Mazda MX-5 setting New Guinness World Record

By Kraig Johanssen

Mazda MX-5 famous around the world as a lightweight, open top, two seat sports car has recently set a new record as total production of the roadster reaches 800,000 units.

This important milestone was reached within the span of seventeen years and nine months right after the first production of the MX-5 started way back in April of 1989. The Roadster was certified as the world’s top selling lightweight, open-top, two seat sports car by the Guinness World Records of United Kingdom in the year 2000 when Mazda reached 531,890 units of produced MX-5.

And now Mazda is once again reapplying with the Guinness organization to have its record updated as its cumu8lative production reaches 800,000 units.

The presently available third generation MX-5 features a much better driving performance which is attributed to the meticulously reduced body weight, balanced weight distribution, and also to the latest features that are follows the safety and environmental requirements. Last August 2006, Mazda has added the Power Retractable Hard Top model to the Roadster lineup.

The introduction of the Power Retraceable Hard Top that features an electric roof system that doesn’t reduce cargo space has provided the world with another first in the field of car technology. Mazda plans to continuously upgrade the Roadster and at the same time still carry forward the original concept of “Jinba Ittai”—which is concept that sees the rider and horse as one.

According to S Kasthurirengan, General Manager, Towell Auto Centre, Oman, "To date, the MX-5 Roadster has won more than 40 awards, including 2005-2006 Car of The Year in Japan and 2007 Car of the Year in Thailand. Its world acclaim is invincible and we are glad to showcase such exhilarating cars from the Mazda family."

Towell Auto Centre offers quality service to all models of Mazda. It also provide highly efficient after sales service and give quick solutions to various problems encountered by their customers with regards to the Mazda model they bought. At present the Towell Auto Centre has a network of 10 service outlets and 10 parts outlets that offer high quality auto parts Mazda across the Sultanate supports customer service.

Towell Auto Centre’s service and parts outlets provide quick and efficient service with genuine parts available for all models plus with highly trained staff who takes pride on the quality of service that they provide.

Speed Channel's "PINKS: All Out"

By Evander Klum

There are various reasons why people get involved in drag racing. There are those who compete for the thrill of it while others join for glory and money. Speed Channel has provided a venue for those who crave for speed and they call it “PINKS: All Out” reality show which present a real-world drag racing in front of 15,000 fans which only makes it even more appealing and exciting.

Laura Bello of Bernville, Pa., commented, "Everyday people can become heroes for 15 minutes. There are no sponsors, just enthusiasts who come out and either watch or race."

Ms. Bello is a librarian and a grand mother. Amazingly she is also eyeing the $10,000 cash prize. She will be competing with her 2002 Pontiac Trans Am to Budds Creek. She didn’t reveal just how much she spent on her car or whether she has added some aftermarket performance parts like hooker headers for instance since she bought her car five years ago. But she said that if ever she won the prize most if not all will go straight to her husband as payback.

Bello together with Cox, and all the rest of the competing drag racers have started their engines to compete for the coveted $10,000 prize. The result of the preliminary rounds came to a close with only 16 cars remaining to continue to the final round.

However did you know that the 16 cars that made it to the final round doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the fastest 16 cars. As a matter of fact, most of the tome these cars were only able to run the quarter-mile in about 10.7 seconds while the fastest cars at the track was able to accomplish such in 7 seconds.

This is the catch, the producers chooses 16 cars that will be able to provide the best show for the viewers both at the track and at home. The Budds Creek episode will be aired on August 23, 2007.

According to Robert Ecker, the Speed Channel’s Vice-President of Programming, "I look at it from the perspective of, 'How can we make this the most entertaining TV show? hat's my primary objective. I'm in favor of anything that's going to shake things up, that makes sense that keeps us from a cookie-cutter format"

He also added, PINKS: All Out" is a spinoff of the original PINKS, in which drivers put their hot rods on the line in a best-of-five drag race series with the winner taking home the loser's car. At first, Ecker and other network executives had no idea if such a show would pan out. Three years and more than 50 episodes later, it is the network's second-highest rated show, behind only NASCAR events. All Out" was created, in part, to weed out the sandbaggers that had infiltrated the original show. Sandbaggers are entrants who race below top speed in the preliminaries but just fast enough to qualify for the final round. Drivers found guilty of sandbagging are disqualified in "All Out."

Kubica Can't Wait To Race

By Anthony Fontanelle

The North American leg of this year’s Formula One season did not go well for Polish Formula One driver Robert Kubica. At the Canadian Grand Prix, he was involved in a crash which saw his car totaled. Although he only sustained a minor concussion and a sprained ankle, he was not cleared by the FIA and the doctors to participate at the United States Grand Prix.

In what is called as one of the most harrowing high-speed crashes in recent memory, Kubica accidentally hit the back of the Toyota Formula One car driven by Jarno Trulli. This forced him off the tracks and into the grass where the front end of his car was elevated. With the tires off the ground, the Pole did not have the chance to steer or brake the car.

Unable to control the car, Kubica and the Formula One car was thrown and barrel-rolled across the tracks. According to crash data recovered from Kubica’s accident data recorder, the young Formula One driver survived an impact which peaked at 75-G.

Recently, Kubica expressed that he is already feeling well. “I feel very well,” says the Pole. “I received so many good wishes from all over the world and want to thank everybody for this,” he added.

The young driver also stated in a recent interview that he is bored with the way his accident has sidelined him for the United States Grand Prix and testing at the Silverstone Circuit. “I am pretty bored with doing nothing. I am not used to resting for such a long period - no test, no pr days. But, of course, I have used the time for my fitness preparation in Italy and am also in constant contact with Josef Leberer, our team's physio,” he stated.

Kubica is not the only active driver to have suffered a high-speed crash and live to race again. Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher met an accident at the 2004 United States Grand Prix. The German driver though was sidelined for months. With the possibility of accidents happening again in the tracks, Kubica maintained that he knows the risk and the accident would not affect his driving.

“I always knew that with a single seater and open wheels an accident like this could happen. Also it can always happen again. This is the same for every driver and we are all aware of it. I feel what happened is more encouraging than worrying thanks to the outcome that you still can climb out without being hurt,” says Kubica.

After his car was totaled at the Canadian Grand Prix which would have disintegrated the car’s BMW taillight guard if it had one, Kubica expressed his appreciation to the people who had made the sport safe for drivers. “The improved safety regulations from the FIA plus the ‘safety first’ approach of our BMW Sauber F1 Team engineers and designers have made this possible. I would like to say a big personal thank you to all of them,” Kubica said.

As for the upcoming French Grand Prix, Kubica has this to say: “I can't wait to race! But whether I am allowed to or not is down to the decision of the official doctors, who I have to see before the race in Magny-Cours.”

Blue-Green Cars

On the other side of the automotive world, the blog Blue-Green Cars is for those looking for information on environmentally friendly cars.

Cerberus Interested In Buying Jaguar, Land Rover

By Katie Jones

After losing $12.7 billion last year, Ford is facing financial problems which have led to the sale of the ultra-luxury brand Aston Martin. The European car brand was sold by the Dearborn-based car manufacturer earlier this year to give its financial status a boost. Lately though, the company is still posting reduced sale. This has led the company to put Jaguar and Land Rover in the auction block.

One of the potential buyers for the British brands is the same equity firm that has taken the money-loosing Chrysler from the hands of DaimlerChrysler AG. Cerberus, the private equity firm, is currently ironing out the purchase of 80 percent of the Chrysler Group.

Aside from acquiring Chrysler, Cerberus is reported to be interested in the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. It is reported that the firm has approached Ford concerning the sale of the two British brands. The talks though between the car manufacturer and the private equity firm have not resulted to Cerberus offering to buy the two brands.

Ford has already hired the services of financial firms to come up with a price for the Jaguar and the Land Rover. Merrill Lynch estimated that Ford could bring in as much as $1.5 billion from the sale of the two brands. Other firms and analysts have estimated that Ford can get as much as $8 billion for the British brands.

If Ford would indeed sell the two British brands for $1.5 billion, they will be losing a lot of money in the process. FoMoCo bought the two brands for more than $8 billion and they have already invested a lot in the brands. The losses incurred by both brands in the past years will also haunt Ford if they will sell the two for as low as $1.5 billion.

It is important that Jaguar should be sold alongside Land Rover since both brands are developed by Ford to become interdependent with each other apparently not expecting that they would have to sell them. Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles are even manufactured in the same assembly facility - similar to the way Ford manufactures its vehicles’ auto parts. The company manufactures components such as Ford window motors on assembly facilities which also produce Mazda components.

Another issue being looked into the possible sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Cerberus is how it will complement the Chrysler Group which is already in Cerberus’ portfolio. One suggestion is that Land Rover and Jeep vehicles can share the same platform thus reducing production cost. As for Jaguar, it is hard to place it in the Chrysler mix. One possibility though is that Jaguar vehicles can be equipped with the legendary Hemi engines which would surely make waves in the auto performance enthusiasts circle.

Once Jaguar and Land Rover is sold, the Premiere Automotive Group (PAG) will only have Volvo. While the Swedish brand is considered as premium, it is not a luxury car brand. This means that Ford will only be left with Lincoln to compete at the highly profitable luxury car market. The brand is currently being dominated by other luxury brands such as Cadillac, BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus. Ford will have to come up with a way to revitalize Lincoln so that it can be a strong contender in the luxury car market. As for Cerberus, taking on car brands which are performing poorly will truly be a challenge.

