Lexus IS 250 AWD Sedan Standard Features

By Joe Ratzkin

At a base price of $34,285, the IS 250 is a performance-oriented small luxury sedan as opposed to its Lexus sibling, the IS 350, which is a bit larger and all about comfort and luxury.

It is powered by a V6 2.5L gas engine with double overhead cam (DOHC). It has 24 variable timing valves which help deliver 204 hp @ 6400 rpm and 185 ft-lbs. at 4800 rpm using premium unleaded fuel.

This uses a 6-speed shiftable automatic all wheel drive transmission along with a mechanical center differential. It has four-wheel independent suspension, double wishbone front suspension, front and rear stabilizer bar and multi-link rear suspension. It also has a trip computer tachometer, and a clock showing external temperature. A compass does the low fuel level warning.

Exterior features include 17 x 8 in. alloy wheels, all season 225/45R17 V tires with steel spare wheel and temporary spare tire, inside mounted spare tire, variable intermittent wipers, and power glass sunroof while a rear defogger is also available.

Safety features include 4-wheel ABS, ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes, emergency braking assist, stability control, front and rear head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, child seat anchors, rear center 3-point belt, 3 rear headrests, engine immobilizer, dusk sensing headlamps, auto delay off headlamps, height adjustable headrests, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction control, dual front side-mounted airbags, passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation, rear door child safety locks, emergency interior trunk release, 2 front headrests, remote anti-theft alarm system, daytime running lights, tire pressure monitoring, front fog/driving lights, height adjustable headrests.

The front leather upholstery seats can accommodate 5 persons whose seats are ventilated with 10-way power passenger seat, and adjustable lumbar support. Passenger and driver seats are also height adjusted and has multi-level heating. Bucket front seats are also available.

The Lexus IS 250 AWD Sedan also has a bench rear seat, rear ventilation ducts and folding seats with storage and pass-thru center armrest.

Power features are on remote door locks, 4 one-touch windows, and heated mirrors.

Convenience and comfort are never compromised: cruise control, tilt and telescopic steering wheel, front and rear cupholders, front door pockets, 12V front power outlet(s), keyless ignition, retained accessory power, electric speed-proportional power steering, transmission, cruise and audio controls on steering wheel, remote trunk release, front seatback storage, front console with storage, universal remote transmitter (for garage door, security system, etc.), dual zone climate controls for both the driver and passenger, electrochromatic inside rearview mirror, dual illuminating vanity mirrors, alloy and leather trim on shift knob, simulated alloy trim on center console, trunk light, interior air filtration, front and rear reading lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, alloy trim on dash, and front and rear floor mats. Entertainment features involve AM/FM in-dash 6 CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo capable of 194 watts stereo output, 13 total speakers, Lexus antenna, and speed sensitive volume control capable of auxiliary MP3 audio input.

Annual fuel cost is at $1,560 ($2.94 per gallon, regular, 13,000 miles per year).

Formula One Season Heats Up

By Anthony Fontanelle

Going into the European Grand Prix last Sunday, McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has a commanding twelve point lead over teammate Fernando Alonso. But after a chaotic race which saw several drivers retiring, Alonso took the win while Hamilton for the first time in his career failed to finish in the top three. Furthermore, Hamilton failed to score a point as he finished ninth.

That means that ten points were awarded to the double world champion Alonso. The Spaniard now has 68 points after ten races. He is now trailing Hamilton only by a couple of points. This shows how unpredictable the sport is. While Hamilton and Alonso are on the top of the drivers’ championship standings, the two McLaren drivers are not the only ones vying for the championship.

Scuderia Ferrari’s duo of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen are still in contention for the championship. The Brazilian Massa is currently third with 59 points so far, 11 points behind Hamilton and nine behind Alonso. The Finn Raikkonen, on the other hand, has 52 points. It can be remembered that Raikkonen overtook his teammate in the standings after his back-to-back wins at the French and British Grands Prix.

At the European Grand Prix though, Raikkonen failed to finish as he was forced to retire on the 34th lap as his car’s hydraulics failed. Hamilton, on the other hand, only managed to finish ninth after he qualified tenth after a crash in the qualifying session. The front tire of Hamilton’s car was secured poorly after the team’s wheel gun malfunctioned. Although other parts of the steering system are intact such as the Mercedes struts, the wheel rubbed into the car which caused the accident.

The win by Alonso and the second place finish of Massa means that the race for the championship is now getting more competitive. Although Hamilton still leads the field, he is now facing a tougher challenge from teammate Alonso and the Ferrari pair.

Aside from the disappointing ninth place finish by the championship leader and Raikkonen’s retirement, the European Grand Prix is full of surprises. Only for the second time this season, a driver aside from McLaren and Ferrari’s pairs finished in the top three. Australian Mark Webber finished third for Red Bull. Webber’s teammate David Coulthard also managed to finish sixth although he started fro the 20th position on the grid.

