It might sound like an oxymoron to hear Toyota iQ City Racer, with its 1.3L VVT-i engine pumping out the ever-so massive 98-hp. But that’s not going to stop Toyota from releasing a limited edition iQ aimed at the French market with some sporty aesthetic modifications.

Only 300 units of the iQ City Racer will be produced with several color choices to choose from: Orange Tabasco, Red, Pearl White or Gray Aluminum. To give it the good ‘ol race-inspired look, contrasting racing stripes are added on the vehicle along with new mirror covers, a rear skirt with a black chrome exhaust tip, tinted windows, some imitation carbon fiber elements, City Racer graphics and 16-inch black wheels.

The limited edition City Racer will be available at €19,950 – about $26,000 based on today’s conversion rates – which might sound steep, but considering a Subway footlong is €5 in France rather than $5, we’re assuming it’s a fair price to ask out there in Europe.

GALLERY: Toyota iQ Racer

[Source: Topspeed]

Dacia has taken quite a different approach in revealing its latest minivan, Lodgy. Rather than traveling the usual auto show circuit and looking pretty on rotating pedestals, a unique, race-prepped Dacia Lodgy has been made to compete in France’s ice rally series, the Trophée Andros, months before any information on the production model is available.

While the race-prepped Dacia Lodgy’s general proportions are likely very similar to the production version, the rally car is built upon a tubular chassis with a profile that sits lower and wider than its production variant. Power comes through a mid-mounted V6 engine good for 355-hp to all four wheels.

Expect the production Dacia Lodgy to debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. No technical information yet, but a selection of four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines will be offered, including the 1.5 dCi. Sources have also claimed that the people mover will offer both five passenger and seven passenger trims.

GALLERY: Dacia Lodgy

[Source: Left Lane News]

One of the darkest days in motorsports is arguably June 11, 1955. On this day, at the Le Mans 24-hour race, on lap 35, Pierre Levegh’s Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR hit the back of Lance Macklin’s Austin-Healey 100 Special, and was sent flying into the crowds.

When all the smoke and dust cleared, 83 spectators had died and an additional 120 people were injured. Levegh had also lost his life in this tragic accident.

The damaged Austin-Healey was kept by the French authorities for 18-months, but was eventually returned to the Donald Healey Motor Company for repairs. Miraculously, this car returned to racing and it competed well into the 1960′s.

And now this infamous race car has found a new home. Bonhams Auction House has just sold this race car at their Weybridge Auction in Southern England, and despite the cars condition being described as a “barn find,” it still managed to fetch $1-million.

According to Bonhams, its last owner had bought the car in 1969, and it remained untouched until now.

[Source: Reuters]

In the world of motorsports, it’s nearly impossible for a new team to come out of the box and be competitive. So what is a novice group that is looking for success to do? Simple, partner with one of the most successful teams in the sport.

That is exactly what Toyota is doing by partnering up with ORECA Racing Group to take victory at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Toyota has attempted a win at Le Mans before, but that very expensive effort bared no fruit. Having learned that they need help, the Japanese automaker has gone on to recruit the French team ORECA Racing, which has been competing at Le Mans for the past 35-years and have achieved the top podium step in each form of racing it has ever competed in.

At the announcement of this partnership, ORECA Racing’s President Hugues de Chaunac said; “It’s a very big day for ORECA. To be chosen by Toyota Motorsport GmbH is a huge reward for the work we’ve done in recent years. ORECA has proven its worth at the highest level of endurance racing, winning the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011 and finishing three straight times in the top 5 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thanks to its know-how, ORECA now has the opportunity to work with the biggest automobile manufacturer, and on a project that’s particularly interesting. We are proud to support Toyota Motorsport GmbH in this challenge and we’re looking forward to an exciting future.”

Toyota will provide the new hybrid-racing powertrain, while ORECA develops a new chassis to compete in the LMP1 class. Next year’s Le Mans will be the 80th installment of this race and will be held on June 16-17.

To further encourage French drivers to practice eco-consciousness, France’s minister of industry announced a plan to update the CO2 emission points system for new cars.

New cars sold in France are categorized into four tiers. The revision will provide a scaled reward system for vehicles that emit 104 grams of CO2 per kilometer or less. Vehicles that emit 91 to 103 grams of CO2 per kilometer will receive a small gift of 100€ ($137) while vehicles that emit 50 grams per kilo earn 5,000€ ($6,800). Neutral cars fall between 105 to 140 grams per kilometer and are neither rewarded nor penalized. However, cars that emit more than 140 grams per kilometer face a penalty of up to 3,600€ ($5,000). Finally, if a car emits more than 190 grams of CO2 per kilometer, than an extra annual fee of 160€ ($220) will be in place.