Dodge Remains Winless In Nextel Cup Season

By Anthony Fontanelle

Going into the Citizens Bank 400 at the Michigan International Speedway, Dodge teams are counting on history to give them their first win at the Nextel Cup season. At the said track, only Dodge and Ford cars have won for five straight years excluding the last one held last Sunday. Another factor that gave Dodge teams the confidence that they will finally rack up a win at the Citizens Bank 400 is the back-to-back second place finish by Dodge driver Ryan Newman.

Unfortunately for Dodge teams though, they have to wait for the next race of the season to take their first win this season. This is because not only did they not take a top ten finish, the highest finish of a Dodge driver at the Citizens Bank 400 is 23rd which was taken by Reed Sorenson in his No.41 Target Dodge Charger.

“We had a real fast car in practice, and I thought we were going to qualify better than we did,” says Sorenson. “I really didn’t know what to expect in the race, but we hung in there and got a decent finish. I guess we had the best finishing Dodge, but the Dodge Boys didn’t have a real good day today. We’ll get ‘em next week in Sonoma.” The next race of the season will be the Toyota/Save Mart 350 which will be held at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

The second highest finish by a Dodge driver in a Dodge brake pad-equipped Charger is the 25th spot which was taken by Kurt Busch on his No. 2 Penske Racing Dodge. “We had a good car that ran in the top five most of the day. We had to come in on lap 166 to change a loose lug nut, and the car got really loose after that,” says Busch about his car’s performance at the race.

John Andretti, onboard his No. 45 Petty Enterprise Dodge Charger, finished 27th. The next Dodge on the ranking is the No. 9 Evernham Motorsports Dodge which was driven by Kasey Kahne. “We were able to get the car to turn in the corners with the 2006 nose, but we couldn’t get the back of the car hooked up,” says Kahne. “We made progress as the race went on, but we couldn’t overcome the early deficit. I thought we made progress with the car yesterday and was optimistic we could have a good finish. It didn’t work out that way.”

Behind Kahne is Scott Riggs driving the No. 10 Valvoline Evernham Racing Dodge. Riggs has this to say about his performance at the race: “We were way too free on entry for most of the race. By the time we got the handling improved we had already been caught two laps down after a green flag stop. The guys on pit road did an incredible job today, and everyone has been working really hard and doing the right things.”

Ryan Newman, the most promising driver for Dodge going into the Citizens Bank 400, is hampered by a blown out tire. This cost him a good deal of time which eventually forced him to finish at 37th. “We had a real good car, but we didn’t have a car that could have beat Carl Edwards today. We just caught a piece of debris or something and it popped that tire. It wrapped itself around the caliper and rotor and stuff and it cost us three laps.”

Porsche Snubs Detroit Auto Show

By Mike Bartley

Porsche AG said last Monday it will pull out of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the largest in the United States industry, in favor of marketing efforts that more directly reach potential buyers. The luxury sports car manufacturer intends to concentrate on shows where it has more customers. The automaker plans to focus on shows in regions where it has more customers, spokesman Tony Fouladpour said.

Fouladpour said that Porsche gets better results when it spends its marketing dollars getting prospective customers into vehicles - such as at performance-driving lessons held at local dealerships than at events such as auto shows. "People are much more apt to buy if they drive the cars," he added.

Instead of having displays at many auto shows, Porsche decided to put a greater emphasis on personal marketing activities, such as local events where customers can test drive vehicles, said Fouladpour. "What we find typically is that the more people drive our cars, the more likely they are to buy them," he noted.

In 2006, Porsche sold 290 cars in Michigan, compared with 8,827 in California, 4,177 in Florida and 2,172 in New York. The decision is not intended as a snub to Detroit and the region, said Fouladpour, noting that Porsche is supporting the revived Grand Prix race later this year.
The North American office of Porsche said that it is re-evaluating its presence at traditional auto shows and wants to focus resources on interacting directly with potential Porsche customers to offer efficient performance like the Flowtech. "As a media showcase for new products, the Detroit auto show is clearly the premier international auto show in North America," said David Pryor, the company's vice president of marketing, in a statement. "Still, as Porsche strives to seek new, more personal ways to directly reach out and communicate to its potential customer base we need to look beyond the traditional consumer auto show - even ones that are highly renowned in the industry. For us, this is a strategic business decision that allows us to allocate our limited marketing resources more effectively."

The German automaker said that over the past two years or so, it has cut back from exhibiting at 23 North American auto shows to participating in nine such events. The news did not produce any buzz at Monday's golf outing for members of the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association who are also sponsors of the North American International Auto Show.

"There were no comments at all," said Carl Galeana, a Chrysler dealer and senior co-chairman of the 2008 auto show. "Porsche has been very, very good to us over the years. It's strictly a strategic marketing decision and I certainly respect it." Galeana said taht, if anything, Porsche's withdrawal is a chance for other auto show exhibitors to spread out. "It's a great opportunity for us."

Galeana said that he regrets Porsche's decision to leave and would welcome it back for future shows. The show is run by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association. "It's a shame because they're an iconic brand, but we respect their decision," Galeana said. "Certainly, they leave as friends. We hope to get them back someday.” Accordingly, next year Porsche in North America will only appear at trade shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Toronto.
The Detroit Auto Dealers Association has been pushing for a new or the expanded Cobo Center to host the show, but Porsche's departure is unrelated, he said. "I would love to say if we had more space Porsche wouldn't have left," Galeana said. "That really isn't the case. This is a marketing decision based on their sales."

Volvo Posts Wins At Swedish Touring Car Championship

By Glady Reign

The Swedish car manufacturer Volvo has always been known for their dedication to engineer safe vehicles for their consumers. In recent years, the company has also shown its concern for the environment by producing E85 capable vehicles. Aside from the vehicles, the company is also taking steps to make their facilities more environment-friendly.

More recently, the largest Swedish car manufacturer entered the Swedish Touring Car Championship with cars designed to run on bioethanol. The venture by Volvo in fielding E85 capable race cars paid off after they have taken first place at the first two rounds of the race event.

The Swedish Touring Car Championship is the first production car championship race to allow the use of bioethanol or E85. With the use of the alternative fuel, Volvo’s race cars produces 80 percent less carbon dioxide emissions compared to gasoline-powered vehicles participating in the championship.

The company’s objective by using E85 capable cars at the race is emphasized by Polestar Racing driver Robert Dahlgren who won the first two rounds of the event. “'Above all, this is a victory for the environment!,” says Dahlgren. The driver currently has the lead in the championship standings with 22 points to his credit.

The fuel used by Dahlgren’s car and the other Polestar Racing ethanol car is produced from the fermentation of sugar. To produce this fuel, organic materials are used. This means that it is a renewable source of energy - a good substitute to the irreplaceable petroleum fuel used widely by the global community for different applications.

Volvo saw the racing event to showcase the capability of engines running on E85. The said fuel is a combination of 85 percent bioethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Bioethanol can also be used in varying mixture with gasoline or as a pure ethanol fuel. In the United States, there are already numerous flex-fuel vehicles which can run on both gasoline and E85. Aside from the improvements being made by Volvo to their vehicles like reconfiguring the Volvo turn signal and the entire taillight assembly, the company also improves the capabilities of their E85 capable engines. The developments that Volvo has already achieved are evident in the performance of their race cars which have been fielded to compete at the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
Greg Maruszewski, the Regional Managing Director for Volvo GCC, has this to say about their recent achievements at the STCC: “Volvo winning the first two races while running on E85 is not only great news for Volvo but also for the environment, which is one of Volvo's core values. This confirms that Volvo can deliver speed, reliability and excitement both on and off the race track and that we can do it in an eco-friendly way.”

“We have already seen first signs of environmental awareness in the Middle East and I have no doubt that this will continue. I am confident that Volvo can play its part in this development,” says Maruszewski after the United Arab Emirates government announced that they will introduce a ‘Green City’ in Abu Dhabi. The said Green City will be dedicated to addressing environmental issues. As part of the Green City, the UAE government has already laid out plans to put up the world’s largest ‘Green building’.

BMW's Theissen On Kubica's Crash, Indy Race

By Anthony Fontanelle

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen divulges the crucial events in the recent Montreal race. He also gave hints on what is expected at the upcoming race in Indianapolis.

Asked about Robert Kubica’s crash in last Sunday’s race, Theissen said: "I was unable to judge the severity of the accident by the initial television pictures. Then seeing the first impact in the replay gave us all a huge shock. I was waiting on the pit wall watching the screens until the rescue work was completed and then went over to the Medical Center to see Robert. Having established that he had not suffered any serious injuries, I returned to the team to tell them the good news and followed the remainder of the race from the pit wall."

Kubica was discharged from the hospital two days after the crash. The Pole intimated that he is ready to race at the U.S. Grand Prix. "It's great that he feels ready to race and is not experiencing any after-effects from the accident. The Chief Medical Officer will have the final say after Robert has been examined in Indianapolis on Thursday. We are prepared in case Robert will not be able to drive. But, of course, we are all hoping that he will line up in the car at the weekend. The ideal scenario for me would be for us all to put the accident behind us quickly with a good performance in the race," Theissen commented.