Spyker’s rookie Markus Winkelhock posted a record at the European Grand Prix. The German Formula One driver who took over the seat of Christijan Albers became the first driver to start in a Grand Prix both in the last and first position. The rookie started at the back of the grid but was soon leading the race as he was the first to have tires suited to the wet tracks after rain poured. When the rain continued pouring, the race was red flagged on the fourth lap. When the race was restarted, Winkelhock started at the front of the grid.

The surprising debut of the German though did not end well as he was forced to retire after his car’s hydraulics malfunctioned. The German though is expected to be driving for Spyker for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix. At the said race, the four drivers on top are expected to step up their game as the season reaches its most crucial stages. With more than half of the season already in the books, every race and every point is important for these championship hopefuls.

Did Ford take Jaguar down the wrong road?

By David Durban

When Ford purchased Jaguar Cars Ltd in 1989, the Jaguar brand had for some years been tarnished with a reputation for poor build quality. There can be no doubt that the financial investment and quality control that Ford brought with it saved the Jaguar marque from an untimely end. However, Ford has been unable to make a financial success of Jaguar -- did Ford misjudge the Jaguar marque and its past success?

Jaguar's past

From its humble beginnings as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, and for much of Jaguar's subsequent history, William Lyons, the company's co-founder, had a fundamental approach to his cars: to produce distinctive, high quality automobiles but at as low a cost as possible. The first of these, the Austin Seven Swallow, was simply a rebodied version of the humble Austin Seven because, Lyons believed, "... that it would also appeal to a lot of people if it had a more luxurious and attractive body."

In later years, the success of iconic Jaguars such as the XKs and E-Types were in part due to their distinct blend of forward-looking style and sophisticated use of technology. The power and quality of the XK engines used for the Jaguar XK120, and subsequent cars for many years, was far in advance of other comparable engines of the period. Similarly the much improved ride quality and road holding abilities of these cars had left their counterparts behind.

It was much the same with the Jaguar E-Type, a sensation when it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961. Here was a race-bred, visually sensational, 150mph sports car at just half the price of its nearest rival, the Aston Martin DB4.

The Jaguar XKs, and the C and D-Types which evolved from them, also enjoyed much success in sports car racing, dominating the Le Mans 24 Hour race in the 1950s and contributing to the success of the marque. In the 1980s Jaguar again returned to Le Mans with the Group C XJRs, winning in 1988 and 1990.

Ford's tenureship of the Jaguar brand

Since the mid 1990s, Ford has launched several new Jaguars, including the XJ8/XJR, S-Type, X-Type and XK8/R. The common theme amongst these models is that they have all taken their styling cues from historical Jaguars such as the D and E-Types of the '50s and '60s for the XK8, and the XJ6s and XJ12s of the '70s and '80s for the saloons.

One can certainly appreciate Ford's reasoning behind the decision to ape the styles that proved so successful for Jaguar in the past, but by doing so they appear to have missed the point of what made those cars successful in the first place: that the styles then were looking forward rather than backwards.

In an attempt to recoup the substantial financial investment in Jaguar, and in keeping with its own history, Ford created the X-Type as a "low-budget" Jaguar that was intended to appeal to the fleet market and those for whom the top-end models were too expensive. Yet this model never sold in the volumes that Ford hoped for outside of the UK. For many potential purchasers, the model shared too much in common with Ford's own Mondeo to be distinctively 'Jaguar', and for younger owners the car bore too much resemblance to the Jaguar XJ -- a model traditionally driven by older owners. It was also a highly competitive market and the X-Type was in direct competition with BMW, Mercedes and, at the time, the similarly styled Rover 75.

Yet on occasions Ford have created much interest amongst motoring journalists and enthusiasts with a number of concept cars. The XK180, and similarly styled F-Type, were greatly praised and could, potentially, have tapped into the emerging market for roadsters alongside the Porsche Boxter and Mercedes-Benz SLK, yet neither were translated into production models.

Sporting pretensions

With Jaguar's past successes in motor sport having added much to the brand, Ford attempted to recreate this with its entry into Formula 1 racing. Formula 1, however, with its vast budgets and tendency to be dominated by one or two top teams was an ambitious leap and the Jaguar team never managed to challenge for world championship points on a consistent basis.
In hindsight it would, perhaps, have been better to concentrate efforts in other motorsport categories. Indeed, the XKRs run in the Trans-Am series proved very successful, securing four manufacturers' titles. Had the F1 budget been spread across other classes, Jaguar's presence in world motorsport may have been a different story. In Europe, the Apex Motorsport Jaguar XKR GT3 is being developed for competition in the FIA GT3 championship.

Too much too late

With the launch of the much praised next-generation XK/R in 2006, and the XF due out in late 2007 to replace the S-Type, Jaguar's model line-up does finally appear to be looking forwards both in terms of style and technology -- a substantial reason for the success of the brand throughout Jaguar's history. But with Ford having experienced financially troubled times over the last few years, the sale of Jaguar would inject much needed capital back into Ford, just as the Jaguar marque looks set to turn the corner and experience a resurgence in popularity.

Jaguar's future

To secure its future and to continue as one of history's most evocative automotive marques, Jaguar needs a parent company that will allow its designers to continue with the innovation and dynamism shown in the current XK range and upcoming XF. For much of its history, the Jaguar marque has been ahead of the field with design and performance -- its new owners, however they may be, would do well to bear that in mind.

