Over the Redline

1953 Chevrolet Corvette: King of All Corvettes

2011-03-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

William Jason
http://musclecarmonster.com

The Chevrolet Corvette C1 will always remain close to the hearts of Americans, as it was the first two-seater sports car in the nation. Since it was merely an experiment at first, only 300 cars were initially produced. The external body of the Corvette was made out of fiberglass, which was considered a new composite material back then. This fiberglass material made it possible for the radio antenna to be incorporated inside the trunk lid. All the 300 units produced had a Polo White exterior and a red interior. The first 15 units produced were built hand-made in Flint, Michigan. 225 of the first 300 manufactured units still exist up to the present. At that time, the Corvette was priced at $3,498.00 inclusive of federal excise tax. It made its debut appearance on January 17, 1953 at the GM Motorama in Waldorf Astoria. As of the moment, that display is now at the Kerbeck Corvette Museum in Atlantic City.

The car had a two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission and Chevrolet's standard drum brakes. The Corvette also featured the Blue Flame inline six-cylinder trunk engine, a standard component of Chevrolet. It wasn't what the engineering team wanted, but it was their only option because other GM brands were not willing to share their V8 motors that time. It wasn't the best engine, although it was reliable. The engineering team just upgraded some parts to make up for it which included a radical camshaft rubbing on solid lifters and higher compression ratio cylinder head from 7.5:1 to 8.0:1. The biggest upgrade to the induction system was in the form of the Three Carter type YH sidedraft carburetors with bullet air cleaners equipped with an aluminum manifold. The result was an increase in output from 150 bhp to 4,500 RPM. Even if the engines output was upgraded, it did not do much to improve the performance. Critics said that overall, the Corvette's performance was below average.

It wasn't a good start for the Corvette. Sales were low in 1954. GM even thought of halting the production but thanks to Zora Arkus Dunto of GM's engineering department, the Corvette became one of the most legendary cars in history. He upgraded the V8 with a three-speed manual transmission. Thanks to that modification, the Corvette morphed into one of greatest cars ever built. In fact, the 1953 Corvette is considered the holy grail of the Corvette lovers. This innovation also earned Arkus-Duntov the title Father of the Corvette. The car even gained the National Corvette Homecoming Sapphire Award in 2007, cementing its legacy as one of the best.

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William Jason has admired classic cars ever since he was a young child and you can read his blog at: http://musclecarmonster.com/

Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) Passenger Cars Manufactured Prior to September 1, 2006 Are Eligible for Importation

2011-03-19T08:34:00.001-07:00

Federal Register
March 15, 2011

[Federal Register: March 15, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 50)]
[Notices]               
[Page 14117-14119]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15mr11-165]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

[Docket No. DOT-NHTSA-2011-0028, Notice 1]

 
Notice of Receipt of Petition for Decision That Nonconforming 
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) Passenger Cars Manufactured Prior to 
September 1, 2006 Are Eligible for Importation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of petition for decision that nonconforming 
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to 
September 1, 2006 are eligible for importation.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document announces receipt by the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a petition for a decision that 
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to 
September 1, 2006, that were not originally manufactured to comply with 
all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are 
eligible for importation into the United States because they are 
substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for 
sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer 
as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of 
the 2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior 
to September 1, 2006), and they are capable of being readily altered to 
conform to the standards.

DATES: The closing date for comments on the petition is April 14, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to the docket and notice numbers above 
and be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001
     Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Comments must be written in the English language, and 
be no greater than 15 pages in length, although there is no limit to 
the length of necessary attachments to the comments. If comments are 
submitted in hard copy form, please ensure that two copies are 
provided. If you wish to receive confirmation that your comments were 
received, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard with the 
comments. Note that all comments received will be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the

[[Page 14118]]

name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    How to Read Comments submitted to the Docket: You may read the 
comments received by Docket Management at the address and times given 
above. You may also view the documents from the Internet at http://
www.regulations.gov.
    Follow the online instructions for accessing the dockets. The 
docket ID number and title of this notice are shown at the heading of 
this document notice. Please note that even after the comment closing 
date, we will continue to file relevant information in the Docket as it 
becomes available. Further, some people may submit late comments. 
Accordingly, we recommend that you periodically search the Docket for 
new material.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-3151).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not 
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS shall be 
refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that 
the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle 
originally manufactured for importation into and sale in the United 
States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of the same model year as 
the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is capable of being 
readily altered to conform to all applicable FMVSS.
    Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either 
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to 
49 CFR part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice 
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords 
interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the 
close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the 
petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is 
eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in 
the Federal Register.
    J.K. Technologies, LLC (``JK''), of Baltimore, Maryland (Registered 
Importer 90-006) has petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 
2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to 
September 1, 2006, are eligible for importation into the United States. 
The vehicles which JK believes are substantially similar are 2005-2006 
Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to September 1, 
2006, that were manufactured for sale in the United States and 
certified by their manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS.
    The petitioner claims that it compared non-U.S. certified 2005-2006 
Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to September 1, 
2006, to their U.S.-certified counterparts, and found the vehicles to 
be substantially similar with respect to compliance with most FMVSS.
    JK submitted information with its petition intended to demonstrate 
that non-U.S. certified 2005-2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars 
manufactured prior to September 1, 2006, as originally manufactured, 
conform to many FMVSS in the same manner as their U.S. certified 
counterparts, or are capable of being readily altered to conform to 
those standards.
    Specifically, the petitioner claims that non-U.S. certified 2005-
2006 Porsche Carrera (997) passenger cars manufactured prior to 
September 1, 2006 are identical to their U.S. certified counterparts 
with respect to compliance with Standard Nos. 102 Transmission Shift 
Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect, 103 
Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems, 104 Windshield Wiping and 
Washing Systems, 106 Brake Hoses, 109 New Pneumatic Tires, 113 Hood 
Latch System, 116 Motor Vehicle Brake Fluids, 124 Accelerator Control 
Systems, 135 Light Vehicle Brake Systems, 201 Occupant Protection in 
Interior Impact, 202 Head Restraints, 204 Steering Control Rearward 
Displacement, 205 Glazing Materials, 206 Door Locks and Door Retention 
Components, 207 Seating Systems, 210 Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages, 212 
Windshield Mounting, 214 Side Impact Protection, 216 Roof Crush 
Resistance, 219 Windshield Zone Intrusion, 301 Fuel System Integrity, 
and 302 Flammability of Interior Materials.
    The petitioner also contends that the vehicles are capable of being 
readily altered to meet the following standards, in the manner 
indicated:
    Standard No. 101 Controls Telltales, and Indicators: Installation 
of U.S. conforming instrument cluster and cruise control lever, and 
installation or activation of associated U.S.-version software in the 
vehicle's computer system.
    Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices and Associated 
Equipment: Installation of the following U.S.-model components on 
vehicles not already so equipped: (a) Front sidemarker lamps with 
integral side reflex reflectors; (b) headlamps; (c) integral tail lamp 
housings that includes rear side marker, rear turn signal, and brake 
lamps, as well as rear and side reflex reflectors.
    Standard No. 110 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles with a 
GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or Less: Installation of a tire 
information placard.
    Standard No. 111 Rearview Mirrors: Installation of a U.S.-model 
passenger side rearview mirror, or inscription of the required warning 
statement on the face of that mirror.
    Standard No. 114 Theft Protection: Installation of a supplemental 
key warning buzzer, or installation or activation of U.S.-version 
software to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 118 Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel 
Systems: Installation or activation of U.S.-version software in the 
vehicle's computer system to meet the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection: Inspection of all 
vehicles and replacement of any non U.S.-conforming model seat belts, 
air bag control units, air bags, and sensors with U.S.-model components 
on vehicles that are not already so equipped; and (b) installation or 
activation of U.S.-version software to ensure that the seat belt 
warning system meets the requirements of this standard.
    Standard No. 209 Seat Belt Assemblies: Inspection of all vehicles 
and replacement of any non U.S.-certified model seat belts with U.S.-
model components.
    Standard No. 225 Child Restraint Anchorage Systems: Installation of 
U.S.-model child restraint anchorage systems components.
    Standard No. 401 Interior Trunk Release: Installation of U.S.-model 
interior trunk release components.
    The petitioner additionally states that a vehicle identification 
plate must be affixed to the vehicles near the left windshield post to 
meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565.
    All comments received before the close of business on the closing 
date indicated above will be considered, and will be available for 
examination in the docket at the above addresses both before and after 
that date. To the extent possible, comments filed after the closing 
date will also be considered. Notice of final action on the petition 
will be published in the Federal

[[Page 14119]]

Register pursuant to the authority indicated below.

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8; 
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: March 9, 2011.
Claude H. Harris,
Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011-5982 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

Ferrari Backs Down to Ford Over Trademark Dispute

2011-02-11T21:59:00.001-08:00

VOA Breaking News

Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari has agreed to use the full name of its new Formula One race car following a trademark dispute with American automaker Ford.