At present, BMW is inspecting what was left in Kubica’s car including BMW radiator fan and chassis. [Kubica's F1.07] chassis will be examined in Hinwil and we will try to understand as much as possible about the accident. However, the damage profile gives us information we can use to further refine our calculations and further improve monocoque construction in the future. At any rate, the damage to the F1.07-07 chassis is so severe that it will not be used again on the track. If it can be repaired at all we will use it on the test rig. If it is totally beyond repair, it will be scrapped."

The Montreal race triggered debate on the efficiency of life-saving safety technology in Formula One cars and the possibility of transferring them to road vehicles. Theissen said, "The demands involved in series production are different from those in F1, as are the materials used. However, the aim is the same - to produce a durable passenger cell surrounded by crash elements which efficiently absorb impact energy. Everyday practicality, comfort and manufacturing costs all play a role in the production of road cars. In Formula One we do whatever is technically possible. The passenger cell and restraint systems are tailored to one person.”

He added, "In a series-produced vehicle, there are four, five or even more people on board. A road vehicle will generally be built from steel or aluminium, whereas an F1 monocoque is made of carbon fibre. While road vehicles have a crumple zone, the passenger cell of a formula racing car is surrounded by crash elements and designed to absorb the extreme forces generated by a collision. Formula One cars have to pass increasingly stringent FIA tests."

Despite Kubica’s horrible crash, BMW Sauber has one thing to celebrate - Nick Heidfeld grabbing second place. Moreover, the victory pulled the team’s score upwards. "I'm really proud of this team. Nick certainly did not finish second by default. All the incidents in Sunday's race took place behind him. That second place was his on merit - he was simply faster than one of the McLarens and both Ferraris."

Porsche Boxster: Most Satisfying Sports Car in America

By Zeke Gervis

AutoPacific, a California-based automotive marketing and product-consulting firm has just released the result of their Vehicle Satisfaction survey and after asking thousands of new car owners of their choice for the most satisfying sports car in the United States, the 2007 Porsche Boxster came out on the top spot.

The Porsche Boxster and Boxster S received the Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA), considered the industry benchmark for clearly measuring how satisfied new-car owners are with their vehicles. Boxster owners rated their cars highly within the Power/Acceleration and Braking categories, as well as the Cargo/Space/Capacity, Cupholders and Interior Storage areas of the survey.

“Sports cars are supposed to be exhilarating to drive, but sometimes difficult to live with,” noted George Peterson, president of AutoPacific in the Company’s release on Tuesday. “Owners of the Porsche Boxster indicate it delivers on exhilarating, but it is not difficult to live with.”
The Boxster remains a constant winner in consumer opinion surveys, thanks to the ultimate open-air driving experience it continues to provide. Its unique mid-engine configuration, numerous handling enhancements and greater active and passive safety makes it the acknowledged leader in its segment – definitely something you’ll wish fervently for if you still own and drive one of those Yugos (with their Yugo oxygen sensor).

Redesigned for 2005, Porsche's moderately priced sports car again comes in base and Boxster S forms. For 2007, Porsche has boosted the power of both models and modified the Tiptronic transmission to be more responsive for those who don't want to drive a stick shift. The Boxster's 2.7-liter horizontally opposed six-cylinder gains 5 horsepower (to 245), and its torque grows by 2 pounds-feet (to 201). Torque for that engine peaks 100 rpm earlier than the previous engine. It also gains VarioCam Plus for variable valve timing and lift control.

Both versions have dedicated head-protection airbags and the Porsche Stability Management system.

For 2007, the Boxster S comes with a new six-cylinder power unit enlarged in size by 0.2 litres. Output of this 3.4-litre with VarioCam Plus valve control is 217 kW (295 bhp), 15 bhp more than on the former 3.2-litre.Benefiting from this extra power, the new Boxster S accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds, one-tenth of a second faster than its predecessor. Top speed, in turn, is up by 4 km/h to 272 km/h or 169 mph. And average fuel consumption of the S-model is 10.6 litres/100 kilometres, equal to 26.6 mpg Imp.

Rivals include the Audi TT, BMW Z4, Honda S2000 and Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class.
AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year it publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters and its state-of-the-art automotive research facility are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area. AutoPacific releases VSA results yearly as a consumer and industry service measuring owner satisfaction across 46 specific areas related to a vehicle’s operation, comfort, safety and overall buying experience.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne® sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 300 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 213 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

2007 24 Hours of Le Mans Approaches

By Lauren Woods

The most famous endurance race is just around the corner and teams are busy preparing for the 75th Grand Prix of Endurance - the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans. Twelve teams have been announced that will compete at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. The number of drivers participating this year numbers 35 and they all share the same thoughts as former Formula One driver Mika Salo. Salo said: “There is no point in going there and being happy with second place.”

This competitiveness is one of the most notable features of this endurance race. According to experts, the American contingent for this year will have an immediate impact on the outcome of the race. Salo has this to say about what the delegation needs to do to get the victory at Le Mans: “It’s nice to be able to say that we have had so much success in America but Le Mans is a much bigger deal. There is no point in going there and being happy with second place. To succeed at Le Mans you have to stay out of trouble, spend as little time as possible in the pits, and maintain a consistent pace throughout and that’s what we will be aiming to do.”

Andy Wallace, the driver which set the fastest speed for a production car which has stood for more than 11 years, is also to compete at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. He will be driving for Dyson Racing. Wallace has this to say about his car and his chance at winning the race: “The car has already been fast this year at Monza and Valencia. The team has performed well so far and is tremendously experienced. It’s always a huge advantage if you have informational data at the track plus a reliable car. We have both.”

Another former Formula One driver in Allan McNish will be competing at this year’s installment of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He has won the prestigious race in 1998 and he has this to say about what he is doing to prepare for the race: “The motivation is the same as every year. Le Mans is the most important sports car race and very difficult to win. I’m looking for my second victory and my first with Audi after so many podiums. I’m preparing exactly the same way as I’ve done before. The team is well prepared. We’ve had a very strong endurance test. Dindo (Capello) and I have great successes in America. At the moment we are just hoping that Tom (Kristensen) will be able to race.”

Last year’s winner Audi will be coming back with a car with more power than an A8 with the Audi cold air intake system. Rinaldo Capello of the Audi Sport North America has this to say about what they need in order to win the race. “Le Mans is Le Mans. It is difficult to make a forecast because it is such a long race. It happens only once a year and everything should run perfectly that day. If it doesn’t, you have to wait 12 months to try again. After 12 months, you still have to hope that everything has to run perfectly. We know we have the best car. We have the best team and the best people in the pits. We just need some luck.”

Bugatti Veyron 16.4

By Jan Hvizdak

Following four long years of design and development, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4, the fastest legally-produced car which can be seen on roads, was finally ready for manufacture in 2004. Billed as the most exclusive sports car ever, the Veyron follows the example of its Bugatti predecessors – the limousines and racecars of the twenties and thirties, which are now among the most desirable classic cars available. The Veyron is the culmination of almost a decade of concept cars and design models, and concept became reality in the form of a limited production of 300 cars.

Performance

The outstanding performance, speed and acceleration of the new Bugatti demand safety systems to match. The single-piece unibody construction is made from carbon fibre, and achieves maximum marks in crash tests. This is complemented by both driver and passenger airbags for extra protection. High-speed tyres have been specifically designed for the Veyron to cope with speeds of over 350 km/h, and are fitted with a PAX system to guarantee safety in handling, even under sudden loss of pressure. The rear spoiler also provides an extra safety feature, acting not only as a source of downforce, but also as an extra braking function during emergency stops. When specific braking forces are applied, the spoiler changes position to provide extra air resistance. The Veyron’s braking distance is subsequently comparable to that of a lorry.

The Powerhouse

The Veyron’s W16 (16 cylinder engine with 4 banks) alloy engine occupies a unique position in the history of sports car manufacture. Its special design uses the VR principle – a space-saving technique that employs two slim, eight-cylinder blocks sitting perpendicular to each other.
The new Bugatti boasts 1001 horsepower, providing acceleration which is unparalleled amongst its rivals: 0-60 mph in 3 seconds, and 0-200 mph in an astonishing 14 seconds. With torque peaking at 923 lb/ft, the Veyron’s incredible power allows it to reach a maximum speed of 252.3 mph (406 km/h).

The Veyron’s directshift gearbox is also a unique feature of this vehicle. The 7-speed sequential gearbox transfers power to the wheels through a permanent 4x4 system. This results in acceleration from standstill to top speed without interruption – previously unheard of in the automobile industry.

Interior Styling

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4’s cabin is both luxurious and practical. It features high-quality leather upholstery (optional two-tone upholstery), magnificent metallic trim and controls which are carefully designed and laid-out for maximum comfort and accessibility.

Bugatti’s motor sport heritage is also evoked by the instrument panel, which features a central rev counter, around which can be found four smaller instruments. Unnecessary extras are deliberately avoided, further cementing the Veyron’s genuine sportiness. The classic Bugatti two-tone paintwork remains unchanged on the Veyron 16.4. Five different colour combinations are available for the car. In every combination, the darker colour is used for the bonnet, roof and rear of the vehicle, and the lighter colour for the sides and front wheel arches.

Jan Hvizdak works for sport-cars.org where you can also read about BMW headlights or Porsche spoiler.