BMW's 5-Series has New Names, Much Better Performance

By Hailey Kerr

BMW has changed the name of its six-cylinder powered midsize, luxury 5-Series cars for 2008 to emphasize its larger and more powerful engines. The old 525i would be change to 528i with 230hp while the 530i becomes the 535i with 300 hp included on the twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder 535xi Sports Wagon.

The German automaker and producer of high quality BMW 325 parts has also updated the interiors of its 2008 5-Series sedans and wagons with the addition of an optional Lane Departure Warning system that softly vibrates the steering wheel whenever it detects that the driver is wandering out of his or her lane. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the 5-Series including destination charge will start at $45,075 for the base 528i.

BMW has also assured that buyers of the 5-Series sedan will love the image that the four-door car conveys. The 2008 5-Series styling and design reflects its performance heritage, a good bit of technology but not lightweight. It is also worth mentioning that would-be BMW 5-Series owners will receive four years/50,000 miles of free maintenance that would include scheduled oil changes and even replacement if worn out windshield wiper blades. This is in addition to the four-year/50,000-mile limited, bumper-to-bumper warranty.

It is also hard to miss out the new found power in the 2008 BMWs. The test 535xi weighs in at nearly 4,000 pounds which means that this particular BMW will not feel lightweight or flighty. Its peak torque is at 300 pounds-feet and can come as low as 1,400 rpm and can reach up to 5,000 rpm which is quite satisfying for any kind of driving.

The 3-liter, twin-turbocharged, inline six-cylinder with variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust functions are similar to the one equipped on the BMW 335i. It was mated in the test 535xi to an updated Steptronic automatic transmission that could be shifter manually. For the 536xi, BMW has removed the confusing and difficult-to-operate Sequential Manual Gearbox.

The power is also increased to its highest ever in the base 528i which has a 3-liter, inline six-cylinder with variable valve timing without the turbocharging. The top range 550i sedan retains its 360-hp, 4.8 liter V8.

Fuel economy is not a highly flaunted characteristic of BMW’s vehicles but for the test 535xi, it was able to perform within the government’s ratings of 17 mpg for city driving and 25 mpg for highway driving. The handling as expected of a BMW was remarkable. The car body was steady and well-controlled in all maneuvers even over some busy road surfaces.

The Heart Of Toyota Formula One Racing

By Anthony Fontanelle

Formula One racing is not just about drivers’ skills to maneuver cars and employing accurate strategies - it is blended with a considerable amount of team preparation to attain its goals. It is at heart, a diverse kind of race which is anchored on the workings of all teams.

So how does each team exude the fundamentals? For the Toyota team’s logistics department, there is a steady race against time to get the cars, spare parts and equipment, to the track on time.

And the challenge does not stop there. Once on location, the team considers around 90 members who will need food, hotels, transport and suitable working conditions. Simply, formula One is no simple task. At Toyota’s headquarters in Cologne, Germany, team manager Richard Cregan and his staff work ceaselessly to make sure everything runs efficiently.

A Grand Prix starts when the red lights go out and the thrill of the race will be unstoppable even by the most-efficient EBC pads. One thing that is also non-stop is the work of the logistics department.

“I believe the groundwork that people have to have to achieve good logistics is experience of the business of motorsport, not necessarily in Formula One,” Cregan said. “You have to set very clear targets for yourselves. We have our plans for the year because we make plans at the start of every season. Once the calendar is finalized from the FIA we sit down with the different departments, look at the dates of the trucks leaving, when we want the equipment there and basically we go away and arrange that.”

To ensure everything is in working order and loaded on to the trucks, two days are spent to prepare and check. “We take about 38-39 tonnes of equipment to each Grand Prix, even a bit more for European races because then of course you have all the equipment loaded in the trucks themselves, like work benches and all sorts of extras for offices that are completely kitted out,” explained Markus Burger, the team leader in charge of pit equipment and trucks.

This is essential work as any troubles in the infrastructure of the pits could have serious aftermaths when the action begins on track. As such, all the spare parts are prepared to be called upon at a moment’s notice. Basically, in a Formula One garage there is plainly a car waiting to be built.

“You normally have enough parts in the truck to build another car. So effectively you have four complete cars, one in spare parts and three complete. That’s more difficult at the beginning of the season because you have a new car and new specification but that’s the target we have,” Cregan revealed.

But not every eventuality can be prepared for. For Cregan, the challenge of Formula One logistics is not in making the car itself perform to its best, but ensuring the Toyota team behind the car is given everything they need to work to the maximum of their ability.

“We can’t influence so much the performance of the car from the logistics department itself but certainly in terms of creating the atmosphere for people to do there job and perform, that is something we can do,” Cregan said. “Quite often you have very, very long days, people working late into the evening. It is a very important to make sure those people have the right environment to work in and that’s our challenge.”

Experts behind a team’s success attest to the fact that there is always an overwhelming challenge in every race. Challenge is the accurate word, for nothing in Formula One racing is simple!