In a statement Thursday, Ferrari said it had not used the abbreviated F150 name commercially but would refer to the car in all areas of operation by its full name, the “Ferrari F150th Italia.” The race car's name celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.

Ford sued Ferrari in Detroit federal court Wednesday contending the Italian carmaker had violated its trademark over the pickup truck name F-150. Ford has been using the F-150 name since 1975 and has had a trademark on it since 1995. The Ford F-150 truck is one of the company's most popular vehicles.

A Ford spokesperson said that the motive behind the lawsuit was to prevent the Ford F-150 brand from being “diluted.” Ferrari said it was “very difficult to understand Ford's viewpoint on the matter,” believing its race car “cannot be confused with any other types of commercially available vehicle.”

The Formula One season starts March 13 at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir.

1978 Alfa Romeo Spider Niki Lauda F.1 Specifications

2010-11-18T19:52:00.000-08:00

The following specifications are for the Niki Lauda F.1 special edition Alfa Romeo Spider. The car was available only in red.

Chassis
Body Style	2-passenger Roadster
Drivetrain
Layout	Front engine, rear drive
Exterior Dimensions
Length	161.3"
Width	64.4"
Height	50.6"
Wheelbase	88.7"
Track (F/R)	52.3"/50.3"
Engine
Type	Inline 4-cylinder
Displacement	120 cu. in./1962cc
Bore & Stroke	3.3" x 3.5" 84mm x 88.5mm
Compression Ratio	9.0:1
Valvetrain	Dual Overhead Camshaft (DOHC)
Materials	Aluminum block, aluminum head
Construction	5 main bearings
Fuel System	Mechanical fuel injection
Horsepower (SAE Net)	110hp
Torque (SAE Net)	121 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm
Oil Capacity	7.1 quarts
Cooling System Capacity	2.5 gallons
Transmission & Final Drive
Transmission	5-speed manual
Differential	Limited Slip
Final Drive Ratio	4.5:1
Suspension & Steering
Front	Indepedent w/inclined A-arms, coil springs, double-action shocks, anti-roll bar
Rear	Live axle, coil springs, double-action shocks, anti-roll bar, torque tee
Steering	Recirculating ball
Turns, Lock-to-Lock	3.5
Turning Circle, Curb-to-Curb	34.5'
Brakes, Wheels & Tires
Front Brakes	9.84" disc w/power assist
Rear Brakes	9.84" disc w/power assist
Wheels	5.5Jx14 cast magnesium
Tires	165 HR14 steel belted radial
Tire Pressure (F/R)	24 psi/24 psi
Weights & Capacities
Curb Weight	2550 lbs.
Fuel Capacity	12 gallons
Performance
0-30 mph	5.1 seconds*
0-40 mph	7.3 seconds*
0-50 mph	10.4 seconds*
0-60 mph	14.3 seconds*
0-70 mph	19.3 seconds*
0-80 mph	26.34 seconds*
Quarter Mile	19.2 seconds @ 73.0 mph
30-0 mph	37.9'*
60-0 mph	166.0'*
Power to Weight Ratio	23.2 lbs./horsepower
Economy
EPA Estimate	18 mpg city/26 mpg highway
EPA Weighted Average	21.0 mpg
Motor Trend 73-mile Test Loop	23.2 mpg*
Price
Base Price	$9,295

*=As tested by Motor Trend, July 1978

Source: http://www.carsandracingstuff.com/library/s/spider.php

Fires Force Ferrari Recall of 458 Italia Supercars

2010-09-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

VOA News
September 2, 2010 at 1:50 pm

Legendary Italian carmaker Ferrari, which builds the quarter-million-dollar 458 Italia sports car, is recalling more than 1,200 of the fabled machines, after reports of the supercars bursting into flames.

The recall, announced Thursday, affects all 1,248 owners of the sleek two-seater, which generates a top speed of 325 kilometers an hour. It was issued after pictures and video of several burned cars were posted on the Internet.

Ferrari, based in the northern Italian town of Maranello, blames the fires on an adhesive holding the heat shield in place near the wheel arch assembly. The company says the adhesive ignited during what it called "extreme uses in very high temperature."

Under the recall, the company says the glue will be replaced with metal fasteners.

Ferrari says five fires have been reported in the United States, Switzerland, China and France.

NHTSA Recall 10V389000

Vehicle Make / Model:          Model Year(s):
     FERRARI / 458        2010
Manufacturer: FERRARI NORTH AMERICA INC  Mfr's Report Date: AUG 31, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V389000  
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 303
Summary:
FERRARI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 458 ITALIA VEHICLES. THE HEAT
CREATED BY THE ENGINE COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE DEFORMATION OF THE REAR RIGHT HAND
AND LEFT HAND WHEELHOUSE AND HEAT SHIELD ASSEMBLIES. THE ASSEMBLY COULD COME
EXCESSIVELY CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING THE BONDING ADHESIVE USED IN
THE ASSEMBLY TO OVERHEAT AND PRODUCE SMOKE.
Consequence:
UNDER PARTICULARLY HIGH AMBIENT OPERATING TEMPERATURE THIS COULD CAUSE THE
ADHESIVE TO IGNITE, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND/OR RENDERING THE VEHICLE
INOPERABLE AND POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING HEAT SHIELDS AND BONDING ADHESIVE FROM THE
RIGHT HAND AND LEFT HAND REAR WHEELHOUSES, AND INSTALL NEW PROTECTIVE HEAT
SHIELDS ON THE RIGHT HAND AND LEFT HAND REAR WHEELHOUSES. THIS SERVICE WILL
BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING
SEPTEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FERRARI AT 201-816-2600.
Notes:
FERRARI SAFETY RECALL NO. 51. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY
TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236
(TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG: The Reincarnation Of The Red Sow

2010-08-30T16:52:00.000-07:00

Janelle Elizabeth
http://www.lovethisproduct.com

It has been almost forty years since the initial surprise debut of the 4-door AMG saloon. Today, history repeats itself. This time, it is with the "off track special" which is based on the wonderful 420kW S63 Red Sow.

The four door 300SEL 6.8 was known as the Red Sow because of its colour, which was red. During the 1971 24 heures de Spa-Francorchamps race, it was the heaviest and fastest monster by a good margin, and it eventually finished in 2nd place. To commemorate the comeback of the Red Sow, Mercedes-Benz invited the prime car lovers and media to Bernie Ecclestone's Le Castellet circuit at the southern region of France. The main attraction of the pit were the re-engine 2011 S63 AMG that was liveried up to match up the 1971 racer, along with seasoned time travelers Hans Heyer and the driver of the first Red Sow, Clemens Schickentanz.

Even though the 2011 automobile basically uses a stock body, it also exhibits flared wings, a 20 inch wheel and tyre that is the widest pairing available, a fairly modified spoiler kit, and low-drag mirrors. Nice period splashes which are similar to the first Red Sow include rubber latches to hold the lids, sports a no bumber design, and a reasonably conditional roll-cage that boasts a huge single transverse column, which did wonders in strengthening a particularly inflexible four door design.

As opposed to the first Red Sow which has 4 Bosch foot-ball sized auxiliary driving lights, the 2011 S63 AMG make do with rounded Bosh stickers that have no less than LEDs. Enough to accelerate the automobile that weighs a colossal 2.1 tons from -100km/h in 4.4 seconds, is its twin turbo 5.5-liter V8, which collects 420kW at 660 rounds each minute and 900Nm from 2500 to 3750 rpm. In addition, the Performance Kit has compound brakes, a 275/35 front and 325/30 sports suspension that involve 45mm flares all around. The same 7-speed AT transmission as the Mercedes-Benz SL63 is used in the S63.

The theory is that, the new Red Sow may effortlessly break the 320 km/h or 200mph barriers with flying colours. Nevertheless, the significant weight that is put into the huge downforce would just possibly put plenty of strain the tires.

Design wise, the new vehicle is really a chauffeur's car rather than a racer. Its gear selector is column-mounted, and the instrumentation can only be considered modern if we were in the design freeze of 2001. Dimensionally, the brand new Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG has obviously been subjected to a fattening diet program to say the least. On the other hand, once you have 420kW and 900Nm to handle, you truly can't complain.