BMW Sauber To Strengthen Grip On Third Spot

By Anthony Fontanelle

In the current Formula One season, Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is dominating after five races with both drivers tied for the lead in the driver’s championship while leading the constructor’s championship. The closest team that rivals McLaren’s dominance this season is Ferrari with driver Felipe Massa chalking up two wins already. These two teams are, without a doubt, the two best teams this season so far.

Behind the two racing giants, a pack of teams looking for Formula One supremacy is being led by BMW Sauber. The team is currently occupying the third spot in the constructor’s championship. Team boss Mario Theissen is looking to increase their lead over the teams trying to take BMW Sauber’s spot. Williams, Renault and Toyota are the foremost challengers to BMW Sauber’s spot.

After the Monaco Grand Prix, BMW managed to give them more breathing room by building a 14-point lead over fourth pace Renault. During the said race, Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella finished fourth but BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld finished fifth and sixth respectively giving more points to the team.

As the next race of the season approaches, Theissen has made it clear that they are going to improve on their previous performance at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Canada. After the Canadian Grand Prix, the team will be tackling the United States Grand Prix.

“Last year, we crossed the Atlantic in fifth place in the standings. In 2007 we will be arriving in Canada as the third best team,” says Theissen. “In 2006 we were only able to take two points away from the pair of races in North America. This is something we are naturally looking to improve on, and we are aiming to collect as many points as possible on the back of our good result in Monaco in order to further strengthen our position in the championship.”

The team’s drivers, Heidfeld and Kubica are both showing their driving prowess as the season goes. At the first race of the season, the Australian Grand Prix, Heidfeld finished fourth while Kubica was forced to retire. On the second race, the Malaysian Grand Prix, Heidfeld once again took the fourth spot while Kubica finished 18th. At the Bahrain Grand Prix, the third race of the season, Heidfeld continued his string of fourth place finishes while Kubica got his first point of the season by finishing sixth.

At the Spanish Grand Prix, Heidfeld retired due to problems with his car’s gearbox even if it is not made up of conventional BMW OEM parts but of components manufactured specifically for the demand of high speed racing. But while Heidfeld did not finish, Kubica took the fourth place again for BMW Sauber. And at the last race leading to the two races in North America, at the Monaco Grand Prix, the tandem finished with points given to each of them.

Looking forward to the Canadian Grand Prix, BMW Sauber’s Technical Director, Willy Rampf, is confident that they can build on their lead over Renault. “We were very competitive in Canada last year, and I am extremely confident that we will be able to come away with good results again this year,” Rampf said.

Speed Racer to Hit the Big Screen

By Zeke Gervis

A new live-action, high octane family adventure will soon grace the screen, courtesy of writer/ directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the highly acclaimed “The Matrix” trilogy and producer Joel Silver comes the “Speed Racer”.

Speed Racer is a story about a young driver (Emil Hirsch) who is aggressive, instinctive, and above all fearless. His only real competition is the real competition is the memory of the legendary Rex Racer who happens to be the brother he idolized. The death of his brother in a race has left a desire on Emile Hirsch or Speed Racer to continue the legacy that his brother has left.

Speed as what he is lovingly called by his friends and family is true example of a son who loves his family. He has shown his dedication and loyalty to the family racing business which is headed by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman) who is also the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5 which by the way could use some Merkur oxygen sensor. The story began when Speed turns down the lucrative and enticing offer from the Royalton Industries which has infuriated the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam).

Speed was also able to uncover a terrible secret---some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of unscrupulous tycoons who manipulate the top drivers to increase their profits. And since Speed has not agreed to drive for Royalton then it will see to it that the Mach 5 would never cross another finish line.

For those who are familiar with the Speed Racer cartoon series you of course know what happens next. Speed to save his family’s business and the sport that he loves, he has to beat Royalton at his own game. And together with his supportive family and ever loyal girlfriend Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams up with his one-time rival, the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) to win the race that was responsible for the death of his brother---none other than the cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

The Speed Racer is scheduled to hit theaters on May 9, 2008. This movie will also mark the Wachowski brothers’ first writing/directing collaboration since the “The Matrix” movies. Producer Joel Silver who has previously worked with the Wachowski brothers on huge projects like “The Matric” movies and “V for Vedetta” will once again take on the challenge of producing the film Speed Racer under his Silver Pictures banner.

The stars on the film are the following:

* Emile Hirsch (from the movie Alpha Dog) will portray the character of Speed * Christina Ricci (from Black Snake Moan) as Trixie
* Matthew Fox(of TV’s Lost) will play as Racer X
* Susan Sarandon (Oscar winner and star of the movie Dead Man Walking) as Mom
* John Goodman (from the movie Evan Almighty) as Pops Racer
* Kirk Gurry (an Australian actor from the movie Spartan) as Sparky
* Paulie Litt (TV’s Hope & Faith) as Sprittle
* Roger Allam (from The Queen, V for Vendetta) as Royalton
* Ji Hoon Jung (Asian music star popularly know as Rain) will make his major film debut as a rival driver

Speed Racer is a Warner Bros. Picture presentation in association with Village Roadshow Pictures of a Silver Pictures Production.

Jaguar XKR Convertible: America's No.1 Summer Road Trip Car

By Anthony Fontanelle

Jaguar’s supercharged XKR Convertible was voted number one in Kelley Blue Book's list of cars which were best suited for road trips.

Compiled by the road test editors of Kelley Blue Book, the Jaguar XKR Convertible was short-listed against ten other new product lines. The editors surveyed purchasers on which vehicle they would most like to take on the road this summer. At the top of the list was the Jaguar XKR Convertible and it well ahead of BMW’s 3-Series Convertible and the Chevrolet Suburban.
“In choosing our list, we wanted to include a vehicle for every journey - from weekend jaunts of one or two people, to week-long escapades that involve one or two entire families and maybe a dog and a boat,” said Jack R. Nerad, the executive editorial director and executive market analyst for the Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “Our selection criteria included all the tangible and intangible need-to-have attributes such as driving enjoyment, passenger comfort, fuel economy and cargo space.”

The 420-horsepower convertible from the luxury automaker is equipped with a reliable Jaguar catalytic converter, a navigation system, 18-inch alloy wheels, xenon headlamps, an all-leather interior, burl walnut trim, and side airbags. The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) is made an optional feature. Also, 19 and 20-inch wheels could be had for extra cost.

“The same sexy sheet metal found on the Jaguar XK is adorned with sportier accoutrements that reflect the 420-horsepower supercharged V8 and livelier suspension underneath,” Kelley Blue Book added.

Earlier, auto journalists have been given the chance to experience the thrilling ride offered by the convertible. “When I left, design director Ian Callum was doing battle on a few key issues. Many executives and dealers wanted a retractable hard top. Callum was willing to fall on his sword for a soft top, and eventually he won. A hard top would have forced the rear of the car to be a foot wider, there would have been nothing sexy or sporty about that," said Sue Callaway, an auto journalist.

He added, “Fast-forward four years, and here I am, stepping into a car I knew so well but hadn't seen finished. Experiencing the new XKR in the flesh was a jolt: Callum has done nothing short of put it through a sex change. Where the old XKR was an elegant female - feline, voluptuous - the new XKR is all male. Aggression smolders through the shrink-wrapped body panels; it is the automotive equivalent of a bodybuilder wearing a wet T-shirt. It works. Jaguar's heritage is as a racing and sports car company, so the taut lines are a direct nod to history.”

Callaway noted, “Inside, optional blond wood or aluminum trim feel thoroughly modern. The seats are well bolstered; the carpet is thick. And so is the tire smoke you can create with one good push on the throttle - in most any gear. What else? Steering-wheel-mounted paddles for shifting. An excellent and intuitive touchscreen navigation system. Clean, clear gauges. A ride that is invitingly plush yet performance-oriented.”

According to J.D. Power and Associates, and the top automotive information site by Nielsen/Net Ratings, Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Web site has been North America’s most-visited auto site for eight years in a row. Kelley Blue Book has provided vehicle purchasers and sellers with the information about new and used vehicle. The informative tidbits are essential in accomplishing their goals with confidence. The company’s Web site, kbb.com, provides the latest pricing and values. It offers the New Car Blue Book Value which reveals the reasons why people actually purchase new cars.

No Defending Race Winner For Upcoming US Grand Prix

By Anthony Fontanelle

With the first race on North American soil coming up, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is preparing to host the 2007 Formula One season. While the first North American race will be the Canadian Grand Prix, the track is already being prepared for the fastest cars in the world. The Grand Prix du Canada is scheduled to take place at the Circuit Gilles Villneuve in Montreal on the tenth of June while the United States Grand Prix is scheduled on the 17th of the month.

This year’s United States Grand Prix will have no defending race winner since last year’s winner, the seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, retired after last year’s season. The German driver has the record for the most wins at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His last team before he retired, Ferrari, holds the most number of wins at the said race at nine victories.
Of all the seven races held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Schumacher won five and Rubens Barichello and Mika Hakkinen each with one win. This year, only Barichello will be the past winner at the circuit who will be racing on the 17th of this month. Hakkinen retired after his win at the famed speedway in 2001.

