Fast and Furious 5 with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker

The fourth installment of Fast and Furious is a real theatrical success. Car tuning, racing, hot babes, and Vin Diesel: such a high-octane combination is sure to detonate! And Universal is banking on it! So I think there's not a shadow of a doubt that a Fast and Furious 5 movie is going to be green lit. The question is rather if any of the cast return.

Not really a question actually: both Vin Diesel and Paul Walker have been hinting at Fast and Furious 5. So you bet they're going to reprise their roles.

"Yes. Yes. I think a few pictures at a time ahead. I try to work out stories in the way I approach sequels. In that, Coppola way. I try to think out the story, even before we go to shoot the film that's at hand. So yes, I have been thinking about it (Fast and Furious 5). I actually brought up the idea of shooting both of the movies back to back to the President of Universal. He was like, 'What? We're just getting our feet back together."

Vin Diesel

"It's beyond rumors at this point. I've spoken with executives at Universal and they're pretty serious about it. They're developing it. They know where they want it to take place. They want to do it in Europe"

Paul Walker

And the end of Fast and Furious 4 has been clearly made with a new Fast and furious sequel in mind: you can but think that Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), aka Dom, is going to somehow escape and that Brian O'Connor (Paul Walker) will meet him again.

Justin Lin is likely to direct this fifth Fast and Furious movie. But it is not yet set in stone: Vin Diesel could indeed get the job. He's been working on a short film prequel to FF4 that should be released with the DVD. And I would no be surprised if this 20-minutes film was an opportunity to check his skills for him to take over the direction of Fast and Furious 5. Shall see.

No official release date yet for FF5 but unless they fasttrack its development Fast and Furious 5 is unlikely to get released before 2012.

Paul Walker has been talking about Fast and Furious 5 shifting location to Europe. Well, it could be nice but I'd rather see Fast and Furious 5 picking up picks up right where Tokyo Drift ended. Maybe with some flashback to explain how he went there. Some trick plot would then involve Paul Walker. Well that's my fan dream, I must admit indeed that I'm still obsessed with the Teriyaki's song:


What about you? How do you envision Fast and Furious 5? In Europe or as a follow up to Tokyo Drift? And What about the title: is Fast and Furious 5 just fine or do you have any proposition?
:)

Porsche Classic Racing Car Wallpapers 1280x1024

Porsche has been successful in many branches of motorsport, scoring a total of more than 28,000 victories,of which most have been scored by the Porsche 911 series over five decades.

Despite Porsche offered only underdogs with small engines until the late 1960s, they have achieved success in sports car racing, notably in the Carrera Panamericana and Targa Florio, classic races which were later used in the naming of street cars. The Porsche 917 of 1969 turned them into a power house, winning in 1970 the first of over a dozen 24 Hours of Le Mans, more than any other company. With the 911 Carrera RS and the Porsche 935 Turbo, Porsche dominated the 1970s, and even has beaten sports prototypes, a category in which Porsche entered the successful 936, 956 and 962 models.

Porsche is currently the world's largest race car manufacturer. In 2006, Porsche built 195 race cars for various international motor sports events, and in 2007 Porsche is expected to construct no less than 275 dedicated race cars (7 RS Spyder LMP2 prototypes, 37 GT2 spec 911 GT3-RSRs, and 231 911 GT3 Cup vehicles).[1]

Porsche regards racing as an essential part of ongoing engineering development—it was traditionally very rare for factory-entered Porsche racing cars to appear at consecutive races in the same specification. Some aspect of the car almost invariably, was being developed, whether for the future race programs or as proof of concept for future road cars.

GENEVA: Skoda Fabia S2000

Along with the “civilian” version Skoda also presented a racing study of its second generation Fabia hatch. The Fabia S2000 has been designed to comply with the new FIA Rally Regulations so as to compete in the 2008 IRC (Intercontinental Rally Challenge). In accordance with the regulations, the 4WD Fabia S2000 is equipped with a two-litre, four-cylinder normally aspirated petrol engine that delivers 280Hp. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see additional images & the official press release

PRESS RELEASE: THESKODA RALLY CAR STUDY

Skoda is going to continue in the more than one hundred years old motor sport tradition (anniversary was celebrated in 2001). The concept car S2000 was presented for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2007. It is an attractive demonstration of how the car producer will take up the great tradition again.