----------------------------------------------------
In theory, the brand new Red Sow might effortlessly break the 320 km/h or 200mph boundaries with little effort. Nevertheless, the substantial weight which is put into the high downforce would likely place a lot of strain the front and back tires. Discover more facts about Mercedez-Benz cars at http://www.luxurycarssydney.com.au

2010-2011 Jaguar XK Recall

2010-08-18T15:40:00.001-07:00

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10V332&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email

NHTSA Campaign ID number : 10V332000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
JAGUAR / XK 2010-2011
Manufacturer: JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC Mfr's Report Date: JUL 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V332000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 5048
Summary:
JAGUAR IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 JAGUAR XK AND MODEL YEAR 2010 XF V8 5.OL GASOLINE ENGINE VEHICLES. THE IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP MAY NOT BE CORRECTLY ACTIVATED AS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS NOT ENERGIZED FOLLOWING A VEHICLE START UP CYCLE. AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE COULD RESULT.
Consequence:
FUEL STARVATION TO THE ENGINE LEADS TO ENGINE STUMBLE FOLLOWED BY ENGINE CUT OUT WITH MINIMAL WARNING AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL DOWNLOAD REVISED SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR AT 1-800-452-4827.
Notes:
JAGUAR SAFETY RECALL NO. J017. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

The Sad Demise of the American USF1 Formula 1 Team

2010-07-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lemmy Gibson
June 25, 2010

Formula 1 has always seemed to have a hostile relationship with America. It is difficult to know why, but there certainly seems to be a curse associated with the relationship. The news in 2009 that an American Formula 1 team would be launched was met with much ado. Alas, the USF1 Team never even made to the track and has now been permanently banned from the sport.

The team was the idea of Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson. Both had a long history in motorsports and Windsor in particular had been involved in the running of major teams like McLaren. The two promised a new way of running a team in a financially responsible manner. The promises were never kept.

USF1 looked to be in trouble from the start. Part of it was pure bad luck and a certain lack of common sense. Launching a Formula 1 team in the middle of the Great Recession was not exactly a move that forecast success. The fact the team ran into funding problems almost immediately could only have been a surprise to Windsor and Anderson. They obviously thought they had backing when they really did not.

Following the failure to make the grid, USF1 was a going concern in name only. Eventually, the World Motor Sport Council launched an investigation into what went wrong. It has just released its findings and they are not pleasant. The investigators determined Windsor and Anderson had badly underestimated the cost of launching and running a team, and thus had no realistic hope of every making the grid. Given this, the council fined the team 225,000 pounds and barred it from ever competing in the championship in the future.

So, now what? Will we see another American Formula 1 team launched at some point? It seems very unlikely. The only hope would seem to be a groundswell of support arising from the new race to be held in Austin, Texas for the next 10 years. Based on past excursions into the United States by F1, I wouldn’t hold my breath on that one.

Lemmy Gibson writes and rants at PullingGsRacing.com where you can get the latest commentary on Formula One results.

Source: Amazines.com

Rolex series hits the high banks of Daytona, Florida for the 100th Daytona prototype Race

2010-07-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

Wikinews
July 1, 2010

In January 2003, the Grand American Rolex Sorts Car Series debuted the Daytona Prototype (DP) class, its new premier class at that year's Rolex 24 at Daytona. Seven years Later, the class reached a milestone. This weekend's Brumos Porche 250 at Daytona marked the 100th race in the DP era.

The biggest story coming into the race was about the 01 Telmex Chip Ganassi BMW Riley. The team had technical violations that were discovered after the previous race at Mid-Ohio. The subsequent penalties (25 team, driver, and manufacturer's points and $15,000 fine) had cut Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas' lead in the standings from 32 to 7.

The extra 75 pounds hurt the BMW powered cars in qualifying. The 01 Telmex Chip Ganassi BMW Riley only qualified 4th, But that didn't slow the team down. Pruett, driving the second and final stint, drove away from the Starworks Motorsports BMW of Ryan Dalziel and Mike Forest, moving the No. 01 drivers' points lead to 13 ahead of Dalziel.

They lead the team standings by 25 ahead of the the Sun Trust Racing team of Ricky Taylor and Max Angelleli.

Pruett and Rojas also had to overcome startling temperatures in the car that resembled a heat sink, to give Ganassi his second Daytona victory this season. He won NASCAR's Daytona 500 with Jamie McMurray in February.

"Look at our suits, they are soaked head to toe," Pruett told reporters about the heat. "I think we probably sweat five, six, seven, eight pounds. It was incredible, the humidity and everything.

"Maybe we should put a temperature gauge up on he dashboard." As for the extra weight, especially under braking: "I don't know how to describe it, try running a sprint with a backpack . . . slow down, it's not the same," Rojas said.

The duo led 40 of 83 laps.

The triumph also was the sixth in eight Grand-Am races for Pruett and Rojas this season. They were second in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and 13th at Lime Rock where they were wrecked on the first lap.

Andy Lally drove the No. 66 TRG Porsche to the victory in GT, teaming with co-driver R.J. Valentine who was in the car for the first time in a year-and-a- half. It was Lally's third victory this season with three different sets of co-drivers

Pruett grabbed the lead in NASCAR Turn 3 on Lap 46, with just a little more than an hour remaining, and steadily built his lead to the victory clinching 24.3 seconds. The triumph was Pruett's 28th in 100 Grand-Am starts and the 29th for Ganassi.

This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License. It was not selected for publication at Wikinews.

2007-2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Recall

2010-06-26T14:23:00.001-07:00

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10V215&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email

NHTSA Campaign ID number : 10V215000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
LAMBORGHINI / MURCIELAGO 2007-2008
LAMBORGHINI / MURCIELAGO ROADSTER 2007-2008
Manufacturer: AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI Mfr's Report Date: MAY 14, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V215000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Potential Number of Units Affected: 428
Summary:
LAMBORGHINI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 MURCIELAGO AND MURCIELAGO ROADSTER VEHICLES. THE WELDS HOLDING THE FUEL PUMP SUPPORT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK COULD DETACH. THIS SITUATION MAY RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JUNE 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAMBORGHINI AT 1-912-409-5634 OR 1-508-808-9562.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

2011 Porsche Boxster S Recall

2010-04-20T17:55:00.000-07:00

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=10V125&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email

NHTSA Campaign ID number : 10V125000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
PORSCHE / BOXSTER S 2011
Manufacturer: PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: MAR 26, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V125000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: VISIBILITY:SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY
Potential Number of Units Affected: 9
Summary:
PORSCHE HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 BOXSTER SPYDER 2 DOOR CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE LOCKING HOOK ON THE SUN SHIELD (TEMPORARY SOFT TOP) MAY NOT ENGAGE CORRECTLY INTO THE LOCK CATCH WHICH IS POSITIONED ON THE WINDSCREEN FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence:
IF THE SUN SHIELD IS NOT FULLY LOCKED, THE SUN SHIELD CAN OPEN WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHER SPEEDS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL HAVE BOTH THE LOCKING HOOK AND LOCK CATCH REPLACED WITH REDESIGNED COMPONENTS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PORSCHE AT 1-800-545-8039.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

BMW M-Tec Badges - A Few Myths Dispelled

2010-04-20T17:52:00.000-07:00

April 16, 2010

Nigel Marston

http://www.nm-motorsport.com

The market is flooded with replica BMW accessories bearing the M-Tec logo. Sometimes it is difficult to tell which are originals and which are copies. This is especially true for M-Tec boot and grille badges.

Probably the products most copied are M-Tec boot and grille badges. Such replica badges are effectively illegal counterfeits as they are using the M trademark without authorisation. This has led to the circulation of numerous misconceptions about what is and is not original BMW. Following are a few facts ....

* The letter M on original M-Tec boot and grille badges is always chromed plastic. BMW never made this part of the badge out of metal like many people believe

* The M stripes are always a sticker. BMW never painted these on or made them from enamel

* BMW never made an M-Tec grille badge out of the newer style curved M-Tec badge. Those 'new style' grille badges on the market are not original, although its not to say that the badge itself isn't original

As you will have noticed by now, BMW changed the style of the M-Tec logo when the BMW E39 M5 appeared. It now has a curved surface as opposed to the flat surface of the older style badge. It then appeared on the BMW E46 M3 and on all other M Power models since then. The old style badge faded out with the E30, E34 and Z3 models.

The perception seems to be that the new style badge is better quality than the older flat style and therefore some believe that because of this, the older style badge is a copy. Obviously, this isn't true.

The new style curved M-Tec badge has a few little known facts surrounding it......

* A BMW supplied new style M-Tec boot badge may include a red stripe which is a darker red than normal; in fact it is almost burgundy in colour.

* The new style BMW E46 M3 badge includes a burgundy red stripe. However, the badge is smaller than that of many other new style M, M5 and M6 badges etc by about 5mm or 6mm. The M5 and M6 badges have a lighter red stripe.

* The new style BMW E90 and BMW E92 M3 badge is also smaller than most other M badges. The back of the badge has a slight curve which helps it to fit on the curved boot lid surface of the E90 and E92 M3.

When buying an M-Tec badge,check with the seller that it is original and that its suitable for your BMW.

There are numerous different types and sizes of M badges available. Whilst each is designed to fit on to certain BMW models in specific locations, many can be used on most flat surfaces on any model.

Undoubtedly, original M-Tec badges cost much more to buy than replicas but you get what you pay for in terms of quality and originality.