The win that Barichello had on the United States Grand Prix is filled with controversy since Schumacher obviously slowed down to let his then teammate take the win. The said move is said to be payback for Barichello since he was ordered to let Schumacher win the Austrian Grand Prix to solidify his grasp on the lead at the driver’s championship during the 2002 Formula One season. The incident at the Austrian Grand Prix forced the FIA to take steps to prohibit teams from implementing team orders.

This year’s United States Grand Prix will be hosting a different cast of drivers since Formula One drivers have changed teams after the retirement of Schumacher. After the departure of the iconic driver, Kimi Raikkonen left McLaren to join Ferrari. He joined Felipe Massa who was the runner-up in last year’s United States Grand Prix.

For McLaren, two-time defending champion Fernando Alonso went on board leaving Renault. He was joined by the youngest driver to secure a Formula One contract - Lewis Hamilton. The young British driver is currently sharing the top spot with Alonso in the driver’s championship. The domination of the duo is evident in the fact that Team Vodafone McLaren Mercedes leads the constructor’s championship. The cars used by these two drivers are regarded as the best cars so far this season even without the use of performance enhancing parts such as Accel parts.
With Alonso leaving Renault, the team promoted test driver Heikki Kovalainen as a full time driver. He joined Giancarlo Fisichella who is currently on his third season with Renault. Aside from the aforementioned changes, other drivers who switched teams are Mark Weber, who jumped from Williams to Red Bull, and Alex Wurz who is making his return to Formula One after a hiatus. Wurz joined the Williams team and filled the seat vacated by Weber. Wurz joins Nico Rosberg who is making his second season appearance for Williams.

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BMW Sauber Prepares For Canadian Grand Prix

By Anthony Fontanelle

With the Monaco Grand Prix controversy barely over, Formula One teams are already making their preparations for the forthcoming Grand Prix du Canada. After the Monaco Grand Prix, FIA announced that they will be investigating a possible violation committed by team McLaren Mercedes with regards to team orders. Recently, Formula One’s governing body said in a statement that “(McLaren) did nothing which could be described as interfering with the race result.”

With that controversy officially over, teams like BMW Sauber which claimed the fifth and sixth spots at the said race are preparing for the next race of the season. The race will be held at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on the tenth of this month. The team is currently sitting comfortably on the third place behind McLaren and Ferrari respectively. They already have taken a comfortable lead over fourth place Renault. The team is looking to increase their lead at the high-speed track where the Canadian Grand Prix will be held.

Nick Heidfeld, the team’s No. 1 driver, is obviously looking forward to the race not only for the race but for the view. “Like most drivers, I really like traveling over to Montreal,” Heidfeld said. “The race circuit occupies an incredibly beautiful location on the island in the St Lawrence river, which makes for an unmistakable atmosphere. And the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve itself has a very special character,” added the German Formula One diver.

With regards to the demand of the track on their cars which, of course, do not come with BMW headlights, Heidfeld explains that speed is of the essence for the Canadian Grand Prix. “The race circuit occupies an incredibly beautiful location on the island in the St Lawrence river, which makes for an unmistakable atmosphere. And the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve itself has a very It is a high-speed track with long straights, but also some tight chicanes and a couple of slow corners,” he said. “To start with, the asphalt always has very little grip. When the track starts to get really grippy and the car is working perfectly, though, you can run hard over the kerbs in the second chicane. This chicane also goes downhill, and you get seriously close to the wall on the exit.”

The 30-year old driver also shared his apparent fondness of the city where the race will be held. “Away from the track itself, I also like the city of Montreal a lot,” he says. “There is always a great atmosphere there and the people get really excited about the grand prix. I usually travel to Montreal a few days before the race and have time to do some shopping in the city. I also like to stop by at a few galleries in the old part of town.”

Heidfeld’s teammate Robert Kubica is likewise excited for the upcoming race and the venue. “I am really looking forward to Montreal as it is one of my favorite tracks in the Formula One calendar,” he said, echoing Heidfeld’s affinity for the track.

Whether the team will once again have a good showing at the race still remains to be seen. Mario Theissen, BMW’s team boss, is expecting his team to improve on their performance at the Canadian Grand Prix last year. Last year, Heidfeld finished seventh for two points.

Mazda Puts Beauty in MX-5 Roadster Coupe 1.8i

By Craig Johanssen

Classy women are very meticulous when it comes to beauty or the physical appearance. The designs of their accessories are well detailed, glamorous, elegant and very eloquent looking. When looking for a car, the same characteristics are the basis of these women. Something that could further up lift their persona and that would always make them stand out in a crowd.

Mazda releases its classy folding hard-top version of its MX-5 – the MX-5 Roadster Coupe 1.8i. It is so glamorous from any angle that every woman will desire. Proportionately designed, the MX-5 was designed from the beginning as a two-seater convertible sports car. Aside from the very aggressive headlights, the side mirrors and the fenders look very much complementary in their appearances.

That is not all! Those features are just for the exterior. The Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 1.8i offers more advantageous features beyond its classy looks. It comes with a rear wheel drive, a fearless engine with top of the line Mazda engine oil cooler, and direct steering that gives the vehicle a clean and handy feeling as you sit low to the ground and struggle through the traffic and corner the edges of the road. In this aspect, the vehicle resembles a sports car which some classy women also desire.

It comes with either the 1.8i or the top-of-the-range 2.0i Sport engine. And either of the two gives sufficiently quick speed. This Roadster Coupe can handle the 0-62mph sprint in a mere 9.6 seconds. This is because of the 124bhp in a fairly light car. It is 37kg more than the soft-top version. This measure is not bad when it comes to the weight of a metal roof and all the connected mechanical things that are required to electrically lower it. Generally speaking, the car feels very alive and remarking.

According to Mazda, the vehicle’s exceptionally balanced driving dynamics exudes the “Jinba Ittai”. It is the Japanese philosophy which translates in English as “the relationship between the rider and the horse”. Green minds are not important in this aspect but the philosophy is really seen in the performance and dynamics of the vehicle.

Originally built in Britain, the vehicle has men fans as well because aside from its elegant good looks, this car has also not failed in performance (a thing that man drivers always look for).

Through pressing the roof-down bottom, you would be amazed with the retraction speed of just 12 seconds up or down, making it the fastest opening/closing retractable hard-top in the world. The roof lifts, folds and tucks itself away between the seats in the rear and the tiny boot. The boot can only contain 150 liters of luggage space, but it is not a hindrance at all.

What comes with a very classy vehicle? The answer: a very classy price. Its price starts at £18,530. Yes, it is a bit expensive than the entry-level coupe cabrios from Ford or Vauxhall. It is also around £4,000 more expensive than the Peugeot 207 CC 1.6 or the Mitsubishi Colt CZC. Nonetheless, if you really need an elegant and high performance vehicle, you need to grab this price.

Glamour, eloquence, excellent style, comfort, excellent performance, better engine, and class – everything is in the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe 1.8i. Whether you are a woman in style, or a man of strength, you will surely love this car. Grab it and stand out in the crowd!

About the Mazda MX-5

The Mazda MX-5 is a sports car built since 1989 by Mazda in Hiroshima, Japan. Also known as “Miata” in North America and “Roadster” in Japan, the vehicle was a significant evolution in the motor car industry since its introduction. It revived the roadster segment of sports cars while other companies were also introducing roadsters to their model ranges, such as the MG F, and the third-generation Toyota MR2.

For the record, there have been three generations of the MX-5. And each consists of huge technical, mechanical and electronic upgrades. The first generation (NA) was introduced from 1989 to 1993 and sold more than 400,000 units. Initially, it had a 1.6-liter straight-4 engine, and then a 1.8-liter engine from 1994-2004. The distinctive pop-up headlights became the standing image of the NA. In 1999, the second generation MX-5 (NB) was introduced. There was a minute increase in the engine power and its fixed headlights, and the glass rear window became its distinctive features. In 2005, the third generation (NC) was introduced with a 2.0-liter engine; its fender bulges over the wheel wells became its distinctive features.

As of the latest record this year, the Mazda MX-5 is the best selling sports car all over the world. It already sold more than 800,000 vehicles.

Expert Green Bloggers Comment on Speculation that Formula One May Require Biofuel by 2011

By Andrew Rideout

The adoption of green technology in the world of motor sports sets an example for consumers all over the world. With this in mind, Max Mosley and the FIA have outlined their goals related to sustainable fuels in Formula One racing.

One of the industries best sources is the widely read Biodiesel Investing blog. Their latest post openly speculates as to what type of fuel would be used, specifically “so far they have not indicated the type of biofuel they plan to require, but biodiesel is likely since Audi and Peugeot have used it successfully in their LeMans prototypes.”

Green Car Congress offered some top-notch insight with some additional comments made by Fia President Mosley. Their latest post outlined proposed sustainable fuel rules would apply to “all car manufacturers involved in the sport 2.2-liter turbocharged V-6s running on biofuel and developing around 770 horsepower would replace the current 2.4-liter V-8 engines that develop around 100 hp more,” while quoting Mosley directly, “Maximum revs would be restricted to 10,000rpm, down from 19,000rpm, which would make the new generation of cars much quieter than the current machines.”

Autoblog, a widely-respected green vehicle blog, provides some additional commentary, “the FIA wants to reduce costs and make the engines more environmentally friendly.” This post also to concurs with Biodiesel Investing's perspective by adding, “since a switch to ethanol could end up with even more powerful engines due to the turbocharging, maybe they will make the jump to biodiesel instead.”