Reminiscing 'Porsche Pete'

By Rain Stockton

He was known simply as “Porsche Pete”, a character created on a website intended for Porsche automobiles specifically the Boxster. The man behind it was Charles “Chuck” Hammersmith of Burlington.

In July 1, Hammersmith died at the age of 53. He pioneered the PPBB.com Web site, or Porsche Pete’s Boxster Board, one of the first Internet message boards on the subject, and the most active devoted to the Boxster, Porsche’s best-selling car. The website might also have an insight on Porsche 944 parts.

While Hammersmith had been charmed by Boxsters since before he could drive, friends from his message board say that the car particularly interested him because it was the first Porsche made available to a wider audience. Before his first Boxster, the fanatic owned three 911s.

Porsche fans organized the Blue Ridge Boxster Summit in Blowing Rock, where PPBB.com users have met for the last nine years. That’s because of Hammersmith’s site.

Karl Folkens, a South Carolina resident and PPBB.com administrator, said that the biggest thrill for many who attended the first and subsequent summits, was meeting “Porsche Pete” in person. He continued that one got the sense he’s a pistol-pulling kind of guy form the website, but in person one would find he’s very mild mannered.

Kim, Hammersmith’s daughter, said that her dad was never the spotlight dominant, and would have been surprised by all the appreciation he received since his death began to spread. Thousands of posts are on the Web site, highlighting Hammersmith through memories and photos.

Kim, who has an appreciation for Porsche herself and toured a factory while visiting Germany a few years ago, continued they didn’t realize how big an impact the site made for the past 10 years. The daughter added her dad never really wanted to take credit for anything he did.

Hammersmith wasn’t able to make it to the 9th annual gathering last month, where Boxster friends spent four days driving along the 400-mile Blue Ridge Parkway’s winding mountain roads.

Gordon Mckeehan, parts manager at Porsche dealer Suncoast Motorsports, said the honor was his and the other employees, to sell Hamersmith his last Boxster in 2003.

Cecil Thorpe, one of the site’s administrators said that since the opening of the website, Porsche owners and other self-designated “car geeks” have posted millions of messages on the message board. Thorpe said the discussions on the board are monitored by Porsche’s corporate headquarters to learn what owners like and don’t like about the vehicle. The loss was especially difficult for Robert Granger, Hammersmith’s co-host from Texas.

In an email, Granger implied that Chuck’s philosophy has always been really so special.

Aside from meeting Hammersmith at Boxster gatherings, Granger had met Hammersmith’s daughters, and was especially amazed by the father’s love for them. He said that other than a true Boxster fanatic, Chuck’s real pride and joy were his two girls, Kim and Sarah. He added Chuck never missed a chance to brag on them.

Budweiser And Junior To Part Ways

By Katie Jones

After Dale Earnhardt Junior earlier this year announced that he will be leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. after this season, there were questions where the most popular NASCAR driver today will end up. That question has already been answered when Earnhardt confirmed that he has signed with Hendrick Motorsports for next year.

Another question raised during that time is whether Junior’s sponsor Budweiser will be following him to whatever team he will be racing for next season. The answer to that question has also been answered as Budweiser is reportedly looking for a new driver to sponsor next season.

It is now widely known in the paddocks that Budweiser officials are in a quest to find a driver to sponsor next season which means that the ‘King of Beers’ will not be sponsoring Junior next season. Although adjudged as the most popular NASCAR driver today by fans, it seems that the move by Junior from the team that his father started to Hendrick Motorsports made Budweiser think about withdrawing the sponsorship.

Speculations arise that Junior will be sponsored next season by PepsiCo Inc. It is also expected that if the sponsorship of the soda company pushes through for Junior, his car will be boasting a Mountain Dew logo or a combination of Pepsi products. Junior will be driving the Number 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick next season.

It is also reported that Budweiser is talking with Evernham Motorsports regarding sponsorship for the following season. It is speculated that Anheuser-Bush, the makers of Budweiser would move their logo from Junior’s to hood to Kasey Kahne’s Number 9 Dodge just above its Dodge bumper next season.

Officials from Budweiser have also contacted officials at the Lowe’s Motors Speedway. This is in connection with the possibility of holding a press event at Lowe’s if Budweiser has already found a substitute to Junior.

According to an official from Evernham Motorsports, no agreements have yet been formed between them and Budweiser. The official went on to say that the team is still talking with other companies that are also interested in sponsoring the team for the next season.

Ray Evernham, the owner of the team, has a standing agreement with Dodge via the Dodge Dealers for a sponsorship of Kahne’s car and the Number 19 Dodge driven by Elliott Saddler. Accepting sponsorship from Budweiser for Kahne’s car would mean that Dodge Dealers should agree to it.

Although speculations are rampant that Budweiser will be sponsoring a Dodge next season, there are also reports that there is still a possibility that Budweiser would remain with Dale Earnhardt Inc. But this would only hold out to be true if Budweiser like who DEI will be bringing in to replace Junior.

It can be remembered that Budweiser has sponsored Junior since his rookie season in 2000. With Junior’s popularity and the amount of air time that the Budweiser logo appears on national television painted across Junior’s car’s hood has been translated to millions of dollars worth of advertisement. The reason for Budweiser’s apparent lack of support for Junior’s jump to another team is yet to be cleared.