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Nigel Marston has been an independent BMW accessories and parts specialist for the past 20 years and a BMW enthusiast since the late 1980s. He has owned many different BMW models over the years and is well known by people in many countries for his knowledge and enthusiasm about BMW cars. To subscribe to Nigel's free BMW enthusiasts newsletter and read other BMW related articles he has written, visit his website => http://www.nm-motorsport.com

2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Review - Aggressive Good Looks

2010-03-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

By Gary Witzenburg
http://www.autoMedia.com

Automakers often infuse a model's lineup with a specialty version near the end of a vehicle's product cycle as a way to re-energize sales and interest before revealing the next-generation. Chevrolet did this before, for example, when they introduced the limited-production 1994 Grand Sport.

The new 2010 Chevy Grand Sports fill the gap (for just $5-6K premiums above base MSRP) between the most Spartan Vettes and the Z06 and even more expensive ZRI. Chevrolet expects them to account for nearly half of 2010 Corvette sales, and�given their forceful good looks and outstanding performance value—we see no reason to doubt that prediction.

Purists complain that Corvette V-8s (like Chrysler's HEMI V-8s), with their single camshaft nestled deep in the center of their blocks driving overhead valves through pushrods and rockers, are inefficient "old tech" compared to other modern engines with camshafts mounted atop their heads. Yet the many advantages of cam-in-block construction�including lower cost and complexity, lower weight and center of gravity, easier build and serviceability and smaller overall size for a given displacement�provide truly notable performance for the money. Few complain about this 6.2-liter non-turbo LS3 V-8's prodigious power and torque and surprising fuel efficiency (16/26 EPA city/highway mpg) at the Corvette's fairly affordable price. And if the standard 430 horsepower and 424 lb.-ft. of torque are not sufficient, an optional two-mode exhaust system bumps those remarkable numbers to 436 and 428.

Amazingly (at the price), the LS3 engines in six-speed-manual Grand Sports are hand built alongside Z06 and ZR1 V-8s at GM's Wixom, MI special engine build facility and boast racer-like dry sump lubrication with a remote oil reservoir to prevent oil starvation during extended hard cornering, plus a differential cooler and a rear-mounted battery. Also standard with the six-speed manual is a terrific launch control system that modulates full-throttle torque 100 times per second to maximize available traction. The driver can simply stand on the gas and side step the clutch for consistent four-second 0-60 launches.

Grand Sport Corvettes roll on large (275/35ZR18 front, 325/30ZR19 rear) high-performance tires on unique alloy wheels with Z06-size brakes: front 14-inch rotors with six-piston calipers and rear 13.4-inch rotors with four-piston calipers. A step above standard Corvettes in performance (thanks to more insistent gearing) and especially in dynamics, they are civilized on the road yet fiercely capable on a track. You could comfortably pilot one to work each day and pound it around a racetrack every weekend.

We tested manual and automatic coupes and convertibles on local roads and freeways, then brutalized manual-shift coupes on GM's Milford, MI high-speed development track, and found much to love and little not to like. On climate-cratered Michigan roads, their ride was controlled but comfortable and compliant. On the track, their handling and stability were near-Z06 awesome. Acceleration was strong from any speed, braking was consistently powerful and stable and steering was crisp and precise. Uphill and down, through hairpins, fast sweepers and tight, tricky esses (with standard stability control on), they took a slight tail-out set powering out of each turn then dug in and rocketed toward the next one.

There is now a well-defined hierarchy within Chevy's 2010 Corvette line-up, beginning with the base coupe at $49,880 MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) and climbing through the standard convertible at $54,530, the Grand Sport coupe at $55,720 and Grand Sport convertible at $59,530 before jumping to the $75K Z06. Standard on all 2010 Corvettes are keyless access, stability control, side air bags, OnStar with Turn-by-Turn navigation, AM/FM/CD radio with steering wheel controls, launch control (with manual transmission) and steering wheel paddle shifters with optional automatic.

Two available interior packages fill the gap between the standard trim and the posh leather-wrapped cabin, and a Heritage Package adds those front fender stripes and two-tone seats with Grand Sport embroidery. Additional major options include DVD navigation with voice recognition, Bose premium audio with XM Satellite Radio and a six-disc CD changer.

----------------------------------------------------
autoMedia.com boasts over 60,000 pages of original auto articles, including over 2,100 features researched and written by leading automotive experts. For automotive advice you can trust, including latest pricing, specifications, warranty information, rebates and incentives on the 2010 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport, along with details on all Chevrolet models, go to -> http://www.autoMedia.com

Random Lugnuts: NASCAR Teams and Sponsorship Money

2009-09-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

Bill Crittenden
September 18, 2009

As much as NASCAR and its teams are criticized for sticking brand logos across every available square inch of everything they bring to the track, the economics of the sport require individual teams to find sponsorship to compete. It's not just the raw costs of running a car and a team that requires such sponsorship, not when the New York Yankees have a payroll of just over $208 million (ESPN.com). A fifth of a billion dollars would buy a lot of NASCAR-spec Impalas, a lot of wind tunnel time, pay for thousands of hours of team labor and still have enough money left over to hire a good driver, and the Yankees haven't had to replace the famed NY on their caps with a corporate logo to sign A-Rod's checks. Why is NASCAR different? Why is it that we can associate Amp with Dale Jr. and Aflac with Carl Edwards but many casual fans might not even recognize the logos of Hendrick Motorsports or Roush-Fenway Racing?

Think about this: in most other sports, each team has a home stadium where they sell tickets to the games. In NASCAR, nobody has a home field, and ticket money isn't collected by the individual teams. The Yankees have Yankee Stadium, whereas NASCAR teams run every race as an "away game." Prize money might cover the basic costs of running a race car, as shown by the start-and-park crowd, and you see how competitive they are. They don't even try to finish races, let alone try to win them. It takes a lot more money to actually compete in the series. Merchandise sales, while a big business to stock car racing fans, doesn't cover the difference between showing up and taking home trophies. Without the money from big corporate sponsors, NASCAR would be very, very different.

Sponsorships, to a stock car team, are about more than covering payroll. Why do teams feel the need to sell every available flat space on every team-owned object they bring to the track? Because sponsorship affects how a team operates on the track. When extra money can buy new testing equipment, or wind tunnel time, or be used to hire better engine builders, the competition for sponsorship money becomes part of the overall competition that is NASCAR racing. Increasing a primary sponsor's return on investment (to keep them signing on year after year) by finding new places to plaster their logo or increasing overall income by selling new spaces to new associate sponsors is just another thing a team can do to find a competitive edge on the other teams.

Thankfully, NASCAR has ensured that the race for money does not win races on the track all by itself, as evidenced by the wide variety of winners we've seen over the years. Otherwise, NASCAR might resemble Formula 1 of years past. While there's no shortage of sponsorship money available in Formula 1, the technology-dependent series rewards those capable of expensive research and development, and so the few teams with the most money have the best technology, the best cars, and can use those to draw the best talent, and with all three dominate the series, resulting in only two or three competitive teams and the championship often decided between the two drivers of the top team. When Brad Keselowski drove James Finch's car to victory at Talladega, followed up by David Reutimann's win for Michael Waltrip Racing, each beating so many teams with so many more resources, they proved that money alone can't ensure victory in NASCAR's top series.

Money certainly can help build a team, though, and the open availability of the corporate sponsorship ensures that almost anyone with talent can get the cash to build a winning racing program. Many of the top NASCAR team owners, such as Rick Hendrick or Roger Penske, came into the sport with their own money from the outside and used that to build their teams. But drivers, relying on sponsorship money given to them by corporations who wanted to associate themselves with top talent and believed in their knowledge of the sport helped drivers such as Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt and now Tony Stewart put winning cars out on the track as owners.

What would happen if the supply of sponsors were dramatically reduced, or if sponsors were somehow discouraged from spending on the sport? After all, as I've mentioned, the start-and-park crowd can run a team on prize money, so why can't everybody else? What would happen is a few wealthy owners who can build better teams without big sponsorships would dominate the sport. The three or four recognizeable personalities would pull in the few funding sources available while the rest just go without. The top drivers would prefer to drive for a well-run and well-funded team, and given their choice sponsors will put their money on winning cars and winning drivers. The end result is the vast majority of money, talent, and sponsors concentrated in the hands of a few teams, reducing the level of competition to the point that few fans are still interested.

Once corporate sponsorships fled CART, the end of the series was a story of domination by a few teams that could still find funding, and Newman-Haas driver Sebastien Bourdais won the championship four times in a row from 2004-2007, and 8 of the 14 Grands Prix held the final 2007 season. Imagine most of the current NASCAR teams operating as two-car or single-car shadows of their current selves because they can't find proper funding for their current operations while one or two fully-funded teams operate as they do today. Think of what would happen if one driver not only won three championships in a row but four and possibly then a fifth (Bourdais and Newman-Haas were only prevented from a fifth by the IRL-CART merger), while also winning twenty-plus races a year for a half decade, and you can imagine what would happen to the fan base of NASCAR. Tired of Jimmie Johnson now? Imagine giving him a fourth championship and tripling his win total over the past three and two-thirds seasons and you have some idea of what the ChampCar World Series had happen to it...and why CART folded.