The S2000 is a concept car on the basis of the second generation Fabia Hatchback and has been designed to comply with the new FIA Rally Regulations. In accordance with the regulations, the car will have a two-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine.

The study Super 2000 exhibits fundamental benchmark data – 3,992 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,486 mm correspond to the values of the new Fabia. A clear difference to the serial model, however, is the 4WD, the roll cage in the interior and further parts of the car in compliance with the regulations.

Technorati: Skoda+Fabia, S2000, Rally, Geneva+Motor+Show, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007, pictures, images

Hit & Run: Spectators run over by rally car in Romanian "Raliul Brasovului 2007"

Unbelievable… and I’m not talking about the accident itself but about the cold-blooded rally driver who swept half a dozen of people as he slid out of course and didn’t blink an eye. The accident happened on Saturday during the Romanian Rally, "Raliul Brasovului 2007". From what we learned, three spectators suffered light injuries and one was seriously injured on the head –lets hope he’s all right. Ok, it’s obvious that the spectators where watching the race from an area, they shouldn’t have been in the first place, but jeez, you don’t just crash into half a dozen of people and continue the race as if nothing happened… -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see one more video of the accident

Technorati: Rally, Raliul+Brasovului, Accident, Youtube, video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Crazy Finish Rally Video– Ayayayayaya!

I think its about time we took a little break from all that "Geneva -madness" today, don't you agree? Since we talked about the Fiat Grande Punto Abarth and its S200 Rally car sibling in our previous post, I thought a euro- rally video would be quiet appropriate.What you'll see here is rally cars skidding out of control at this Finnish Rally race, probably cause the co-drivers weren’t properly briefed about that little turn in the road. Listen to the spectators though, one guys sounds like speedy gonzales getting a pole stuck up his arss. Ayayayayayay!!!! Don’t you just love rallies?

Technorati: Video, Rally, Youtube, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Flying Subaru Impreza: Video from Ken Block’s 171ft world record jump

More Car Videos

Last November American rally car driver Ken Block set a new world record for distance jumping in a rally car. Block flew his 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car a wacko 171ft (about 52 meters) off a special ramp that was built at the Lake Elsinore Motocross park in Southern California. The jump was made for 'Stunt Junkies', a Discovery Channel TV-series which conceptualizes, builds and executes crazy stunts like this. Although several grainy cell-phone video footage has leaked across the net since November the 16th, this is an official video of the stunt that aired on Discovery Channel TV for the first time this week.


Technorati: Subaru+Impreza, Ken+Block, Stunts, Stunt+Junkies, Discovery+Chanel, Video, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Video: 2007 Dakar Rally Winner Mitsubishi Pajero EVO

Formerly known as the Paris-Dakar Rally, the Dakar Rally is considered to be the toughest, the most dangerous but also the most famous off-road rally course in the world. However, that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Mitsubishi, which managed its seventh consecutive victory last Sunday with the Pajero EVO which was driven by the French crew of Stephane Peterhansel and Jean-Paul Cottret.

Note that from the 185 cars, 247 bikes and quads and 85 trucks that entered the race, only 109 cars, 132 bikes and quads and 60 trucks managed to make it to the finish line in Dakar after a shortened route of 7,915km, of which 4,309km were competitive.

Technorati: Mitsubishi+Pajero+EVO, Dakar+Rally, Youtube, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, Carscoop, blogs, 2007

Essen Show: BMW X3 CC Dakar Rally

The Essen Motor Show is'nt only about weird prototypes and souped-up “beefenwagons’’ as BMW prooves. The Bavarian car-maker made the global premiere of it’s 2007 Dakar Rally vehicle. The car designated as X Raid BMW X3 CC wears a 2.9-litre 6-cylinder diesel engine pumping out 286 hp. Jutta Kleinschmidt (the winner in 2001), who will drive the X3 at the Dakar Rally 2007 (starting in Lisbon on January 6), stated: "I would like to get on the podium". Wow, that’s original…

Technorati: BMW+X3, Dakar+Rally+2007, Racing+news, ESSEN+Motor+Show, 2006, tuning+news, , images, pictures, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop

Subaru Impreza WRX STI RB320: In memory of Richard Burns

To commemorate the unfortunate death of Subaru rally ace Richard Burns, who passed away last November from brain cancer at the age of 32, Subaru unveiled a special edition of its Impreza WRX STI model.

