2010 Volkswagen launches Real Racing GTI on iPhone

Volkswagen is no stranger to promoting its vehicles using games for the iPhone and iPhone Touch. Witness such forgetables as Volkswagen Polo Challenge 3D [iTunes link] and Volkswagen Scirocco R 24H Challenge 3D [iTunes link], both by developer FISHLABS. Neither game is very fun to play, being on the early end of the curve for racing games on Apple's smart phone. For the launch of the new GTI, however, Volkswagen got smart and instead partnered with developer Firemint, which already has a well received racing game for sale in the App Store called Real Racing [iTunes link]. Together, the two companies have put out Real Racing GTI [iTunes link], a free version of the $6.99 app that exclusively features the new 2010 Volkswagen GTI.

We'll get to the game in a second, but the big news is that VW is putting some promotional muscle behind the app by launching a contest (view rules and regulations here) to give away six brand new, limited edition GTIs just for playing the game. Thankfully, your chances of winning are not tied to your skill level, and entering involves simply registering through the game and completing a race. What's more, you can enter once per day and Volkswagen will pick a winner each week for the next six. The GTI prize cars are limited edition models with numbered dash plaques, special interior and exterior trim and unique 18-inch black wheels.

As for the game, it's pretty solid. While only featuring the GTI and fewer tracks, all the gameplay mechanics are the same as the paid app. The control settings are also extensive allowing you to steer using either the device's accelerometer or a steering wheel on the screen, as well as choosing between auto or manual modes for accelerating and braking. The competition AI, however, is pretty weak, allowing you to pass them all from the back of the grid before the first turn and then hanging on the back of your bumper for the rest of the race.

So here's our advice: DO NOT download Real Racing GTI and DO NOT register for the contest to win one of six limited edition GTIs. We think we have a real shot at winning and don't want you all throwing the curve.















[Source: Volkswagen | iTunes link]

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Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Raceca

The new CEO of the Lotus Group has revealed greater ambitions in motor racing than only formula one.

Dany Bahar, once Dietrich Mateschitz's right hand man at Red Bull before switching to Ferrari, is now in charge of Lotus, whose name will be used by a new Malaysian-owned formula one team in 2010.

"We will investigate participation in Indycar series, GT and Le Mans racing amongst other series around the globe to demonstrate the shared technology," said Bahar in a media statement.

However, it was clarified that the Lotus F1 team will be separate from Group Lotus, and reports on Tuesday said the Malaysian carmaker Proton - the owner of Lotus - is looking over the team's license agreement for use of the name.

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McLaren LM5 Artists rendering

After revealing pictures and details of its first project the MP4-12C, McLaren Automotive confirmed a second and a third car were being planned. The MP4-12C would be the middle child, leaving space below and above. It's in the latter segment that Coventry University graduate Matt Williams got hooked on.

By recalling the old McLaren F1, Williams made the connection strong between his concept and the original. For instance he kept the three-seat layout with a central driver's seat and the rest on either side behind him. The three sports seats were designed from a racing style point of view with a slim profile and four-point harnesses. McLaren's Formula One heritage was not ignored as the multifunction steering wheel has a display for the tachometer and the lightweight chassis is of a carbon fibre construction.

Again, as a hark to the 1992 master copy the designer saw it fit to rekindle the BMW-McLaren relationship as far as the engine goes. Instead of an "in-house" motor the M5/ M6 V10 is preferred, also mounted mid-ship. Depending on the application a 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V10 can get around 515kW (700hp) so the choice is not a bad one, although the real thing would use a McLaren-developed powerplant.

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Lotus F1 with scale model heads

The Litespeed-managed Lotus F1 Racing team has released two photos of a scale model of its first Formula 1 racer that’s currently being used for windtunnel testing. There is no name for the new car yet, but more details about the team were revealed in an interview with technical director Mike Gascoyne provided along with the press release.

According to Gascoyne, development has already been on-going for a few months before the team entry was confirmed in mid-September 2009. Gascoyne is currently in Malaysia interviewing potential employees for technical roles. They are also recruiting various other personnel in the fields of admin, marketing and PR. A full list was published as a full page ad in the papers recently.

The team will be based in the RTN facility in UK initially but as previously mentioned the ultimate goal is to have a full technical facility at the Sepang circuit. However, when that happens a small UK base will still be kept to give the team a logistical advantage when the team is racing in Europe.

Lotus F1 aims to get the car up and running for a roll-out by mid-February 2010 in prepration for the Bahrain race in mid-March. The car is currently being developed with a few technical partners including Fondtech for aerodynamics, Xtrac for transmissions, and Cosworth for engines. Malaysian companies are involved in certain areas including some aspects of engineering as well as composites (very likely to be Composites Technology Research Malaysia).

There are rumours currently afloat about Toyota’s Jarno Trulli joining the new team. Trulli will likely take the senior role and be complemented by a more junior driver, possibly a Malaysian. Everyone seems to be looking at Fairuz Fauzy right now.

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VW to eye F1 only if costs are lower

An official of the German luxury car brand Audi has hinted that parent group Volkswagen might enter formula one if the costs continue to come down.
Reinhold Carl, managing director of Audi Singapore, is quoted by the Straits Times newspaper as musing that while budgets are dropping, teams still need to fork out "well over a hundred million euros" for an annual F1 programme.

However, after car marques including Jaguar, Honda and BMW pulled out, amid rumours that Toyota and Renault might soon follow, Carl admitted that the gains from being on the grand prix grid remain vague.

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Tokyo Show: Lexus to Display Two-seat Supercar

The appointment of racing enthusiast Akio Toyoda as Toyota CEO has breathed new life into the Lexus LF-A project. After being frozen some months ago the car has recently been thawed and spied testing around the Nurburgring. Speculation is that a near-production model will appear at this month's Tokyo Motor Show. Lexus will only confirm that a two-seat supercar will make its world premier at the show. "This concept vehicle epitomizes the purest form of driving exhilaration and performance," a statement says.

The LF-A has been under development since its debut as a concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. Back then company top brass spoke of a 200mph sports car to compete with the likes of Porsche 911 Turbo and the Ferrari 430. Since then spies have caught it on and off doing testing around the ‘Ring as well as other places. Word speaks of a V10 powerplant worth over 368kW (500hp).
Another highlight mentioned for Lexus is the Japanese premier of the LF-Ch 5-door compact concept car, a future rival for the Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. Unveiled in Frankfurt last month, the vehicle is equipped with the Lexus Hybrid Drive system, sports 225/35R20 front tyres, 225/35R20 at the rear and is 4.3 metres long

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Cool Car with Racing

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