Formula One is widely considered to be the most global of sports, in terms of reach. Will the adoption of sustainable fuels by leading motor sports organizations help lead to a mainstream demand for green fuel? Tuning in to the facts and opinion from the wide world of blogs is a great place to start.

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Yates Racing Remains Loyal to Ford

By Evander Klum

Nextel Cup team Robert Yates Racing has confirmed that it will continue to work with Ford the maker of Ford Focus performance parts for the next few years after Ford Racing Technology has assured that it has signed another contract with the team for the next five years.

Yates has been the subject of much speculation this year as it had suggested that they were working on a deal to power the DEI cars next year. Other teams that were working on with the Dodge power were reported to have approached Yates to have their engines built by them.

However Yates despite the fact that they have gone through some difficult period recently has promised to remain loyal to Ford. The team has been working with the Blue Oval Company for the past 19 years, and was able to achieve 57 NASCAR Nextel Cup wins with one championship in 1999 with Dale Jarrett.

At present RYR is handling two Ford Fusions in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series for David Gilliland and Ricky Rudd, while Stephen Leicht pilots the squad’s lone Busch Series entry.

Team founder Robert Yates said, "For Ford to come up and support us when we're not having our best days is really a great feeling. They're not turning their back on us. They're offering us plenty of help to get this deal turned around, certainly with engineering support, so we appreciate everybody at Ford, everybody that works on them and everybody that buys them. I'm very appreciative of having this deal. We’re happy about this being done because there was speculation out there that we didn't have anything or that we were looking elsewhere. It wasn't true, but it's hard to quiet your critics, especially when your competition is trying to shoot you down, so I want to thank Ford for being loyal to us."

The last race where the team has won a race was at Talladega in the year 2005 with Dale Jarrett and continued to show that their powerful engines by sweeping the front row at the Daytona 500 this year and by putting David Gilliland on the front row at Talladega last April.

About Ford Motors

Ford Motor Company is an American multinational corporation and currently the world’s third largest automaker after Toyota and General Motors based on the worldwide vehicle sales. Last 2006, Ford was the second-ranked automaker in the US with 17.5 percent market share, lagging behind General Motors with 24.6 percent but ahead of Toyota with only 15.4 percent and DaimlerChrysler with 14.4 percent. Ford was also the seventh-ranked American-based company in the 2007 Fortune 500 list based on global revenues of $160.1 billion.

It was also last year that Ford was able to produce about 6.6 million automobiles and employed about 280,000 employees for its 100 plants and facilities worldwide. Ford is based in Dearborn, Michigan, which is a suburb of Detroit; the automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated in June 16, 1903. Ford now includes many global brands that include Lincoln and Mercury of the US, Jaguar and Land Rover of the UK, and Volvo of Sweden. Ford also owns a one-third controlling interest in Mazda.

The Future of Bugatti

By Benjamin Hudson

The future of Bugatti, maker of the worlds fastest, most expensive car and subsidiary of Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker and manufacturer of quality VW car accessories such as VW cargo mat ---has become uncertain with the resignation of its president, Thomas Bscher. Thomas Bscher is a wealthy German banker who brought the extraordinary Bugatti Veyron to the market. He was also a former GT racing champion and owner of a McLaren F1, the predecessor of Veyron as the world’s fastest car has given Bscher the credibility that he needs for his project. His contacts and reputation were responsible for many of the 145 sales so far, at a pretax price of €1.2m (£800,000).

The revival of the popular prewar Bugatti marque was the idea of Ferdinand Piech who was then the Chief Executive of Volkswagen. Meeting the request of the Volkswagen CEO to enable the 8-liter turbocharged engine to rev up 1,000bhp and obtain a top speed of 250 mph has become a difficult challenge for VW’s engineers, which have resulted for the Veyron to suffer several setbacks before it was finally made ready for production at the end of 2005.

It was in year 2003 when Bernd Pischetsrieder, Piech’s successor has appointed Bscher to head the development of Bugatti as VW’s exclusive super-premium brand. Bscher was working on two ideas for a second model — a four-seater using the Veyron’s 16-cylinder engine and a technically sophisticated lightweight sports car that would be the 21st-century equivalent of the classic 1920s Type 35.

Unfortunately the ousting of Pischetsrieder last November has left Bscher without any hope for a second model. This is also one of the reasons why Bscher resigned as president. The management of Bugatti has not made an official statement on the matter. Veyron production continue as planned---there have been 60 Bugattis delivered plus orders for a further 85 and it is expected that a total of 300 cars would be completed by 2010.

However, commentators could sense that somehow the decision of not to proceed with a second Bugatti is influenced by Porsche. It is no secret that Porsche has increased its stakes in Volkswagen making it as the major stockholder of Europe’s largest automaker. And as a major stockholder Porsche is given controlling powers over the affairs of Volkswagen. Add to it the fact that Ferdinand Piech, major Porsche shreholder is now the Chairman of VW’s supervisory board. There are rumors circulating within the company saying that Piech may want for future flagship cars to carry the Porsche badge instead of the Bugatti.

Aston Martin DB9

By Jan Hvizdak

The brand new DB9 is the embodiment of the future of Aston Martin. It is a two-seater sports car which sets a new benchmark with its outstanding mixture of dexterity, power, refinement, styling and craftsmanship.

With its extraordinary new aluminium-bound frame, the DB9 is widely regarded as amongst the most advanced and technologically intricate sports cars in existence. It houses the latest incarnation of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre, V12 engine, boasting an output of 450 bhp and a maximum speed of 186 mph. The DB9, however, has much more significance than its position as a leading sports car. It signifies a new phase in the history of Aston Martin, being the first car to be constructed by hand at the company’s new facility in Warwickshire in the United Kingdom. This is where all future Aston Martin models will be designed and developed.

Construction

Every panel on the DB9’s bodywork is made from either aluminium or featherweight composites, and the steering column and interior door frames are made of magnesium. The use of state-of-the-art materials even extends to the gearshift paddles, which are made from magnesium alloy. This technology means that the DB9 weighs in at just 1710 kg – extraordinarily light for a prestige sports car equipped with a myriad of luxuriant features. The effect of this weight on the DB9’s performance is noticeable, allowing the manual version to reach a top speed of 186 mph, and producing a 0-62 mph acceleration time of just 4.9 seconds.

Transmission

A ZF “drive-by-wire” 6-speed automatic transmission is available, doing away with a standard gear lever. In its place, the drive, park, reverse and neutral functions of the gearbox are controlled by buttons.

The automatic model also comes with a Touchtronic manual setting, whereby the driver is able to carry out gearshifts using paddles which can be found behind the steering wheel. Automatic gear changing has been designed to give perfect equilibrium between speed of operation and smoothness of gear changes. There is also a traditional, 6-speed manual transmission system available.

The dexterity and handling of the DB9 are supported by its perfect 50/50 weight distribution between front and rear. Such precision has been achieved in part by the decision to locate the gearbox at the rear of the vehicle. This is facilitated by a shaft made of carbon fibre, contained in an aluminium tube, which transfers torque to the gearbox from the engine. The aluminium wishbone suspension and dampers also improve the DB9’s handling.

Interior Styling

The cabin of Aston Martin’s latest sports model is constructed by hand, using top quality materials. This gives the interior an understated, practical character. Aluminium is used here too, making it the most abundant material in the car’s body and structure. The use of the lightweight metal extends even as far as the instrument panel dials. Top quality Bridge of Weir leather trim is used in the DB9’s cabin, and the Aston Martin’s audio system has been specially designed by UK audio experts Linn.

The DB9 went on sale in spring 2004 as a replacement for the DB7. Its predecessor was the most successful Aston Martin ever built.

In co-operation with Kiersten Stetser and Rod Brito there is another Aston Martin DB9 review on the web. This article's author Jan Hvizdak also wrote review on Mercedes-Benz E Guard car.

Mercedes-Benz to offer SLR McLaren in 2008

By Dwyane Thomas

German auto maker Mercedes-Benz announced its offer for 2008 the SLR McLaren super sports car.

With trademark quality Mercedes parts like Mercedes car headlights, the vehicle exudes the latest Formula 1 technology from the Vodafone-McLaren-Mercedes racing team. SLR McLarens handling characteristics is provided by the carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials that comprises the vehicle. Of course, safety is not a question here, since Mercedes is known for excellent safety features.

Because of its fully retractable top, the SLR McLaren gives excellent open-air driving experience that is suitable for daily use. To achieve a top speed of 207 mph, the car is powered by a supercharged compressor 617-hp AMG V8 engine that measures 5.5-liter.

Since this vehicle has the Formula 1 technology, it can be concluded that it links with the racing cars. The Formula 1 silver arrow visually depicts this link. The style of the 50s lives on with this vehicle due to the lateral louvers, side pipes behind the front wheels and the wide-opening gull wing doors.

The SLR is fully designed to yield top performance. It has refined roof material, which is available in three different hues. It does not only assure daily comfortable use. It also promises a high-performance sports car with attributes which were only associated before to closed cars. In fact, you can sill talk to your fellow passenger over 120mph on open-air journeys. And that is because of the aero acoustics.