Called the RB320, the commemorative STI is available only in Obsidian Black featuring bespoke 18’’ alloy wheels and specially developed Prodrive suspension comprising Bilstein dampers, a sports spring kit with revised rear anti-roll bar and a ride height lowered by 30 mm at the front and 10 mm at the rear.

Also standard on the RB320 are a chrome mesh front grille, front lip spoiler, quickshift gearchange, side sill plates and RB320-branded gear knob, carpet mats and exclusive exterior badging. Each owner will also receive an individually numbered black alloy tax disc holder. The PPP boosts power to 320 PS at 6,000 rpm with torque leaping to 332 lb ft at 3,700 rpm. This reduces the 0-60 mph time to 4.8 seconds with a 0-100 mph (160 km/h) time of 12.2 seconds.

As a further incentive, customers placing early orders with deposits will be offered a limited number of places at a special RB320 launch event next March at Prodrive’s test track in Warwickshire.

Although the RB320 carries around 11.350 USD / 6.000 GBP worth of extra equipment it costs in the UK 56.950 USD / 29.995 GBP - an increase of only 5.700 USD / 3.500 GBP. The proceeds will go to the Richard Burns Foundation, which helps those suffering from serious injury and illness.

Technorati: Subaru+Impreza+WRX+STI+RB320, Richard+Burns, WRC, tune, tuning+news, autos, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, images, pictures, Carscoop

Vid of the Day : WRC Rally Roll over - Saved by the Tree !

If this rally steward was a cat, I think you'd totally agree with me that he just used 8 out of his 9 lifes in this incident! The funny thing is that after the Suzuki tips over heading straight towards him only to be stopped by a... tree, he calmly blows his whistle to get some help for the poor guy in the car !

Technorati: Youtube, video, clip, Suzuki, WRC, Rally, humour, accident, Vid+of+the+Day, autos, images, pictures, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop

Vid of the Day : BMW X5 Rally - It'll flip but it won't tip

Get a load of this rally car driver ! He not only gets to keep his BMW X5 Rally up on it's four after two consecutive flips that almost tip the car over, but he also manages to (over)steer the bimmer out of the edge of a cliff to safety and get back on track -truly unbelievable !

Technorati: BMW+X5, Rally, Youtube, Vid+of+the+Day, video, clip, funny, humour, rally+car, auto+news, car+news, automobile, cars, automotive, vehicles, autos, Carscoop

Mitsubishi Concept EVO X Rally Version

Now this looks nice. These photos, allegedly taken from a cell-phone at the European Mitsubishi Design Centre in Frankfurt, Germany, shows a scale model prototype of what may very well be the Rally version of Mitusbishi's long awaited EVO X -expected to be unveiled late 2007.

The photos (click to enlarge) where posted at a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO forum (EvolutionM.net). So much for the "No pictures allowed" sign at the bottom of car - LOL! Via Jalopnik

Technorati Tags: Mitsubishi+EVO+X, Lancer+EVO, Evolution, Rally, 2007, Concept, auto+news, automobile, autos, vehicles, automotive, cars, pictures, images

Colin McRae R4 Rally Concept

World Rally superstar Colin McRae unveiled a new competition prototype at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The McRae R4, conceived by Colin McRae himself, will be available to customers in the first quarter of 2007.

Designed by Colin McRae and Dave Plant and built by DJM Race Preparation, the McRae R4’s chassis is based on a steel safety cage with carbon paneling front and rear and a steel-covered cockpit area. The body was designed by Keith Burden and Tom Webster. According to the official site, suspension consists of twin wishbones with Proflex dampers

The McRae R4’s engine is a normally-aspirated 4cylinder, 2,5 litre Millington Diamond Engine producing 350 Hp. The rally car will be available in either 2 or 4wheel drive formats. Customers will be also be able to choose between two types of gearboxes, a 6speed manual or 6speed semi-automatic.

Colin McRae comment's: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a paramount symbol of the passion for motor racing. I could not imagine a better stage for the first static display of a car which is being conceived exclusively for the pleasure of driving, to accommodate the wishes of professional and amateur drivers and to reignite the passion in motorsport fans around the world”.

