Jaguar XF spyshots!

We've found some pictures on the web of the new Jaguar XF. The shots were taken by Richard somewhere in Austria, near the Grossglockner.

Aston Martin comes with a new sportscar!

Co-owner John Sinders confirmed in a car magazine that Aston Martin is working on a brand new sportscar. The car will be competition for the Lamborghini Gallardo and Ferrari F430. Aston Martin customers request a car with more horsepower, especially those who are driving a V8 Vantage.

According to John Sinders, there will be no turbochargers or compressors so all the power is going to come straight of the engine. Sinders also confirmed that Aston Martin will not build a SUV.

We will keep you updated.

New shares for Spyker

Spyker has issued new shares! Again! This time it's about 133.000 shares with a total value of 2 million euros. The new owner of the shares is a Swiss person named Alexandre Pesci. The 2 million is just perfect to pay off a part of their debt to Karmann, the company that builds the chassis for Spyker.

Issuing new shares is good for the company's rate on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange, AEX. Spyker shares have risen 5% since this morning.

Source: De Financiële Telegraaf

Finally! The Porsche 997 Turbo cabriolet!

It took a while for the official news but a new cabriolet has arrived! Porsche introduces the 997 Turbo Cabriolet. The car looks absolutely amazing even though it has the same stunning performances as the coupé version of the 997 Turbo. The cabriolet will have a 3.6 liter turbocharged engine that will get you 480 bhp and a topspeed of 320 kilometers per hour. Acceleration from 0-100 will be 4 seconds but if you get the tiptronic package, you save 0,2 seconds. Fuel consumption: 1:7.7. Good news for our gas stations...

The cabriolet only weighs 20 kilos heavier than the coupé version and it takes only 20 seconds to open and close the roof. Press release from Porsche:

Stuttgart. Dr.Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Germany, will be sending the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet to the starting line on September 8. The 20-year tradition within the 911 Series of the 911 Turbo with a classic soft top is continued with this open, top model. Firstly, the open 2+2 seater offers the driving performance of a high-performance sports car while still providing convertible driving pleasure. Secondly, compared to the competition the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is economical in its fuel consumption, thanks to its deliberate design, outstanding aerodynamics and advanced engine technology

As with the 911 Turbo Coupé, the Cabriolet will also be powered by a 3.6 liter six-cylinder 'boxer' engine with biturbo turbocharging and Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG). The powerplant already generates 480 hp (353 kW) and 620 Nm of torque at 1950 rpm. With the new, optional "Sport Chrono Turbo Package", which includes an overboost function, up to 680 Nm is even intermittently possible. The manual transmission version can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just four seconds. With Tiptronic S the time can be cut to 3.8 seconds. Both versions can reach speeds of up to 310 km/h. Fuel consumption for the 911 Turbo Cabriolet is 12.9 liters per 100 kilometers – an exemplary value in the competitive environment.

In spite of the convertible-specific reinforcement of the chassis and automatic and the extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats, the open version of the 911 Turbo only weighs 70 kilos more than the Coupé. The light, three-layer soft top, which can completely automatically be opened or closed in roughly 20 seconds, enables a low balance point.

Together with the running gear that is tuned to convertible-specific needs, which includes the active suspension system Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) as standard equipment, the new 911 Turbo Cabriolet offers the sporting driving performance typical for a Porsche 911 as well as extremely high driving safety together with appealing driving characteristics. The driving stability control Porsche Stability Management (PSM) and the managed all-wheel drive Porsche Traction Management (PTM) also contribute to its uncommon performance. The system with an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch can, according to the requirements, alternatively shift the drive output from the engine between the front and rear axles, and – with shift intervals of a maximum of 100 milliseconds – quicker than the reaction of the engine to load changes.

With a drag coefficient of Cw=0.31, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet travels at the level of the coupé models. Together with the rear spoiler, which automatically extends at speeds from 120 km/h – extending 30 mm further than with the Coupé, the vehicle is the only standard series convertible that generates negative lift at the rear axle. Along with its passive safety systems, including six airbags as standard equipment and the comprehensive rollover protection system – with steel tubing integrated into the windshield frame and an extendable rollover protection behind the rear seats – the 911 Turbo Cabriolet also fulfils all legal requirements for passive safety applicable in the worldwide sales markets. Furthermore, it is equipped with one the most high-performance brake systems. The six-cylinder fixed-brake caliper up front stems from the Porsche Carrera GT. Upon request, the race-proven and light Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB) ceramic brake system is also available for the 911 Turbo Cabriolet.

Also included in the extensive standard series equipment of the 911 Turbo Cabriolet are Bi-Xenon headlights, 19 inch forged wheels with two-tone appearance, an air conditioner, the wind deflector, the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) – with the navigation module and 5.8 inch color monitor and the Bose Surround Sound System, among other things. The basic price in euro for the Turbo Cabriolet is EUR 126,600. In Germany the price is EUR 150,862 (including VAT and country-specific requirements).

The coupé version of the 997 Turbo will cost 191.000 euro in the Netherlands, including the luxery tax (BPM). Prices for the cabriolet are not known yet.

Gumball 3000: Driver trying to flee in private jet

The Gumball 3000 driver that was arrested last week in Macedonia for causing a deadly crash, had tried to flee the country in a private jet. 30-year-old Nick Morley was arrested at the airport of Skopje a few hours after he got released from jail. It is said that the plane was called in from London by mobile phone. The full story by the Sunday Telegraph.