In less than ten seconds, you will experience opening or closing of the semi-automatic roof. You need to simply unlock the roof from the windshield frame and briefly raise it to open the roof. Then it folds electrically. An aluminum cover is installed into its front area so the roof closes very classy.

The wind tunnel gives excellent levels of handling, aero acoustics and aerodynamic efficiency. The 2008 SLR McLaren also has the aerodynamic concept found on the SLR coupe. This concept includes an airbrake installed into the access lid and a diffuser in the rear bumper. This provides increased down force on the rear axle.

Still part of the Formula 1 technology that are found in the 2008 SLR are high-performance carbon-ceramic brake discs for excellent braking performance, and the unique front-mid-engine design yields optimum weight distribution. The supercharged compressor that is 5.5-liter AMG V8 engine has a 617-hp and a maximum torque of 575 lb.ft. This is matched with an AMG Speed shift R five-speed automatic transmission that propels the vehicle starting from zero to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.

Mercedes would never destroy its image when it comes to car safety features. Safety is assured in this vehicle by the unique carbon-fiber crash elements, steel-reinforced A-pillars and two fixed roll-over bars. Further included are adaptive airbags, knee and side airbags as well as seat belt tension detectors and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

Semi-aniline-leather-upholstered carbon-fiber bucket seats (which can be individually adapted to the driver and front passenger through various seat pads sizes), dual-zone automatic air-conditioning (which is suitable for hot season), a high-quality BOSE premium sound system (for a cool and relaxing ride), and a multifunction sport steering wheel with shift paddles (that adds to the sporty image of the SLR) are the exclusive standard equipment found in the 2008 SLR McLaren.

To be delivered in the US in the fall season this year, the new Mercedes-Benz SLR is manufactured at McLaren's Formula 1 factory in Woking, England.

Porsche 959

By Jan Hvizdak

Porsche 959; The car with 4260 mm in length, with 335.6 kW output at 6500 rpm and torque of 501.7 nm at 5500 rpm is one of top sport cars ever manufactured.

Let's get back into 1981 when Helmutt Bott, Porsche’s head engineer, began developing the Porsche 959. His idea was to create a sports car which was based on the 911, but took the classic model to a new level in terms of design, performance and technology. Bott’s proposal was to maintain the rear engine setup, upgrade to all-wheel drive and test the model in racing competition.

The resulting 959 was not made street legal in the US until 1999. The US Department of Transportation required four vehicles for crash testing before they would grant their approval of a model – a request which Porsche were not prepared to meet. With the removal of the ‘Show and Display’ crash test requirement in 1999, the NHTSA passed the 959 for street use, on the condition that catalytic converters be fitted and changes be made to the mirror configurations. The refusal of a number of owners to cede to these extra demands means that many examples of the 959 remain museum pieces rather than street legal cars.

Engineering and design

The Porsche 959 is constructed from an aluminium and kevlar composite, allowing the vehicle to be strong yet lightweight. The rear boasts a 2.9 litre engine which powers all four wheels. The engine was not new – instead Porsche used their existing twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder Boxster powerhouse. It produces 450 bhp, with assistance from an air-cooled block, water-cooled cylinder heads and four-valve heads, as well as the turbocharger.

This engine had already seen action in the Porsche Indy Car, the ‘Moby Dick’ racecar and, of course, the 961. The powerful engine and lightweight design propel the 959 from 0-60 mph in an astonishing 3.6 seconds, topping out at just below 200 mph. Speeds this high raise stability concerns, which Porsche answered with finely tuned aerodynamics, suspension and ride height. The result is surprising stability at the top end of the 959’s capabilities.

The advanced all-wheel-drive Porsche-Steuer Kupplung (PSK) system allows for variable distribution of torque between the front and rear wheels. This capability helps the weight-distribution bias to remain stable under challenging driving conditions such as wet surfaces or heavy acceleration.

A racing classic

In 1983, Porsche introduced the 961 model. It was a version prepared specifically for racing, and won the Paris-Dakar Rally twice, in 1984 and 1986. It also achieved a respectable seventh place in the challenging Le Mans 24 Hour race.

Following the success of the 961, the street version 959 was released onto the market in 1987, at a price of $225,000. Whilst this price tag may seem hefty, it was a bargain compared to the cost to Porsche for developing the model. Production of the 959 ceased in 1990 after the completion of 226 European street legal vehicles.

Jan Hvizdak offers you another article on Porsche 959 at sport-cars.org. Naturally you're welcomed to visit site devoted to armoured cars which belongs to Jan Hvizdak.

All-new Pontiac G8 to unleash in 2008

By Jerick Brooks

Though the 2008 Pontiac G8 will be available in dealerships early next year, Pontiac introduced its all-new, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan at the Chicago Auto Show. As the first North American application of General Motors (GM) new global rear-wheel-drive architecture, the G8 is developed by GM’s Australian subsidiary Holden. The G8 has a styling packages such as a dual-port grille, fog lamps, bold wheels and a confident, wheels-at-the-corners stance. The design accents the car's performance lineage, with fenders that flare over the wheels, seemingly hugging the wide tires, making it very sporty.

Distinctive elements include hood scoops and front fender vents, and projector-beam headlamps housed in crystal-clear lenses. Jewel-like tail lamps are found at the rear. These are mounted in housings and feature bright detail work surrounding the red lighting elements. G8 models all have red tail lamp lenses and twin chrome exhaust outlets. At the rear of the roof, all models have a mounted antenna. On its power train, the base G8 model has a 3.6L DOHC V-6 with variable valve timing. Rated at 261 horsepower (194 kW), it is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode. Combined to give the G8 a confident, sharp driving experience are the 114.8-inch (2915 mm) wheelbase, 62.7 inches / 1592 mm wide front and 63.3 inches / 1608 mm rear tracks. These give a fully adjustable, four-wheel independent suspension system.

In the rear, the four-wheel independent suspension system has a MacPherson strut design in the front and a four-link coil-over-shock design. Tuning uses a direct-acting front stabilizer bar, decoupled rear stabilizer bar and lateral ball joints on the rear suspension. This system transcends increased lateral stiffness for enhanced handling.

The front suspension features fully adjustable caster, camber and toe while the rear suspension has fully adjustable camber and toe, which enables more precise, tailored suspension tuning.

When starting the engine, the brand assured that the Pontiac exhaust will release gases smoothly, making it more comfortable for the driver as well as the persons outside the car who will breathe in the exhausted gases.

As to its four-wheel disc brake system, the car has standard anti-lock and traction control features. The system is partnered with a standard electronic stability control system. Its features vented front and rear disc rotors, with twin-piston alloy calipers in front. The rear brakes feature alloy calipers with single-piston actuation.

The G8's interior delivers both comfort and convenience, packaged in a level of sophistication not often found in other cars within its price range. A driver-oriented instrument cluster positions the gauges for easy, direct line of sight. Between the large, round tachometer and speedometer, an electronic driver information center is located.

Attention catcher details include jewel-like instruments, selective use of satin and chrome trim and rich-feeling, grained textures throughout. The instrument cluster glows with crisp. While white light on the primary instruments and Pontiac’s signature red lighting enlightens the rest of the instrument panel cluster.

The seats offer firm support to hold passengers and occupants in place during aggressive cornering. As an option, the G8 models will also offer two-tone cloth or leather combination that pairs black with either red or blue inserts and color-matched instrument faces on certain exterior color combinations. With an all-new Pontiac exhaust system, G8 uses 362-horsepower (270 kW) 6.0L V-8 engine and optional six-speed manual transmission.

Pontiac General Manager John Larson said the company’s commitment to its performance DNA is showed in the balance of rear-wheel drive and the availability of V-8 power in G8. He further said they expect this vehicle to be very competitive in the segment where it belongs, even against cars that cost far more expensive.

Renault Ready To Challenge BMW Sauber

By Anthony Fontanelle

French Renault believes that the team is now poised to topple German BMW Sauber as the third fastest on the Formula One grid. With McLaren and Ferrari in a league of their own, Renault has thrived to keep pace with the BMW team.

Renault scored its best result of the season last Sunday in Monaco. Giancarlo finished just outside the podium places - scoring five valuable points in the course. The team showed a significantly improved level of performance. And in just over a week’s time, the next challenge comes in the form of the Canadian Grand Prix at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. There, the team aims to beat BMW.

Formula One’s reigning world champions have experienced a thespian-like fall from grace this season with neither Heikki Kovalainen nor Giancarlo Fisichella yet to finish on the podium. However, Renault technical director Pat Symonds believes that Fisichella's fourth place in Monaco signals a revival.

"We're breaking out of that really scary midfield group, and in breaking out we are of course moving closer to the front," Symonds announced in the team's podcast. "BMW are our next challenge and we're there, just that tiny bit behind them, although that will vary from circuit to circuit. There's still a little way to go to the Ferrari-McLaren battle, but I'm proud of what our guys have done this year to move us up, having accepted that things weren't right at the start."
Meanwhile, BMW-Sauber drivers Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld are relishing Formula One's transatlantic trip to Montreal, as the pairing bid to consolidate the squad's third position in the constructors' championship from the resurgent French team.

A remarkable performance in Monaco, where the duo took fifth and sixth places, took the Munich team's points score up to a striking 30 from the opening five grands prix and that is just six shy of its total in the previous year. Although Montreal was not BMW's most successful race of the 2006 season, with only a seventh place for Heidfeld to take away with them, the team drivers are positive they can excel at the demanding high-speed circuit, and maintain the team's 100 percent record of scoring points in every race so far.

