New Ferrari F1 car, VW and Lambo news from Qatar and FT-86 teaser ..

[Wouter Melissen]

This morning officially kicked off the 2011 Formula 1 season with the launch of the new F150 Grand Prix racer. The type and the big flag on the rear wing are a reference to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy. Compared to the outgoing car, the biggest changes are the return of KERS and the switch to Pirelli rubber. More subtle changes include safety improvements to the cockpit and wheel tethers, as well as a moveable rear wing. This allows chasing drivers to temporarily cut the drag to make overtaking easier. Ferrari were quick to state that the aero-package fitted to the launch model will be significantly altered before the first race in Bahrain. Weather permitting, the F150 will be shaken down this afternoon and driven again tomorrow to shoot promotional material. Testing will start in earnest next Wednesday and before that most of Ferrari's rivals will have also launched their cars.
Volkswagen went to two extremes at the inaugural Qatar Motor Show this week; the very sensible XL1 Concept shared the stage with the absolutely mad Touareg 3 Qatar. This is nothing more than a thinly disguised, road going version of the diesel engined Racing Touareg that scored Volkswagen's third consecutive win in the Rally Dakar. It should make for a very exciting machine to scoot through the desert that surrounds the city-state. VW subsidiary Lamborghini was also on hand and released the latest special edition of the Gallardo. Dubbed the Bicolore, it not surprisingly features a two-tone finish. In Europe and Asia, this version will be available on the LP560-4, whereas the North American market will have to settle for a Bicolore on the LP550-2 spec Gallardo.
Ahead of its Geneva Motor Show launch, Toyota released this teaser picture of the FT-86 II Concept. Although we can not tell much from the shot, this should be a near production-ready version of the upcoming sports car.

Enjoy the links:

2011 Ferrari F150 - Images, Specifications and Information

2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Bicolore - Images, Specifications and Information

2011 Toyota FT-86 II Concept - Images, Specifications and Information

2011 Volkswagen Touareg 3 Qatar - Images, Specifications and Information

[aiasib]

VW are showing their versatility! Nice. What's up with the weight of the Ferrari over the years? Aren't they supposed to be using lighter tech-ier materials? Or is it because of KERS?

F2007 (2007) = 600kg
F2008(2008)= 605kg
F60(2009) = 605kg
F10(2010)= 620kg
F150(2011)= 640kg

What gives?

[Matra et Alpine]

weight is controled by the F1 regs.
All chassis have weights added to bring them up to specs

[aiasib]

Aaaah right right. How silly of me to forget about regulations in F1. What was I smoking.

[demonrunning07]

VW Qatar...LOVE IT!

I'm gonna put it out there right now, I'd buy this before a Lambo (and it'll probably cost at least as much).