars – The Future is Now!
By Arvid Linde
Written by Arvid Linde, winner of the headlineauto 2010 award for ‘Rising Star of Year.'

What if we all had to say goodbye to petrol cars tomorrow? Would you be ready? This book will help you find out. With a concise catalogue covering the best production models and the most promising prototypes, this book is the definitive guide to the future of motoring.

Click here for more info about the book.

THE DUCATI MONSTER BIBLE AVAILABLE NOW

Image used on Veloce's new Tumblr page!

New!
The Ducati Monster Bible
By Ian Falloon.

When Ducati unleashed Galluzzi’s Monster at the Cologne Show at the end of 1992, few expected it to become Ducati’s most successful model. Dramatically styled, minimalist in stature, yet bristling with innovative engineering, the 900 Monster created a new niche market. Here is the ultimate guide to the Monster maze.

Click here for more info about the book.


Check out this Ducati Monster road test YouTube video!