“Like most drivers, I really like travelling over to Montreal,” Heidfeld said. “The race circuit occupies an incredibly beautiful location on the island in the St Lawrence River, which makes for an unmistakable atmosphere, and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve itself has a very special character too.”

BMW Sauber’s one-stop strategy in Monaco was not an ideal strategy, given that the anticipated safety-car periods never materialized. Despite that, Kubica came away satisfied with fifth place, especially as it put him ahead of team mate Heidfeld. Now he is focusing on the next round in Canada, where he predicts the gap to Ferrari and McLaren will become even smaller. BMW fuel pump, engines and other racing parts would certainly not fail them.

Asked if he is surprised at the rated of development, Kubica said, “We already knew at the roll-out of the car that it would be quite competitive, though we had no idea of how competitive. The guys in Munich and Hinwil did a fantastic job - obviously a better one than at many other team headquarters. But we still keep on pushing, because in the end we don’t want to stop at being ‘the third power’ - we have the ambition to take it all the way to the top. And I am very proud to be part of that plan.”

Better Dodge Viper for 2008

By Evander Klum

Dodge has made several refinements to its 2008 Viper SRT, giving the coupe and convertible the same aerodynamic numbers.

For 2008, the vehicle’s power train builders increased the engine’s performance, and best of all, complied with the regulatory requirements like the federal Tier 2, Bin 5 and California’s Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) 2 mandates. SRT builders worked with specialists from McLaren Performance Technologies and Ricardo, Inc. And here is good news for race enthusiasts: the Viper SRT now has the power of a race car which such as higher engine agility.

The refreshed vehicle has V-10 aluminum engine that raised the displacement to 8.4 liters from the former 8.3 liters. This yields 600 horsepower and 560 lb.-ft. of torque. It has new cylinder heads with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) shaped combustion chambers, bigger valves and Variable Valve Timing (VVT). When the exhaust valves are open and closed according to the speed and load of the engine, the VVT adapts to permit the engine to “breathe” cleaner and more efficiently.

The engine has two-piece intake manifold. This combines cast aluminum lower with smooth runners for the air to flow better. They are bolted to a die-cast aluminum upper plenum. The engine also has an improved low-restriction filter that sends air via dual electronic throttle control into the intake module.

And because it is refreshed, the Viper SRT comes with improved bulkheads, water jackets and blocks that have pressed-in iron cylinder liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps. The cylinder liners and bolts are built to yield durability and strength.

A plastic hood contributes to the power that the engine releases. It is used to augment the airflow through the hood scoop. Openings along each side are used to so that air can circulate within the engine compartment. This consequently keeps power to continue going even with a hot engine. The plastic lessen the weight of the vehicle and helped keep it at a low cost. Some body panels are also made up of plastic. For some structural parts, carbon fiber is used.
As to its ride and handling performance, the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 has fully independent four-wheel suspension. It features lightweight, high-performance aluminum control arms and knuckles that are moisten by lightweight coil-over shock absorbers.

You want to know about the wheels? The Dodge Viper SRT10 has smooth looking forged aluminum, 18 x 10-inch front and 19 x 13-inch rear wheels. These are now available in three styles. These include the five-spoke, the H-spoke and the all-new Razor wheel with five U-shaped spokes. These tires assure intensive grip, less noise and excellent handling.
To arrive in North America this summer, this new Dodge automobile will be available in four new interior color combinations, and a new wheel design. Plus, Dodge fans now have the options for bezel finishes on the center instrument panel and console. Both the Roadster and Coupe forms have an improved hood with a larger, more effective hood scoop for air induction and larger, functional hood louvers.

Dodge fanatics can now choose from eight exterior colors. The new ones include Venom Red, Snakeskin Green, Viper Violet, Viper Orange and Bright Blue. The stripe ones with six dual painted stripe colors (white, black, silver, graphite, blue, and red) are still options.
The front fascia and fenders, hood and doors are the only body panels which are common to both the coupe and convertible. The current Viper SRT10 design cues remains. These are the crosshair grille, deep-cut side scallops, swept-back fenders, and lowered hood lines.
Vehicles nowadays are not patronized if they lack safety features, and the 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 has many of those. These are the adjustable pedals, anti-lock brake system (ABS), interior head-impact protection, tire pressure monitoring, and remote keyless entry (RKE).
For more assured security, the vehicle also has: advanced multistage front air bags with occupant classification system (OCS), which measures based on the weight of the occupant the status for activation or deactivation of the passenger side front air bag; belt alert, which regularly activates a chime and lights an icon in the instrument cluster to imply buckling up if a car is driven without a properly belted driver; center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), which uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) for extended life; constant force retractors (CFR), which spread force or load exerted on a seat belt and then eventually release the seat belt webbing in a regulated manner; crumple zones, which are built to compress during an accident to inhale energy (this decreases transfer of that energy to the diver and passengers); energy-absorbing steering column, which uses two hydro formed coaxial tubes that can move relatively to each other in order to permit the column to move forward so that during a crash more energy will be absorbed; and knee bolsters to positioning of occupants that enable the air bags to function efficiently.

All these and more!

The 2008 Dodge Viper SRT10 will be manually built in Detroit at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant.

Aside from this greatly improved car, Dodge is also the maker of durable Dodge truck bed liner.

BMW Sauber Learned Lesson, Performed Well In Monaco

By Anthony Fontanelle

With the fifth race of the current Formula One season already in the books, Team BMW Sauber is happy with their performance. The two drivers of the team took the fifth and sixth spots at the Monaco Grand Prix. Robert Kubica posted his second best finish this season at fifth place while teammate Nick Heidfeld manages to latch on to the sixth spot. Team boss Mario Theissen credited their good showing to the lessons that the team has learned in the previous Monaco Grand Prix. Last year, Heidfeld only finished on the seventh place while then teammate Jacques Villneuve finished 14th. This poor showing came after both drivers qualified on the eight row of the starting grid.

This year, the team has taken steps to make sure that their cars can take on the challenges of the narrow tracks. Theissen said that what they have learned in the past has helped them at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix. “Compared to last year's Monaco Grand Prix, we have been able to score a significantly better result,” he said. He continued that: “We had one of our most difficult races here in 2006. Therefore we concentrated on setting up the car more precisely for this unique track, especially with regards aerodynamics and chassis.” These preparations started at the tests in the Paul Ricard circuit and continued in the practice session at the Circuit de Monaco.

Theissen pointed out his team’s mechanical adjustments which were done to their cars. “We introduced a new front wing and added further aerodynamic changes. We also fitted new power steering and made changes to the steering geometry,” he expresses. These changes have made a difference for the team which led them to a 5-6 finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. The improvements they have made to the aerodynamics of their Formula One cars increased traction which is of utmost importance in a narrow track such as the Circuit de Monaco. Whether this development will show the path ahead for the team like a BMW fog light shows the way for a BMW car will be seen come the next races of the season.

Theissen admitted that the tracks at the next two races which will be held in North America will have different requirements than their last race. In spite of that, Theissen is confident that they will continue their good showing at the Canadian and United States Grand Prix. “We are full of confidence for the back-to-back races in North America, though these tracks have completely different requirements,” he said.

Gathering of Honda NSX Supercars at the Castle Combe

By Ally Wahlberg

Last weekend at JapFest show at the Castle Combe happened the largest ever gathering of Honda NSX supercars. Forty-three of the legendary mid-engined sports cars were gathered together to grace one of UK’s biggest NSX clubs.

Owners from different places have assembled at the Wiltshire venue to create a huge display that catches the attention of show organizers, who awarded the club for the efforts they have given the event. There were also some members who tried on track to test the power of their pristine machines.

James Taylor from the online-based NSX Club Britain, said, “This was our first ever stand at a large event and everyone was blown away by the sheer number of cars that turned up. Some people had traveled all the way down from Scotland and Northern Ireland to be there.”
Honda UK has also contributed to the pack of NSXs with its own rare version of the car. And speaking of rare NSX present at the event is the G-plate NSX which was registered in 1990 and considered to be the second NSX ever brought to the country. The G-plate is still in an amazing immaculate condition despite its age and this is attributed to the restoration work done by the Honda UK press workshop, and of course the meager 7,700 miles on the clock. According to some reports it is also the very same car that was driven by Ayrton Senna on its visit to Honda UK.

The Honda NSX has made its debut way back in 1990 and was introduced as a genuine mid-engine sports car with an all-aluminum monocoque body which was a first for a production vehicle at that time. Afterwards the Honda NSX continued to evolve. Its performance was improved through increased displacement, a 6-speed manual transmission, different tire size, and enhanced aerodynamic performance. Similarly, the addition of the NSX-T open-top model together with the NSX-R pure sports model has helped to further enhanced driving performance.

The Honda NSX is also the very first true sports car that adopts clean emission measures. It has successfully combined exhilarating driving performance with superior environmental performance. Such remarkable capabilities of the NSX have enabled it to achieve total worldwide sales of over 18,000 units for the 15 years that it was in production. The Honda NSX exemplifies Honda’s remarkable auto making technology, high quality auto components and Honda accessories that can remain immaculate even through long years of usage.