Aside from Kahne, Budweiser is also reportedly looking at three more drivers to sponsor next year. The three drivers that Budweiser is considering were not named by the company. In the end, one of these four drivers, one is Kahne and the others still unknown, will be picked by Budweiser to sponsor next year.

F1 Technology Makes Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Safer

By Anthony Fontanelle

At the Canadian Grand Prix, the life-saving property of carbon fiber is demonstrated when BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica sustained only a minor concussion and a sprained ankle after a 250 kilometer per hour, 75-G crash. Less than 24 hours after the accident, the Polish Formula One driver was released from the hospital.

The use of carbon fiber on Formula One cars is mandated to make sure that the cars can adequately protect the drivers in the unfortunate event of a high speed crash. Mercedes-Benz of course has its tie with McLaren in Formula One and it comes as no surprise that the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren should be made safer by suing F1 technology.

The sports car co-developed by DaimlerChrysler and McLaren Automotive is designed as a supercar thus it can reach very high speeds. This of course presents the issue of protecting the occupants of the car in the case of a crash. To make the SLR McLaren Roadster safe, the developer uses carbon fiber extensively in the manufacturing of the SLR McLaren.

In the unfortunate event of a head-on collision, the carbon fiber materials protect the passenger and the driver inside the car. Even on side or rear collision, the high strength material can adequately protect the occupants of the vehicle even on high speed traffic accidents.
“Naturally, it is not possible to completely transfer Formula One technology into a vehicle intended for everyday use, in which comfort criteria also need to be taken into account,” said Dr. Rodolfo Schöneburg, head of Passenger Car Safety Development for Mercedes-Benz.

“For example, you cannot expect the driver of a series-production sports car to either wear a helmet or use the HANS Head And Neck Support system that is prescribed for racing cars to protect those parts of the driver's body. However, we do capitalize on the positive properties of the high-tech materials used in Formula One to offer those traveling in the new Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster a standard of safety that is unmatched, even in the realm of super-sports cars.”

The presence of carbon fiber in the SLR is unique due to the fact that few supercar manufacturers use carbon fiber extensively on their production vehicles. One of the reasons for this is the complicated manufacturing process involved.

But with McLaren and Formula One partner Mercedes-Benz having years of experience in developing their race car made out of carbon fiber has given Mercedes-Benz the advantage of expertise in the production of the needed carbon fiber.

The front end of the SLR McLaren is fitted with carbon fiber materials. The material’s capacity to absorb huge amount of energy makes it possible for a passenger of an SLR McLaren to Escape with only minor injuries after a high speed crash.

With the use of carbon fiber on the SLR McLaren, the car became not only a superfast and a very good looking machine but a safe one as well. The carbon fiber materials used in the SLR complements all the other parts used in the assembly of the car even down to the Mercedes-Benz wiper blade.

Aside from being safe, it is of course expected that the SLR has the driving dynamics that Mercedes-Benz and McLaren cars are known for. While the SLR McLaren Roadster cannot catch up with the MP4-22 currently used by McLaren this season, the SLR can stand its ground in terms of performance and safety.

Honda Civic Type-R Now in Australia

By Evander Klum

Having a remarkable reputation on its home market, the Honda Civic Type-R is now being exported to Australia.

The first shipment of Swindon- built Civic Type Rs arrived in Melbourne earlier this month. And now ready to be delivered to dealers, the Civic Type-R will be in the hands of the Australians at the price of a remarkably sharp $A39, 990 for the privilege starting Monday.

Equipped with a rigid Honda throttle body, the Civic comes with a high-revving, naturally aspirated, 2-litre i-VTEC engine that is capable of pumping out 148kW and 193Nm. As a result, it will sprint to 100kmh in just 6.6 seconds, but despite being so wildly quick, it manages 9.3 liters per 100km.

Australians are lucky because they live in the only country outside Europe to get the acclaimed ‘hot hatch’, which sales is expected to reach 1200 units there per year.

Based in Swindon, Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM), is the only Honda production facility to build the Civic Type R. Twelve thousand five hundred (12,500) will be built in the area between now and April 2008.

When asked about the possibility of a Type R Civic for the New Zealand market, Honda New Zealand has always said that it has no plans of bringing the car in.

The Civic Type R rides on 18-inch alloy wheels along with 225/40 R18 tires, and stops with 300mm front and 260mm rear brake discs. It has a six-speed manual gearbox, with no automatic, and firm MacPherson strut-style front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension, but the latter of which is actually not as advanced as the fully-independent rear suspension found on New Zealand Civic sedans.

As to the interior, the Civic has a dash design similar to Civic found in New Zealand. When cornering, its body-hugging alcantara racing-style bucket seats keep the driver firmly planted.

Regarding safety features, the Civic Type R has front, side and curtain airbags, vehicle stability assist (VSA), ABS brakes with electronic brake force distribution and an advanced compatibility engineering (ACE) body structure. For additional security of the car, an anti-theft immobilizer is equipped.