By setting up this system of incentives and penalties, France hopes to encourage buyers to choose cleaner cars. This system will take effect January 1st, 2012.

[Source: LeftLane]

Marking the 20th anniversary of Mazda‘s victory in the world’s most demanding endurance race, the 24 Hour of Le Mans, Mazda has brought the winning Mazda 787B back from the dead.

Mazda’s 787B made history in 1991 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans by becoming the first Japanese car to win the event. It’s victory lap was also its last as after 1991, rotary engines could not participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jonny Herbert, who was behind the wheel 20 years ago, donned his nomex and racing helmet once again to hit the track. Mazda racer and TV star Patrick Dempsey also got a chance behind the wheel. Watch videos of the outing, plus an overview video of the 787B car’s 20th anniversary celebration after the jump!

Continue Reading…

Audi fans will be able to get closer to all the race action for this year’s Le Mans by logging into the company’s internet channels.

On their Twitter and Facebook pages, you’ll be able to get real-time video and telemetry of the race as it happens, so fans can feel closer to the action, even if they weren’t able to travel to France in time for this weekend’s race. Fans can tune into www.twitter.com/Audi__Sport and www.facebook.com/AudiSport to get all the action. Plus the free “Audi Sport” iPhone app will offer a live ticker.

Audi is campaigning three all-new R18 TDI’s this year, a car that has shown much promise in testing, and given Audi’s prominence in this sport, they are the favorites to take another victory this year. The drivers running in car number “1” are last year’s winners Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller. Car number “2” is driven by Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. In car number “3” Dindo Capello, Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish are taking turns at the wheel.

For those who prefer to watch the race action on television, Speed TV will be broadcasting nearly 24-hours of this race live.

FIA President Jean Todt will drop the flag at 3 p.m. (France local time) this Saturday to start this year’s event. Watch it love here: http://www.audi-microsites.com/lemans/

Marking the 20th anniversary of Mazda‘s victory in the world’s most demanding endurace race, the 24 Hour of Le Mans, Mazda has brought the winning Mazda 787B back from the dead.

Since winning in 1991, the Mazda 787B has been on display at the Mazda Museum in Horishima, Japan. The car has been carefully restored since its last 1991 post race overhaul, to open for the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans. The 79th annual race begins Saturday June 11 at 3 p.m. Additionally, the 787B will also take part in the Driver’s Parade through the Le Mans City center on Friday 10.

The 787B was powered by a four-rotor rotary engine that produced 700-hp. The 787B was the first and only Japanese car to win the 24 Hour of Le Mans. After 1991, rotary engines could not participate in the 24 Hour of Le Mans.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, members of the 1991 Mazda team will also return to Le Mans. The winning driver Johnny Herbert (England) will be joined by 1991 Mazda drivers David Kennedy (Ireland), Pierre Dieudonné (Belgium) and other team members.

Gallery: Mazda 787B

Never one for subtlety, Kanye West was spotted in Cannes, France, driving the absolutely belligerent Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss edition.

With no windscreen or roof, the SLR Stirling Moss is definitely a sunny day kind of car, and luckily the weather held up for Yeezy, who is doubtlessly clad in couture that costs more than a Hyundai Accent.

Good thing he’s wearing sunglasses too, since the sub 3.5 second 0-60 time is sure to impair your vision. With a limited run of 75 cars and a price tag of $1.06 million, this car is strictly for people of Kanye’s means, and separates the true ballers from the S550 driving plebeian MCs.

[Source: Celebrity Cars Blog]

Ever wanted to travel through the wine region of France with your friends in a gaggle of rare, expensive Ferraris? If you day dream about such stuff, not to worry, you are not alone, and now thanks to two companies combining their resources, it can come true.

DrivingXllence a supercar adventure touring company, and Risi Competizione which races Ferrari competition cars in the American LeMans Series are pooling their vast resources together to offer customers the ultimate road trip, featuring five Ferrari’s, namely the 458 Italia, 599GTB, F430 Scuderia, California Spider, and even the rare and out-of-production 575 SuperAmerica.

The program will involve driving through five French cities on the way to this years Le Mans 24-hour race. You will stay in five-star hotels, get special VIP grandstands for the race, plus available helicopter rides over the historic race track.

So if you tempted by this adventure, call DrivingXllence at 1.855.XLLENCE or visit their website for more information.