Technorati Tags: Colin+McRae+R4, Concept, Goodwood+Festival+of+Speed, images, pictures, autos, auto+news, automobile, cars, automotive,

Russo-Baltique Impression

World presentation of Russo-Baltique Impression

A resurrected Russian brand, Russo-Baltique made its first public appearance at the Villa D'Este Concours d'Elegance over the weekend. In 2005, German Gerg GmbH became involved in the building of the Impression coupe bringing in the capabilities of its Munich-based production facility.

Russo-Baltique Impression is ready for a limited-series production – 10-15 cars – starting from Spring, 2006. Each car production, including the preparation and approval of its exclusive specifications, will take 12 to 18 months. The Impression uses a Mercedes AMG 5.5 V12 bi-turbo engine that produces 555 hp.

The company is able to build 2-3 Russo-Baltique Impression cars annually. The price of a car amounts to approximately 50 million rubles -or about $ 1.800.000 or € 1.450.000...




The official press release on the new Impression:

It is the honor of Russo-Baltique Company of Russia to present to the honorable public a coupe called Impression – the first model of the Russo-Baltique brand after a long intermission. On the eve of its 100th anniversary, the Russian antique car brand – the supplier of His Highness the Emperor’s Court – is returning to the market of luxury and high-powered cars with this model.

The Russo-Baltique car brand’s history begins in 1907 when a domestic autocar manufacturing was established by one of the largest industrial concerns in the Russian Empire. Two years had passed before the first car was built – a 30-hp open two-seater Russo-Baltique 24-30. First years of its existence were marked by outstanding performance in automotive sport competitions building up the reputation of a reliable, ideal and elegant model producer. In 1912, a special sport model, Russo-Baltique C24-50, won two first awards in the Monte-Carlo Rally, and the second award in the rally in San-Sebastian a year after that.

In 1913, Russo-Baltique was granted a title of an official supplier of His Highness the Emperor’s Court.In 1914, the Russo-Baltique concern built the biggest aeroplane in the world – Ilya Muromets – developed by a remarkable Russian engineer Igor Sikorsky.

The First World War became a turning-point in the Russian history in general and the Russo-Baltique future, in particular. The subsequent Revolution brought an end to the Russo-Baltique production for many years.

According to our estimates, there are 3 complete samples of different historical models of Russo- Baltique remaining in the world. In 2003, a decision to revive the legendary Russian brand and to resume the Russo-Baltique cars production was made in Moscow. In 2005, the Russo-Baltique Company was officially registered. The main office of the company is located in the historical center of Moscow, close to the old Church of the Ascension at Uspensky Vrazhek.

Today, the Russo-Baltique company, for the first time in its history, has the honor to present the prototype of its new model – Impression, a luxury comfortable 4-seater with classic set-up. It manifests perfect style and quality attributed to all subsequent cars and brands of Russo-Baltique. With the cars of this level of perfection, the company will strive for returning its position lost in 1917.




The Impression coupe has been under construction in Moscow since 2003. The style of Impression is a mixture of the Russo-Baltique designers’ impressions from the Golden Age of the automotive industry – the 1930s – when car shapes won hearts both by their elegance and by their monumental size. For comfortable boarding, the car is equipped with rear-hinged doors. The radiator grille of the Russo-Baltique Impression is crowned by the historical heraldic sign picturing the Russian two-headed eagle - the official emblem of a supplier to His Highness the Emperor’s Court. The dash board of Impression is hand-made of a one-piece exotic African tree trunk, Zebrano, with naturally alternating black and white stripes. The steering-wheel rim and interior side panels are made of the same material. In combination with white metal these parts create both a unique and ergonomic interior ensemble.

While in the 20th century the dominant feature of Russo-Baltique cars was the Russian heritage of all their parts and their unique adaptation to Russian bad roads, in the 21st century the priority has shifted to innovations, perfection, and high technology of the car design and materials. The car quality, as it was before, will be a match to its unique title of the Court’s supplier reinforced today by new technological capabilities.

Technical data on Russo-Baltique Impression

Engine 555 hp bi-turbo V12

Gearbox 6-speed automatic

Suspension pneumatic, adjustable ride height

Wheels R22 inches, wheel rim of original design

Length 5.183 m

Wheelbase 3.150 m

Width 1.847 m

Height 1.433 m

Technorati Tags: Russo+Baltique+Impression, Autos, auto+news, automotive, press+release, cars, images, pictures