Other features include automatic rain- sensing windscreen wipers, auto on/ off headlights, an MP3 and WMA- compatible CD player, multi- function trip computer, cruise control, front fog lights, dual-zone climate control, and a leather-bound tilt and telescopic-adjustable steering wheel.

Honda expects to sell 100 Civic Type Rs per month in Australia. The Swindon Type R is not being sold in Japan either. The only Type R Civic that the public would be able to source as a Japanese used import will be the sedan version.

Racing School Puts Kids on Fast Track to Success

By Stasia DeMarco

Listen to this report in mp3!

The most popular spectator sport in the U.S. is American football. Close behind is . . . stock car racing. NASCAR races air on TV in 150 countries and millions of fans fill raceways each weekend looking to party and catch an adrenaline rush. But with only a handful of African-American drivers and even fewer women, NASCAR knows it has a reputation as a rich, white man's sport.

It's working hard to change that, through co-sponsoring schools dedicated to diversity in motor sports. One of them is the Urban Youth Racing School in the northeastern U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It's located on a cobblestone street under a highway overpass surrounded by abandoned lots, graffiti and trash. There's no sign above the locked door, only a security camera, a stark reminder of the dangers of life in the inner city.

But behind the door is a vibrant world. Teens sprawl on a sofa watching an auto race on a big flat screen monitor. Multiple computers line the tables for the kids who do data entry and for the mechanics to download information from each car's computer. And in the back room, student mechanics work on miniature racecars in preparation for the team's next big race.

It's fun with a purpose, says Anthony Martin, the man behind it. "Did you know you can change tires and make a $100,000 a year changing tires in the racing business?" he asks rhetorically. "The goal was to introduce them to the different jobs and to let them know these jobs exist. If you don't know, how can you be a part of it?"

In 1998, the NASCAR fan and a few of his friends wanted to show the kids from their inner city neighborhoods what NASCAR was all about, and its potential to change their lives. The only problem was that the inner city kids were never exposed to the sport. So Martin and his friends brought NASCAR to them, in the form of evening and weekend workshops that actually got kids behind the wheel.

Martin stresses the school offers more than a chance to drive around a track. "We say to them, 'Listen. You know what? (If you) go through our Build A Dream Program and you feel like this is what you want to do with your life, you can become part of our Driver Teen Development Program.' And they either become drivers in that program or they become mechanics in that program. They are with us for a few years. Once they go through that program they are then on their way to college."

With the help of corporate sponsors, more than 2000 students have gone through the program. A second program was started in Washington D.C. last year.

The Urban Youth Racing Schools use a mix of track work and traditional textbooks to teach kids not just about NASCAR, but about the importance of education. Martin says it also gives them exposure to the myriad jobs in the world of professional motor sports. "They are doing internships, working for NASCAR, watching races, whatever. They are really a part of it." He says when they get to college, many of them already know what they want to do. "Oh, you know, 'I want to major in Marketing because I want to be a marketer for one of the teams,' or 'I want to major in mechanical engineering because I want to be one of the people who build engines for the teams.'

15-year-old Jade Gillis knows she wants to be involved in the motor sports industry. She heard about Martin's program when she was 10, begged her mom to let her join and has been a racing school addict ever since. "It's something different than like basketball or football, track and all those after-school, different things," she explains. "Racing is a real adrenaline rush. You are trying to win. Everything. You are trying to race. It's a lot of fun." She currently is the only girl racing at the advanced level.
She knows the program has made her a better student. And while Jade imagines herself out on the raceway breaking all kinds of records, she also recognizes the importance of college and realistic dreams. "I mean if I can't get to the racing part that good, then the business part is just as great as racing," she admits. "There's a lot of money and I like money so that would be great."
19-year-old Lamott Ebron has been in the program for 5 years and shares the same desires as Jade, when it comes to having a good job and being part of life on the track. But his introduction to the school was different than Jade's. "I had no direction," he recalls. "My dad didn't live with us or anything and, [I was] just watching my mom go to work and all that. You know I just had no direction. I had no clue who I wanted to be. Nothing really to look forward to or up to."

Lamott says the Urban Youth Racing School changed his life and gave him the direction and motivation he was craving. He has taken full advantage of the program's networking opportunities, like internships and meeting sponsors at the track. His goal is to work for Hendrick Motor Sports, one of the top NASCAR teams. "Initially I wanted to be a mechanic. Now I am leaning more towards some of the upstairs work, the PR (public relations) department or the Communications/Marketing Department." This fall, Lamott will begin college at a small university in Charlotte, North Carolina, a NASCAR hub and home to Hendrick Motor Sports headquarters. He'll work there part-time while in school.

The Urban Youth Racing School could produce its first professional NASCAR driver next year. One of its students who will be graduating from college has already been offered a racing position with NASCAR.

As the school enters its 10th year, founder Anthony Martin says there are big plans for it and the changing face of NASCAR. He hopes to open programs in 5 more major cities, predicting, "You are going to see the flood gates start opening in the next two years!"

