Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mini Countryman by X-Raid set for Dakar]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/20/mini-countryman-by-x-raid-set-for-dakar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/20/mini-countryman-by-x-raid-set-for-dakar/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/20/mini-countryman-by-x-raid-set-for-dakar/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mini Countryman with Off-Road Package

Mini is gearing up to head back to Dakar. The company campaigned five ALL4 racecars last year, and took the overall victory with driver Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Jean-Paul Cottret. Second place also fell to Mini, and the remaining three cars soaked up spots in the top ten for an impressive finish. This year, Mini is headed back with specially-prepared Countryman models in competition as Peterhansel attempts to defend his crown from a new crop of rivals. The team will also make use of Countryman service vehicles, all fitted with an off-road package and a spate of Mini accessories to help them overcome the 5,000 miles of brutal terrain through Peru.

Those include a four-piece body kit made of durable plastic to help protect the body from dings and chips, and the beefy fender flares call to mind the exaggerated arches on the competition vehicles.

Speaking of the competitors, Peterhansel piloted his ALL4 race car to gold in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies this year in preparation for Dakar. We'll keep an eye on his progress once the race gets started in January. In the interim, you can check out the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading Mini Countryman by X-Raid set for Dakar

Mini Countryman by X-Raid set for Dakar originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Nov 2012 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 dakarcountrymandakardakar 2013dakar mini countrymanminimini countrymanrally raidTue, 20 Nov 2012 17:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20383407/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/20/mini-countryman-by-x-raid-set-for-dakar/20383407/article-detail.xml 20383407 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/mini-countryman-dakar-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/mini-countryman-dakar-628.jpg <![CDATA[Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 teased, confirmed and under development]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/volkswagen-race-touareg-3-teased-confirmed-and-under-developmen/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/volkswagen-race-touareg-3-teased-confirmed-and-under-developmen/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/07/07/volkswagen-race-touareg-3-teased-confirmed-and-under-developmen/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 teaser - Click above for high-res image

While the latter years of the Dakar rally (when it was actually held in Dakar) may have belonged to the Mitsubishi Pajero, in the past two years since the premiere rally-raid event was moved from its namesake in North Africa to South America, Volkswagen has dominated with its Race Touareg. But if the German automaker hopes to make it a hat-trick, warned their winning driver Carlos Sainz (a two-time World Rally Champion to boot), they'd need a significantly improved vehicle.

Our spy photographers caught a glimpse of the new Race Touareg undergoing testing in the Alps last month, and although they've only released this singulae teaser image, Volkswagen has now confirmed the vehicle's development.

Dubbed (predictably enough) the Race Touareg 3, the new rally-raid machine closely follows the mechanical formula laid out by the victorious Race Touareg 2, but will sport some vital improvements. These will principally center around the aerodynamics, picking up design cues from the new production Touareg 2 along the way.

Desert testing is slated to commence later this month in Morocco, after which the Race Touareg 3 will endure its first real trial by fire in campaigning the Silk Way Rally across Russia in September before hitting the Dakar Rally next January. Official press release after the jump.


Gallery: Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 Spy Shots


[Source: Volkswagen]

Continue reading Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 teased, confirmed and under development

Volkswagen Race Touareg 3 teased, confirmed and under development originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dakarrace touareg 3RaceTouareg3rally raidRallyRaidvolkswagenvolkswagen race touaregvolkswagen race touareg 3volkswagen touaregVolkswagenRaceTouaregVolkswagenRaceTouareg3VolkswagenTouaregWed, 07 Jul 2010 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19543356/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/07/07/volkswagen-race-touareg-3-teased-confirmed-and-under-developmen/19543356/article-detail.xml 19543356 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/vw-100706-1056web_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/07/vw-100706-1056web.jpg <![CDATA[Dakar Rally cancelled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/#commentsFiled under: ,

Since 1979, the Dakar Rally has never been canceled. Individual stages have been eliminated, but never the entire rally. This year is marks the end of the run: Dakar organizer ASO have decided to cancel the race in light of terrorist threats from Mauritania. The rally was to run from Lisbon, Portugal to Dakar, Senegal from January 5-20.

Mauritania was formerly a French colony, and the ASO (Amaury Sport Organization, the same folks who put on the Tour de France) is a French organization. It appears that anything French is a target for the time being: on December 28, 2007, four French tourists were murdered in Mauritania by "a branch of Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb," and threats have also been made directly against the race.

Eight of the race's fifteen stages were to take place in Mauritania. After being advised not to hold the race by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ASO felt it had no choice but to cancel this year's edition. It's regrettable, and a sad day for motorsport, but it had to be done. Follow the jump to read the full press release.

Thanks for the tip, Young!

[Source: BBC]

Continue reading Dakar Rally cancelled

Dakar Rally cancelled originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2008 paris dakar rally2008ParisDakarRallyamaury sport organizationAmaurySportOrganizationasodakardakar rallyDakarRallylisbon dakarLisbonDakarparis dakarparis dakar rallyParisDakarParisDakarRallyrally raidRallyRaidFri, 04 Jan 2008 09:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1077160/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/01/04/dakar-rally-cancelled/1077160/article-detail.xml 1077160 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/dakar_2008_cancelled_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/01/dakar_2008_cancelled.jpg -1 2