Big money sponsorship is an essential part of NASCAR. I believe it has helped the sport more than it has hurt it, and there's no way to get it back out without damaging the kind of racing that has built the sport into one of the most watched competitions in America. So it's just something to live with, and I'm sure by now most of us are quite used to it. I'll be "living with it" in a t-shirt with the logos of Amp and National Guard...which has something to do with the subject of part 2 in this series.

The original article, with pictures, is available at http://www.carsandracingstuff.com/library/articles/3813.php

The Caterham 7 Sports Car Super Light and Super Fun

2009-04-07T22:49:00.000-07:00

By Jo Alexander
Source: Amazines.com
April 7, 2009

When the visionary designer Colin Chapmen first set out to design the Lotus 7 he had lightness, speed and agility at the forefront of his mind. What he could not of know was that he was about to create a timeless design classic, which still has the ability to embarrass supercars costing over ten times as much.

The first Lotus 7 was released to the public in 1957 and cost £1000 pounds to buy new. However the simplicity of the design meant that Lotus could also offer the 7 in kit form where it would cost half as much. Chapman's constant aim throughout all of his cars at Lotus was to lightness, ensuring that the cars he produced had supreme agility and road holding.

As Lotus grew in stature Chapman realised that the company would need to shed its kit car image if they were ever to be considered a serious supercar manufacturers and so, in 1973, the designs and rights to the Lotus 7 were sold to Caterham Cars and the new Caterham 7 was born.

It is no surprise that the Caterham 7 has continued to be popular with enthusiastic driver throughout the decades, with its simple engine at the front, power at the back and two seats in the middle philosophy, this sports car was destined to be a hit. As is often the case when you have a winning design on your hands you often find others trying to copy it and Caterham is no exception, pursing several legal cases to protect the design rights.

The design of the Caterham 7 remained pretty static until, in 2000, the SV version was offered. This was Caterham's answer to all those drivers who found fitting in the 7 a tight squeeze, giving an extra 11cm of width to the chassis meant that a whole new group of drivers could experience the astonishing road holding and performance of the 7.

Unbelievably despite the car's lightweight origins Caterham continued to reduce the weight of its road racer, and this gave rise to the super light range of Caterham's. In 2004 Caterham released its most extreme version of the 7 yet, with the R500 Evo. This car could accelerate up to 100mph and then brake back to zero again in just over 10 seconds, a feat that placed it ahead of a seriously humbled Ferrari Enzo.

Caterham have continued on with the lightness theme by producing a new version of the R500, a car that utilises the very latest in carbon fibre and thin wall aluminium materials, and has enough of a power to weight ratio to worry a Bugatti Veyron owner. Nowhere is spared the weight loss program, even the windscreen is an optional extra, although thankfully the headlight bulbs still remain for those late night summer drives.

Whilst the flagship Caterham models offer incredible performance for their price, there is actually a Caterham 7 available for every performance and budget requirement. More importantly if you can face a few long nights locked up in your garage and build one from a kit you will be able to save money even further, and glow in the satisfaction that the sports car you have just created is all your own work.

2008 Volkswagen R32 Recall

2009-04-07T22:47:00.000-07:00

Report Date : March 30, 2009 at 06:27 PM
NHTSA Campaign ID number : 09V093000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
VOLKSWAGEN / R32 2008
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC Mfr's Report Date: MAR 18, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V093000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Potential Number of Units Affected: 5000
Summary:
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 5,000 MY 2008 R32 (5TH GENERATION) VEHICLES. WHEN CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE ACCOMPANIED BY HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE MAY NOT REMAIN FULLY CLOSED. IF THIS HAPPENS, LIQUID FUEL MAY ENTER THE FUEL TANK VENTING SYSTEM AND MIGRATE INTO THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM, SATURATING THE CARBON CANISTER. SHOULD THIS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE PERFORMANCE ISSUES (I.E., VEHICLE JERKING) AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COULD ILLUMINATE. FUEL COULD LEAK FROM THE EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK DETECTION PUMP FILTER.
Consequence:
A FUEL LEAK, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CAN LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENTILATION VALVE WITH AN IMPROVED VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Notes:
VOLKSWAGEN RECALL NO. S2. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

2009 Maserati Granturismo Recall

2009-04-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

Report Date : April 8, 2009 at 12:38 AM
NHTSA Campaign ID number : 09V092000

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
MASERATI / GRANTURISMO 2009
Manufacturer: MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. Mfr's Report Date: MAR 20, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V092000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL
Potential Number of Units Affected: 824
Summary:
MASERATI IS RECALLING 824 MY 2009 GRANTURISMO EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL FRONT PARKING SENSOR SYSTEM THEY WERE MANUFACTURED WITH FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE WHICH WILL AFFECT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SEAT BELT WARNING BUZZER'S ABILITY TO ACTIVATE, THEREBY NOT PROPERLY WARNING WHEN THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT ENGAGED.
Consequence:
IF THE BUZZER DOES NOT SOUND, YOU OR YOUR PASSENGER MAY FAIL TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELTS ADEQUATELY, THIS COULD RESULT IN GREATER RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL UPLOAD A NEW SOFTWARE INTO THE VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CONTROL MODULE UNIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MASERATI AT 201-816-2600.
Notes:
MASERATI RECALL NO. 185. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

2008 Sunburst Corvette Club Show Photos

2009-02-18T20:16:00.000-08:00

Photos from the 2008 Sunburst Corvette Club Show are now online at The Crittenden Automotive Library.

100 photos all of Corvettes!

NASCAR Driver Histories by Chris DiCicco

2008-03-13T15:39:00.001-07:00

I know it's been a whole lot of NASCAR stuff lately, but I post what I can find (and have permission to use), and this is all I have lately:

NASCAR Driver Histories by Chris DiCicco at CarsAndRacingStuff.com Forum

NASCAR's Denny Hamlin - From boy to Superstar

2008-03-11T18:37:00.001-07:00

By Chris Dicicco

James Dennis Hamlin Jr. or better known as Denny Hamlin, was born on November 18, 1980 was born in Tampa, Florida but spent most of his childhood in Chesterfield, Virginia. He started racing go karts when he was 7 years old in 1988. He was burning up the go karting tracks in Richmond, Virginia. By the time he was 16, Hamlin had switched to sturdier racing cars. He was racing stock cars and at his first race at Langley Speedway, saw him winning the pole position and the race. From then on, Hamlin raced in the Grand Stock division in 1998 which then spurred him on to Late Model Stock Cars in the year 2000.

Hamlin’s lucky break came when he was 24 and racing in the Late Model Stock Cars full time. It was there that Hamlin garnered the attention of Joe Gibbs Racing who then decided to sign him up for a driver development program. The same year, Hamlin joined the major-league NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races and the NASCAR Busch Series at Darlington Speedway. He managed to secure an 8th place finish and with that, a stable footing in Joe Gibbs Racing. Even though he started at 27th after an unfortunate qualifying session, Hamlin’s skills took over during the actual race and showed Joe Gibbs Racing that he was indeed a good investment.

Hamlin ended up replacing Mike Bliss in 2005 for the Busch Series and he ended the race with a steady 5th spot in the final championship. He also was able to compete in his first NEXTEL Cup Series after which he made his Cup debut after replacing Jason Leffler. He went on to finish the Cup season with 3 top 10 finishes in seven starts and one pole at Phoenix International Raceway. Hamlin had his first full season in the NASCAR Nextel Cup series in 2006 and he also drover the Busch Series. During the NEXTEL Cup, he managed to beat the previous season’s pole winners in the 2006 Budweiser Shootout and in doing such, he made history as being the first Rookie of the year candidate to win such an honor.

While during a break at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Hamlin injured his left hand between the pinkie and wrist which brought about 19 stitches as a result from goofing around with some of his crew members. However, despite the serious injury, he still managed to bag the second spot at the Crown Royal 400. He then went on to win his first career Cup Series at the Pocono 500 and he also managed to bring home his second career pole. His second career win was achieved in the same year in the Pennsylvania 500, Pocono Raceway and again made history for being only the 2nd rookie in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup history to get both trophies during the same season.

During the same Cup series, Hamlin scored the Raybestos Rookie of the year with a third finish in the final cup standings. He was in the NASCAR record books once again for being able to score the highest ever points finish for a rookie which then led to him being the first rookie to qualify for the Chase for the NEXTEL Cup. He has made many important figures in the NASCAR world to sit up and take notice. His excellent performance is also bringing on the heat on his other rival drivers.

Hamlin now lives in Cornelius, North Carolina to be close to the tracks. When he is off track, he spends time with his friends, plays online games and the occasional game of golf.

For NASCAR Merchandise, Up to the minute News, and everything NASCAR including NASCAR Baby Clothes , NASCAR Kids Jackets and NASCAR Jerseys we have them at the best prices everyday! Not only am I the owner of NASCARsupershop.com but I am also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan of NASCAR!