Reid Spencer Predicts Who's in the Chase

By Kaye Leery

Reid Spencer, a Sporting News NASCAR journalist, predicts who is going to qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup for the next nine more weeks. He also has predictions as to who will not qualify in the top 35 in owner points at the end of the year and why the entire landscape of Toyota's Nextel Cup effort will witness dramatic changes for next season.

He first looked at the points report NASCAR furnished after Sunday's Lenox Industrial Tools 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With this, he concluded that the current top eight drivers in points - Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Burton, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards and Kevin Harvick - are going to be in the race when the cutoff comes at Richmond in September.

Series leader Harvick in eighth place is 507 points behind Gordon. Harvick is 248 points ahead of Ryan Newman in 13th, the first position outside Chase worthiness. Fourteenth placer Jamie McMurray is 305 behind Harvick, and 15th-place Kurt Busch drags the Daytona 500 winner by 357.

Having those figures, the journalist writes that it might be possible for one of those three drivers to replace Harvick, but the writer assures it is not going to happen.

Positions nine through 12 are occupied by Chevrolet drivers Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Clint Bowyer and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Behind Gordon at 628 points lead is Earnhardt. But Earnhardt is 127 ahead of Newman (Dodge), 184 ahead of McMurray (Ford) and 236 ahead of Kurt Busch (Dodge).

Spencer writes that it is possible for any of the four drivers in 9th through 12th to fall out of the Chase, but again, he predicts that it is not going to happen. He adds that drivers currently in the top 12 will still be in the top 12 after Richmond, without exception.

He further writes that the introduction of the Car of Tomorrow (COT) has built a status system in Nextel Cup -those who have an advantage in testing and development of the COT, and those who do not have.

Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Richard Childress Racing have their COT programs hitting on all cylinders, from a team standpoint. But from a manufacturer view, Chevy is at the forefront in the development of the new car.
Getting the top eight positions at New Hampshire are the Chevy drivers. Seven of those drivers belong to one of the four teams mentioned above, Jeff Green being the exception.

Also finished in the top 13 at NHIS were 12 of the drivers currently in the top 13 in the standings, with Bowyer being the only exception, who had trouble with an oil cooler line. The journalist writes that the situation is hardly a coincidence and just more of evidence that the gap will widen between 12th place and those below the cutoff. Spencer adds that the teams that are performing well now will continue to do so in order to solidify their positions in the race. He deduces that the public will not witness a battle for the final spot when Richmond rolls around. He further writes that the suspense and drama of 2006 when Kasey Kahne edged Tony Stewart by 16 points in the race for the 10th and final position before the Chase was increased to 12 drivers simply will not happen this year.

He adds that there will not be any suspense on who makes the top 35 in owner points, either. According to him, failing to qualify for the Lenox Industrial Tools 300 was a devastating flurry for 36th placer Scott Riggs' Evernham Motorsports team, which descended 182 points behind the No. 70 Haas CNC Chevy driven by Johnny Sauter.

Thirty-seventh in owner points New Hampshire pole sitter Dave Blaney is 188 back of Sauter. The Wood Brothers No. 21 Ford driver Bill Elliott is 219 points behind Sauter in 38th spot. Spencer predicts that those are the only three cars with a remote possibility of unseating the No. 70.

However, the writer again forecasts that it will not happen, and that is the basis of Toyota's difficulty. According to him, Toyota, maker of quality Toyota starters, will start the 2008 season in a more unfavorable shape than it started 2007 -- with no teams in the top 35 in owner points.

Being in the top 35 in 2006, Blaney, therefore was guaranteed a starting spot in the first five races this year. Dale Jarrett will still have six past champion's provisionals to use next year. These statements were based on a lot of assumptions like: NASCAR does not amend the past champion's rule, Jarrett still drives a Toyota and Michael Waltrip Racing still exists.

The writer states that it is not the sort of progress Toyota will find acceptable in its second season. Blaney's pole at Toyota's first in the Cup Series - New Hampshire - certainly was a parcel on a generally barren landscape. But the current predicament of Toyota, according to Spencer, brings urgency to the carmaker's courtship of Joe Gibbs Racing.

Spencer recommends that Toyota needs a team with marquee stars who are guaranteed to race. From Gibbs' standpoint, the organization would move from second, third or fourth in Chevy's stricking order - depending on how heavily a driver weights performance, history and sentiment - to elite status as Toyota's flagship team.

Most Expensive Ferrari Sold

By Anthony Fontanelle

The popularity of the Ferrari is known the world over. The Italian carmaker is known not only for building good looking cars with high performance but also for the price that these vehicles fetch. In fact the company’s cheapest model has a base price of $150,000. When it comes to expensive cars, Ferrari just set a record for the most expensive Ferrari ever sold.

The sale came at an auction held in the marque’s Italian assembly facility. Hosting the auction are the Canada-based RM Auctions Inc. and the trusted Sotheby’s. The auction saw 33 classic Ferraris being auctioned off. The most expensive of the lot is the 1962 TRI/LM Testa Rossa Spyder. The said classic race car fetched a price of 6,875,000 euros or about $9.275 million. While the car became the most expensive Ferrari ever sold, it is not the most expensive car sold in an auction. That distinction belongs to a 1931 Bugatti Type 41 Royal Sports Coupe which was sold for $11 million.