"The British Gumball Rally 3000 driver arrested in Macedonia over a fatal car crash was caught trying to flee the country in a private jet, police have revealed.

Nick Morley, 30, who is facing possible criminal action after a high-speed collision that killed a local couple, was detained at Skopje Airport on Friday just hours after a judge had granted him bail. He is said to have called the jet in from London on a mobile.

Morley has been transferred back to the remand prison where he was held after being arrested and interviewed following the accident on Wednesday."While trying to board at 10pm on Friday, Mr Morley was recognised by the border officer. It is astonishing that Mr Morley attempted to leave the country. He has got competent legal representation and the authorities have made sure his rights were guaranteed."

The brother of a wealthy property developer, Morley was behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 when it collided with a Volkswagen Golf near Struga close to the Macedonian border with Albania, killing the driver Vladimir Chepunjoski, 67, and his wife Margarita.

Morley, from Bowden, Cheshire, and co-driver Matthew McConville, 36, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, are alleged to have left the scene, although their lawyers say they waited for ambulance crews and reported the crash to police.

Border guards stopped them shortly afterwards, however, as they tried to cross into Albania in another contestant's car.

Mr Chepunjoski died on the way to hospital from severe head injuries, while his wife died on Friday night in Skopje. The rally was called off after the incident."

Source: Sunday Telegraph

Gumball 3000: Carrera GT crashed

We've found some pictures of the yellow Porsche Carrera GT that had crashed during this years Gumball 3000 rally. The car belonged to Team 25, driven by Franklin Duran and Alejandro Antonini. The cause of the crash is probably high speed and bad weather.

Bummer of this beauty...

Gumball 3000: Another innocent person dead....

Yesterday we reported about the first life that Gumball has claimed. The 67-year-old Vladimir Cepuljoski died after a heart attack in the hospital. We can now announce that his wife, Margarita Chepunjoska, also died. She died after severe injuries in the crash this Wednesday and is the second deadly victim of this years Gumball 3000 rally. We have a video of the crash site available by clicking here.

Our condolances go to their family and friends.

Thanks to RTL.

Gumball 3000: Ford GT crashed

Another car crashed in the Gumball 3000 rally. It's the red Ford GT, probably belonging to Team Dubai. The car crashed in Montenegro this morning. The cause of the crash is probably bad weather and high speeds.

Press release Gumball 3000: the end of the rally

Gumball 3000 has ended for this year. Maximillion Cooper decided to shut down the rally after the death of an innocent civilian in Macedonia. The Gumball 3000 Group has issued a press release stating that the Gumball 3000 rally will end in Bratislava this evening.

"Issued by Maximillion Cooper on behalf of The Gumball 3000 Rally - 21.30 / 03 May 2007

Following our earlier release reporting yesterday’s accident - As a sign of respect we have decided that this year's Gumball 3000 Rally will not travel any further and will end in Bratislava this evening, May 3rd 2007.

As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepulyoski who died today after an accident involving one the participating drivers.

We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be wrong to continue. On behalf of Gumball 3000, we once again extend our deepest sympathies to his family and we are doing everything we can for them.

This is the first time anything like this has happened in 9 years of travelling through over 40 countries with 1000's of drivers and it is with deep regret that I make this announcement.

Maximillion Cooper
Founder & CEO
The Gumball 3000 Group"

Drugs found in Porsche 911

Romanian car mechanics found 60 kilos of heroine in a Porsche 911 that is owned by the police. This was announced by an employee of the Romanian government today. The mechanics found the drugs when they were preparing the car for undercover purposes. After investigation it appeared that the Porsche was confiscated four years ago after the police had found another 60 kilos of heroine during a search. Apparently, the second package of drugs was never found. The car had been parked in the garage of a govermental building for the last four years.

Source: Trouw

Update: First deadly accident in the 2007 Gumball 3000 rally

Gumball 3000 made its first deadly victim of this years rally. A resident from the Macedonian town of Ohrid, Vladimir Cepuljoski, died on the age of 67 after a collision with a Gumball car and his own car. He and his wife were in their Volkswagen Golf when the Porsche slammed into Vladimirs car. His wife Margarita is still in critical condition in an emergency hospital in Skopje.

Police sources told Makfax that the two British citizens, Nicholas Morley and Matthew Convell (Team 74), were driving a Porsche 911 Turbo with Russian license plates. The Porsche was driving at high speed, crossed over the center lane and crashed into the Volkswagen Golf near a KMR petrolstation. After the crash they tried to escape in a BMW but they were stopped by the police near Qafasan at the Macedonian-Albanian border crossing.

After the accident residents that were in the neighbourhood went to the crash site. The passengers of the Golf were transported to a hospital.

We will keep you up to date.

UPDATE:
The Macedonian male, Vladimir Cepuljoski, died after having a heart attack.

Thanks to Makfax.

Oh my god, is this safe?

Party animal and weekly-in-the-magazines top model Paris Hilton will be attending the Bullrun rally this year. To get her on the road, she drives a Spyker C8 Spyder. The Real Bullrun USA is like Gumball 3000. Contestants race from one place to another in a week time. This years race will start in Montreal (Canada) and finish in Key West, Florida.

The Dutch company of Spyker will keep their fingers crossed when Paris starts in Montreal on the 12th of May and finishes on the 18th in Florida. Paris was actually invited by the organisation of the Bullrun USA.

Good luck and don't forget to bring back the car in one part!