NASCAR's David Reutimann - From Boy to Superstar

2008-03-01T04:38:00.001-08:00

By Chris Dicicco

Born on the 2nd of March in 1970, David Reutimann grew up in Zephyrhills, Florida with the zeal of driving inborn within him. The Ruetimann family name resounds strongly within the old school races and various fans throughout the east coast. Their family name is notorious on the race tracks of Orlando, Florida. Buzzie and Wayne Reutimann (David’s father and uncle) were legends amongst the old school racers throughout the east coast. Their presence commands respect on and off the tracks and such a tradition was instilled in young David. David was brought up with racing in his blood and he has made sure to continue the bloodline on the tracks.
David’s grandfather and father would tear down the tracks in their early 30s Chevys, trimmed in blue and white with the famous “00” painted on red. They brought their game to the track and had their trophy in tow. Buzzie had the DIRT world in his hands after storm winning events all over the Eastern seaboard. David Reutimann, at the beginning was very much like his father. He was driving modifieds and late models on dirt and paved tracks while building up his own reputation.

Although the transition from weekly tracks to big competitions was extremely hard, David Reutimann proved the critics wrong. He was able to make the change smoothly and after getting noticed by Darrell Waltrip, the pieces fell into place. All of this took place when Reutimann moved up to the Slim Jim all Pro Series in 1997. He won Rookie of the year, finished in the top-ten eight times and had a fifth-place points finish. One would conclude that that was pretty good for such a large change in a short period of time. At the next season’s end, Reutimann grabbed a hold of the Sportsmanship award.

What probably was his biggest win was his daughter’s birth in 2001. Reutimann who now resides in Mooresville, North Carolina, set up house with his wife Lisa and young daughter Emilia with their mini-dachshunds, Roxie and Daisy.

It took him a few years after his debut onto the professional scene before he got his three wins in 2002 and with that, finished second in the overall championship standings. It was also that same year that the Florida native entered his first of four NASCAR Busch Series races. The car he raced in was owned by Joe Nemechek after getting some help from an old friend called Brian Pattie. Reutimann went on to finish at the 16th spot when he debuted at the Richmond International Raceway and later finished in the top 15 twice that same season. The next seasons, Reutimann ran seven Busch races for NEMCO. He also participated in the New England 300 and the Brickyard 400 in the Winston Cup Series in the #04 for Morgan-McClure Motorsports, but unfortunately failed to make the cut to qualify at both times.

Reutimann then signed on with Darrell Waltrip Motorsports in 2004 to race the NTN Bearings truck in the Craftsman Truck series. He won the pole in his second race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, Reutimann had four top-fives and with his finish in 14th place in points, he managed to snatch Rookie of the Year again into his bag. His first career race was won in 2005 at the Nashville Superspeedway. He then went on to make his cup debut at Lowe’s Motor Speedway and continued to make fifteen Busch starts and had four top tens.

Buzzie Reutimann still races till this very day. David Reutimann, though a third generation racer in his family, proved that racing can be strong within one’s genes and that it is possible to go to the big time even if you start out small.

For NASCAR Merchandise, Up to the minute News, and everything NASCAR including NASCAR Barbecue Items , NASCAR Blankets and NASCAR Sunglasses we have put together the largest selection all in one place! Not only am I the owner of NASCARsupershop.com but I am also the senior editor, website developer and a HUGE fan that loves NASCAR!

10 Tips for Surviving NASCAR Season...When You're Not a Fan

2008-02-28T15:32:00.001-08:00

By Heather Clark

It happens every year: NASCAR dominates your life every Sunday (and sometimes other days) from February through November. But what do you do when someone you live with is a Race Fan (RF) and you're not? From coping with the temporarily impaired ability to carry on a coherent conversation (don't worry - it usually is just temporary) to wondering why a 39 year old suddenly starts to behave like a 12 year old every time a race is on, here are some tips to help you cope with your very own RF, whether they're 10 or 90 or somewhere in between.

NEVER walk in front of the television if a race is on. If your dog is trying to crawl up the fireplace, let it go. If your arm is falling off, just duct tape it back on for now. Just don't walk in front of the television. Seriously, this piece of advice could possibly save your life.

Throw the word "drafting" into anything you need so say to your RF while the race is on. Since drafting is a popular racing term, you stand a small chance of actually being heard.

Invest in a drink holder that has a long arm. Why? It makes your RF feel like he's being handed a drink while sitting in a race car, and more importantly, it keeps you out of harm's way.

NEVER plan anything on a Sunday during race season – unless you want to go alone. If you do want to go somewhere alone (or with friends), Sunday is the perfect day.

Refer to all bathroom breaks as "pit stops". You may actually need to remind your RF to take some pit stops during the race, too.

If you're going somewhere during the race and you need to make your RF aware that you're leaving, use the phrase "4-tire change" somewhere in your sentence. You'll at least get a baffled stare.

If your RF has some rowdy friends over for the race, you might think about implementing a flag system. In racing, a green flag means the race is on and there are no problems. A yellow flag is a caution, which means all drivers must slow down and use - what else - caution. A red flag means the race has been stopped due to debris or an accident. A black flag means that a specific car must leave the race. These same flag colors can be used as a behavioral barometer for a rowdy NASCAR crowd, and it involves symbols they already understand. If they don't behave, you can always slap 'em with a fine.

Make sure the food served during a race is only from NASCAR sponsors. You don't have to serve the food, but unless you want to hear a lot of bellyaching, makes sure the "approved" food is available.

Invest in some good earphones. You can listen to music or books on tape and not have to get sucked into a discussion of who really should have won the 1976 Daytona 500.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. And remember: it's perfectly acceptable to choose a favorite driver based on how cute he is or how cool his car looks.

Heather L. Clark is a Web writer and researcher who enjoys birthday cards, NASCAR and basketball.

Society's elite gear up for the Gumball 3000 Rally

2008-02-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

By Elisha Burberry

The Gumball 3000 was founded in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, an ex-Armani model, who was inspired by the “Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash”, an unofficial, almost outlawed, coast to coast road race from New York to Los Angeles that took place four times during the 1970s before being cancelled due to concerns over road safety from police.

Maximllion Cooper set out to revive the spirit of the original Cannonball races in the summer of 1999, combining long drives throughout the day with decadent nightly parties. The original rally featured fifty of Cooper’s wealthiest friends, who drove to Italy in extravagant and customised cars, before arriving in London and crossing the finish line. In an attempt to avoid trouble from the authorities, the Gumball rally was set up with no official timing and no prizes awarded, emphasising that it was a rally and not a race, although this didn’t stop many of the drivers being fined for speeding offences during the rally.

In 2000 the rally returned, this time beginning in Spain. Once again stars from film and music lined up to compete, including drum and bass legend and erstwhile James Bond villain Goldie. The third rally in 2001 garnered tremendous publicity for the Gumball, mostly thanks to several members of the “Jackass” cast taking part and filming the adventure for an MTV special, which earned MTV their highest ratings for the year. The event was also covered by terrestrial British television for the first time in 2001, with BBC 1 broadcasting regular updates of the rally.

In 2002, the spirit of the original Cannonball races was well and truly in the air, as the Gumball Rally competitors raced from New York to the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, covering the original route from the 1970s. 2002’s Gumball 3000 featured more drivers than ever before, with 175 cars entered into the race.

The Gumball continued over the next three years before 2006 heralded the year of the most ambitious Gumball Rally yet, with drivers scheduled to start in London and finish in Los Angeles just eight days later. Bam Margera and Ryan Dunn of “Jackass” entered the rally as did extreme sports legend, Tony Hawk with the drivers enjoying a post race party in L.A hosted by hip-hop aficionado Snoop Dogg. Unfortunately, the success of this race couldn’t be replicated the following year.

Upon arrival in Amsterdam for the start of the rally on 2007, participants were met by Dutch police with 14 police cars and 7 unmarked cars. Rap star Xzibit had his license revoked for a speeding violation, and two cars were confiscated. Things got worse however, when German police stopped close to 70 cars for speeding offences the following day before tragedy struck just days later when two participants in the rally were involved in a high speed collision in the Republic of Macedonia. The drivers reportedly smashed into another car while they were doing speeds in excess of 200 kilometres an hour. The elderly couple they hit both died on the way to the hospital.

Despite the disastrous events of last year, Maximillion Cooper is running the Gumball 3000 once again this year, scheduled to begin in San Francisco and end in Beijing, China. The 2008 Gumball Rally is also set to feature many regular car enthusiasts with many car credit companies presumably rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of the money motoring fans will splash out on the ultimate car, all of them itching to rub shoulders with the celebrities involved in a true adventure of a lifetime.

Aston Martin Builds New Test Center

2008-02-18T17:32:00.001-08:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Aston Martin may not be filling the Internet’s news sites with updates and new cars almost every day but for some people, they believe that the car brand is certainly taking its time and working on its updates slowly, surely, and silently. And that may be for a good purpose for when they have completed their goal, they should be able to work on their press release and announce to the public the finished product of their months of silence.