The Testa Rossa Spyder is said to be the world’s most famous race car since it was used by Ferrari in the 24-hour Le Mans. The dominance of the car of the said prestigious racing event spanned from the late 1950s to the early 60s. The car sold at the auction for the record price is the last of its kind which is one reason why the price reached more than $9 million. The particular model is the last Ferrari race car to have its engine in the front and it was driven by Phil Hil and Oliver Glendebien at the Le Mans in 1962. Aside from that particular car, the auction also sold classic Ferrari cars which earned the Italian car manufacturer more than $46 million.

Other Ferrari cars sold during the auction, which would put to shame any production vehicle even if equipped with Kleen Wheels accessories, includes a 1953 Ferrari 340/375 MM Berlinetta Competizione which fetched a price of 4,235,000 euros. The said classic Ferrari is the second most expensive Ferrari sold during the auction. Another classic car sold at the public sale is a 1970 Ferrari 512 S which was sold for 2,640,000 euros. A 1953 Ferrari 340 MM Competition Spyder was sold at the auction for the price of 2,310,000 euros. Another Ferrari classic which was sold at the auction is a 1966 Ferrari Dino 206 SP which was sold for a whopping 2,420,000 euros. Another expensive Ferrari car sold is the 2003 Ferrari F2003-GA Formula 1 Grand Prix Car which was driven by Michael Schumacher during his stint with Scuderia Ferrari. The car was sold for 1,540,000 euros or almost $2 million.

Of the 33 cars that were auctioned, only one car was not sold and it was a 1987 Ferrari F40 Prototipo.

Aside from the mentioned cars, Ferrari also auctioned off different car-related merchandise like a 2005 Ferrari steering wheel which was sold for $85,000. Compare that to a brand new Chevy Aveo which has a starting price of $9,455 and you will see how expensive Ferraris are. The Italian car manufacturer also auctioned off a 2004 V10 engine which was sold at $62,000. A matching 2004 engine cover was also sold at the auction which fetched a price of $12,500. An autographed Schumacher helmet was sold for $30,000 while a racing suit worn by the German Formula One driver fetched a price of $28,000. Current Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen’s racing suit was also auctioned off and was sold for $8,500. And perhaps the oddest things auctioned off were a set of Felipe Massa’s under-clothes which was sold for $775.

Hamilton Looking For Third Straight Victory

By Anthony Fontanelle

The current Formula One season is being headlined by a rookie in the form of Lewis Hamilton. The British driver will go into this Sunday’s race in Circuit de Nevers in Magny-Cours as the leader in the drivers’ championship standing. He leads double champion and teammate Fernando Alonso by ten points.

The upcoming French and British Grands Prix are seen by experts as the pivotal races of the season. Alonso himself said that the championship race will start in France. This claim by the Spaniard came after Hamilton beat him to the chequered flag in the past two races held in North America.

At the Canadian Grand Prix, Hamilton emerged victorious while Alonso has to make do with a seventh place finish. At the United States Grand Prix, the two went toe-to-toe but still, Hamilton upstaged his teammate.

The dominant start to the season achieved by McLaren is now being mired by the alleged falling out between the team’s two drivers. In the defense of the team and both drivers, Norbert Haug, Mercedes-Benz’ competition chief claimed that the team is not favoring any of the two to become this year’s champion.

“If that was right, I would know about it,” said Haug after it was rumored that McLaren has already decided which diver to back for the championship. “The truth is that there is obviously a huge demand for stories about Lewis by the English media and therefore things emerge that say more about the creativity of their author than they do about the facts.”

“We are not so arrogant to think that we can pre-determine who is a world champion. Ron, myself, and every other team member would welcome any world champion as long as his car has a (Mercedes-Benz) star on his nose,” added Haug.

As for Hamilton who is driving the same car as Alonso, the MP4-22 with a Mercedes-Benz engine and Mercedes-Benz oil filter and whatnot, he answered Alonso’s claim that the championship starts at the French Grand Prix by saying: “The championship starts at the first race.”

The young rookie who has broken record after record in his maiden season in Formula One pointed out that while he and Alonso are competitive they have respect for each other. “We are very, very competitive. In ourselves, obviously we want to beat each other more than anything but, outside of the car, we respect each other. But, for sure, we have to be careful.”

Hamilton also claimed that he and Alonso have agreed to speak with each other if they are not happy with what has been said already. “If I have any questions, I will ask him face to face,” said Hamilton.

The British Formula One rookie has 58 points so far after seven races. In all his seven races, Hamilton scored podium finishes and the last two outings have been wins. Alonso also has two wins, at the Malaysian and Monaco Grands Prix. His inconsistency though to finish in the top three for every race put him ten points behind his consistent teammate.

McLaren leads the constructors’ championship standing with 106 points. Their closest rival is Ferrari with 71 points. Ferrari is looking to close that gap with a breakout race from Kimi Raikkonen, a former McLaren driver. To extend McLaren’s lead, either Alonso or Hamilton needs to win the French Grand Prix.