We have learned a couple of months back that Aston Martin already had opened the very first design studio which was purposefully built. It was created in their headquarters in Warwickshire and it is already running and is operational. At present, The Auto Channel had reported that they were going to be launching a new project for their brand and that would be through the building of a new test center which they would be able to utilize. The report continued that Aston Martin would be putting in the foundation of the new test center in Germany’s Nurburgring race circuit.

At present, reports have it that the planned test center for their vehicles has already had the foundations put in and work is already going on. A building already in the area would be improved and transformed so as to be able to have their test center ready and available for use by May this year. That would only be a couple of months away but if Aston Martin would be focusing on this project right now, they may complete the test center ahead of schedule.

“When we open the Aston Martin Nürburgring Test Centre at the end of May this will be our second major new facility in less than 12 months since the company entered new ownership. The Nürburgring has played a vital part in improving the performance and durability of all modern Aston Martins. Our new test centre will allow us to further increase the performance of our cars and to share something of the unique Nordschleife experience with our customers,” Dr. Ulrich Bez, chief of Aston Martin, shared.

With the new test center operation by May, Aston Martin may be able to check out all the parts that they vehicles would be having - from the engine to the MSD Pro-billet distributor to the catalytic converters and to everything else in between - without much hassle. The joys of owning a facility such as this.

Geneva Motor Show To House 2009 Chevy Corvette XR1 European Debut

2008-02-13T17:59:00.000-08:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

In a few weeks’ time, the European car market is going to meet yet another new vehicle from the United States. This new vehicle is a supercar and it is scheduled to have its European debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show which is happening this March, Auto Spectator wrote. The new supercar? The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1.

General Motors, the genius company behind the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, shared that the vehicle has specialized components. Although designed separately, when put together in the vehicle, these components work in smooth harmony so as to allow the vehicle to become the fastest vehicle in the GM range. It is also, at present, the most powerful unit that General Motors has. It can zoom to a high of 320 kilometers per hour as its top speed.

The 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 boasts of a better performance compared to all other supercars in the auto market. Behind the creation of this vehicle, General Motors did work on the current Chevrolet ZR1 so as to be able to complete the creation of a supercar like the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. The result is something really good for statistics have it that the latter is better than Porsche’s 911 GT2, Lamborghini’s LP640, and Ferrari’s 599 in terms of power-to-weight ratio.

What makes the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 go that fast and perform that good? General Motors actually put in a new engine - a LS9 V8 engine with 6.2 liters. This new beast has the capacity to create 620 horsepower as well as 807 Nm for its torque. A supercharger that is large and has a four-lobe design for its rotor has been added to the beast’s prowess. Interestingly, the new engine has been assembled by hand at the company’s facility in Wixom, Michigan.

Mated to the engine is yet another piece of equipment that helps make the 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 work better and move faster. This is a new six speed transmission that is manual in nature. Along with that, there is also a twin-disc clutch which is capable of providing a strong amount of power.

The vehicle’s Chevy parts all ride on alloy rims that come with 20 spokes. For the front rims, these measure 19 inches while the rear ones measure 20.

BMW M3: Sexy, Powerful, And Comfortable

2008-02-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

By Ian Wendt

The new BMW M3 is a fourth generation car and it continues in BMW's quest to build the perfect high-performance sports car. The M3 has been designed to thrill. It is equipped with a completely new V8 engine and drive train, a lightweight body that is very rigid, a lowered center of gravity and a carbon roof that is just as strong as steel but weighs far less. As always, all systems have been tried on the toughest testing ground in the world.

For this car, style is not the main goal; it will always be designed by functionality. The front is designed to accommodate the high-rev engine. The back sports a wider track and four tailpipes. Even the shape of the exterior mirrors enhance the overall aerodynamics. It is this mixture of form and function that guarantee the the final effect. This car provides sports performance that is perfectly suited for everyday driving.

You will immediately see what the high-rev engine is able to accomplish when you turn the key in the ignition. Push this new BMW to its limits and experience the pleasure of driving such a powerful automobile as you shift the gears and put the car into motion. Maintain tight steering as you round the first curve so you don't give up your advantage. The BMW M3 can be individualized with original paint finishes. Listen to the powerful engine as it reaches 8,400 rpm.

The car's exterior features well-designed headlights which are the optimum shape to deflect wind as it moves quickly over the bonnet. The gracefully-curved front section has wide wind intake vents. The long curving lines if its elegant body and sloping roof discourage wind resistance and allow the BMW M3 to accelerate smoothly and fluidly. There's no wonder why the performance of a BMW is unsurpassed anywhere.

One glance inside the cockpit and across the distinctive dashboard and you immediately know that within the BMW 3 Series M3 hides a realm of discoveries: interior trims in fine wood, titanium or aluminum compliment the perfectly combined colors and materials that underscore the generous spaciousness inside the vehicle.

You would be forgiven for overlooking the intelligently positioned instrument dials - they are simply placed where you expect to find them. Their seats are remarkably spacious and comfortable. The optional Sports seats, with their excellent side support, are perfect for dynamic driving, and make the longest journey into a relaxed pleasure.

The new BMW M3 is a fourth generation car. The well-developed rear offers room for the wider track and quadruple tailpipe system. The interplay of each factor achieves the best result: sports car BMW performance. If you start the ignition, you will instantly see what the high-rev engine is capable of. Shift up through the gears to propel this new BMW forward. Brake as you approach the first bend but keep your steering tight. You can configure your BMW using original paint finishes and enjoy the powerful sound of the engine at 8,400 rpm after your BMW tuning.

Alonso, Renault Ready for 2008 Season

2008-01-31T18:51:00.001-08:00

By VOA Sports

The French Formula One team Renault has rolled out its new car in Paris, with two-time world driving champion Fernando Alonso of Spain looking to help the team regain the driving title in 2008.

Alonso won the driving title with Renault in 2005 and 2006, but spent a turbulent year last season with McLaren. The Spaniard left the British-based team after being released from his three-year contract and returned to Renault.

Team boss Flavio Briatore said having Alonso back is fantastic. The 26-year-old Spaniard will team with Brazilian Nelson Piquet, Junior. The 22-year-old Piquet is a former test driver for the French manufacturer.

Team president Carlos Ghosn said his team wants to win the title this year after a disappointing 2007. Renault failed to win a race in 2007, and scored only 51 points in the manufacturer's standings.

The French squad would have been fourth in the standings if McLaren had not been stripped of its points for spying on Ferrari. The Italian team won the manufacturer's title and its driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland won the driving crown.

Ferrari Says Raikkonen, Massa Equals in 2008

2008-01-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

VOA Sports

The new head of Ferrari's Formula One team, sporting director Stefano Domenicali, says reigning driving champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland will not be given preferential treatment in this year's competition.

Domenicali says Raikkonen and teammate Felipe Massa of Brazil will start the season "on an equal footing." Domenicali says his priority is the good of the team.

The new sporting director says Formula One must put last year's spy scandal involving rival McLaren behind it. McLaren was fined $100 million and stripped of its points in the constructors' standings after a former Ferrari employee allegedly leaked sensitive data to the British-based team.

Domenicali, who replaced Jean Todt, says that for the good of the sport, teams need to look forward. However, he acknowledged that forgetting the spy scandal will be difficult. Raikkonen won the driving championship at the last race of the season, edging British McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton by one point.

Fernandez Racing Prepares For The Winter Test

2008-01-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

For those looking forward to another season of the American Le Mans Series, the waiting is almost over. This weekend, Lowe’s Fernandez Racing will drive at Sebring International Raceway to go through the second phase of the American Le Mans Series. Armed with a new chassis, the team is entertaining positive aspirations as it prepares for the fourth annual Winter Test at Sebring.

The three LMP2 entries, powered by Acura, are part of a strong protype contingent entered for the Winter Test.

Aside from the shift in chassis of the team sponsored by the maker of Acura catalytic converters, highlights of the Winter Test also include Peugeot's North American launch with its diesel-powered factory prototype as well as first public running of the modified Ferrari F430 GT.

Fifteen teams that represent eight manufacturers will compete for the three-day test. The manufacturers include Acura, Audi, Ferrari, Lola, Mazda, Panoz, Peugeot and Porsche.

Fernandez Racing has shifted to the next generation ARX- 01b chassis with the hope of improving the already striking race performance. The said engine will be showcased as the Acura team prepares for its second appearance in the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The efforts will continue Monday through Wednesday at the ALMS' Winter Test.

"We took delivery on December 28th," said Tom Anderson, co-owner with Adrian Fernandez. "We are quite excited about the changes that have been made between last year's 01a-specification ARX versus the 01b which we received. The computer numbers look very impressive and hopefully this will translate to the quicker estimated lap times that the computer shows. We are really looking forward to getting to Sebring and our first on-track adventure with it."

"What Acura accomplished in their first season is remarkable," Fernandez said. "They were strong out of the box with not only a brand-new engine but the chassis as well. Expectations are even higher for next year."

It can be recalled that last year at Sebring, Fernandez and Luis Diaz finished second in LMP2 and third overall in the team's Acura-powered Lola. Lowe's Fernandez served as the engine development team for Acura last year, and the 3.4- liter V8 never suffered from a reliability standpoint, according to Motorsport.com.

ALMS Corvettes Goes Green In 2008

2008-01-22T21:07:00.001-08:00

By Evander Klum

The American Le Mans Series is now greener than ever. As regards Corvette Racing, the green factor will be triggered by the use of E85 - a high-octane, renewable alternative fuel.

As part of the 2008 “green racing” espoused by the endurance series, Corvettes entertained the use of a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent petrol. The decision was made after the team won its seventh consecutive GT1 manufacturers and team championships last year having E10 as fuel. E10 is only composed of ten percent ethanol.

On Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, ALMS announced its partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and SAE International to incorporate "green racing" principles into its 2008 season, according to USA Today.

"The auto manufacturers competing in the American Le Mans Series have made it very clear that this is a direction and an overall initiative that is important to them," said ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton.

"The opportunity to formally align with the EPA, Department of Energy and SAE International makes our platform very special and unique - to auto manufacturers and ultimately to consumers," Atherton added. "At a time when nearly all of motor sports have lost its relevance regarding progressive technology or any connection from the racetrack to the showroom floor, the American Le Mans Series stands alone in providing a platform of solutions to our nation's automotive, transportation and energy needs."

Anita Lienert of Edmunds.com has this to say: "This creative partnership promotes the use of alt fuels and new technologies that may find their way into your next car or truck."

This season, all race cars in ALMS will compete on alternative fuels. But it can be noted that Audi has already started the use of its revolutionary diesel fuel.

"There's evidence (that) series like the American Le Mans Series influences automakers, as well as everyday drivers: Audi, which has raced a diesel car in the American Le Mans Series for the last two years... unveiled a diesel-powered R8 concept road car at the Detroit show," said Jennifer Kho of greentechmedia.com

Aside from Audi and Corvette, other manufacturers which will also comply with the new requirement of running on green fuel include Acura, Aston Martin, Dodge, Ferrari, Ford, Mazda, Panoz, Porsche and Saleen.

The maker of the Acura CV boot as well as other automakers in the ALMS is expected to perform well using the green technology.

CarsAndRacingStuff.com Forum

2008-01-12T21:19:00.000-08:00

The CarsAndRacingStuff.com Forum has been relaunched with new features!

NASCAR's Clint Bowyer - From boy to Superstar

2008-01-12T21:11:00.000-08:00

By Chris DiCicco

Clint Bowyer, the 26 year old savvy racer from Emporia, Kansas, started racing in motocross at the young age of five. He was a good on two wheels but soon discovered that he was even better on four wheels after his grandfather brought him to a dirt track in Humboldt, Kansas. His father, Chris Bowyer, wasn’t very happy with his second son’s decision at first because the family had already invested a lot of time and money into motorcycles and the young Clint Bowyer had shown a lot of potential. His older brother, Andy Bowyer, was racing motocross nationally. Eventually, Chris Bowyer supported his young son because of his enthusiasm. His mother lays claim that they weren’t in it to make him a NASCAR star but rather they did it because they enjoyed it as a family. After awhile, the whole family turned to four wheels and Chris even set up a shop in his storage lot near his towing company in Emporia. Even until this day, his parents and their dog follow the Cup circuit in a motor home to show their support to Bowyer and it has paid off.

Because Bowyer’s father had many drivers for customers, he would hang around race shops to try and pick their brains. By the time he was 15, he was driving short-bed Chevy pickup that he had put together with the spare parts from his father’s storage lot. He was also working at a Goodyear shop in middle school to pick up the tools of the trade. From there, he was taught what made a person successful with their cars.

Bowyer is a fierce competitor and the markings of a winner was clear from the get go. He won and liked it. When he’s on the race track, he’s in it to win the trophy. Since racing at the age of five, Bowyer has gone on to achieve over 200 wins and countless championships throughout the years. He broke into the street stocks scene in 1996 at age 17 during the Thunderhill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas. He counts that as one of his most memorable races because an angry competitor had chased a flagman into a bathroom for 45 minutes and threatened to crush the winner, only to then realize that the winner was 17 years old. Dick Ross, who was tuning up Bowyer’s engine that night, realized that Bowyer was made out of special material when Bowyer managed to guide home a 50,000-pound fire truck, a 6-foot towing chain during a 10 mile stretch of two lane highway in central Kansas without getting a scratch on the vehicle.

4 years later, Bowyer went back to the Thunderhill Speedway and won the 2000 Modified championship and finished second in the Modified points at Lakeside Speedway. He continued to get 18 more wins, 32 top fives in 40 starts en route to the 2001 Modified Championships at Lakeside Speedway and Heartland Park. After that he was made the 2002 NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Midwest Champion after another Modified Championship at Lakeside Speedway and a Late Model crown at 1-70 Speedway in Odessa. Bowyer has gone on to win a great many more championships when he began running for the NASCAR Busch Series in 2004.

His parents are still in awe at how much their son has achieved and they are still amazed when fans congratulate them. Although Bowyer now resides in North Carolina, he still enjoys going back home where people still remember him as Clint and not the NASCAR star. And like any Kansas native, he believes that the best barbecues can’t beat Kansas City’s barbecue.

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The Physics of NASCAR

2008-01-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

By Chris Dicicco

Even though NASCAR started as a backwoods illegal race to run moonshine, it has today evolved into a sport that is not only entertaining but depends on physics too. The obvious element in the physics of NASCAR is the aerodynamic design required by these cars in order to achieve top speeds of near 200 mph with the minimum drag coefficient. But there are other forces involved too such as Newton’s Law of Motion and centripetal force.

Newton’s Law of Motion states that a body will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by some external force. In outer space for example, in the absence of gravity, an object will go on forever. So there are forces that resist the movement of a NASCAR vehicle such as wind drag and another known as centripetal force.

Centripetal force should not be confused with centrifugal force. However without getting too technical, you can think of centripetal force as a real force acting perpendicular to the motion of the moving body. Centrifugal force on the other hand is actually a fictitious force and what we feel as we are thrown outward from a moving vehicle is the reaction force.

Centripetal force in the physics of NASCAR is crucial to keeping a car on the track. The tires of the vehicle provide the friction which is part of the centripetal force. The centripetal force needed to keep the car on the track cannot exceed the square of the speed of the car. To put it in simple terms, if the car takes a turn too fast, the wheels leave the ground and an accident occurs. The physics of NASCAR dictates that turns on the racetrack must be banked in order to increase the friction (part of the centripetal force) to hold the car.

Another component of physics of NASCAR that serves to keep the vehicle with all four wheels on the track during the race is center of gravity. Center of gravity is basically the point where you could balance the car on the top of a flag pole (theoretically). Racing vehicles need low centers of gravity in order to keep the weight close to the track. If a vehicle has a high center of gravity then it can lose control when it hits a turn much faster. Think of an ambulance with a high profile patient area. If the ambulance took a turn too fast, it would topple over. But if its profile was not too high, it could take the turn faster because the center of gravity is lower.

An ambulance needs the high profile in order to get patients in and treat them but the physics of NASCAR dictate the low center of gravity in order to apply more centripetal force and keep it attached to the track on a turn.

Then there is the machining of engine components in the physics of NASCAR that are important for building horsepower with the minimum of friction. You want friction when it comes to centripetal force but you don’t want it inside of an engine. This is why internal engine parts are machined to within very accurate tolerances—much more accurately than automobiles for family and everyday use. Why? It is because you want to minimize friction inside the engine. When engines torque at these speeds, friction is a very dangerous enemy.

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Audi Drivers Join SAMAX For Daytona 24

2008-01-05T19:17:00.000-08:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

SAMAX Motorsport signed Audi factory drivers Allan McNish, Lucas Luhr and Mike Rockenfeller to join Henri Zogaib in one of its Pontiac Riley Daytona Prototypes. The team, which returns to the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona with powerful drivers, has one mission – and that is to win the race.

Last year, the team’s entry consisted of Milka Duno, Patrick Carpentier, Darren Manning and Ryan Dalziel and they finished less than two minutes behind the Chip Gansssi Racing machine, the victor. The SAMAX entry was in the midst of a three-car battle for the win during the closing hours but ended up settling for second place, according to Motorsport.com.

Baron intimated his goal to achieve ultimate Daytona glory this year. "I am sill amazed we have this lineup of drivers for the 24," said Baron. "We led a sizeable amount of last year's race and were happy to finish 2nd without any mechanical issues. This year we are doing everything possible to finish one position higher and get these drivers the Overall Victory Rolex Daytona watches they all deserve!"

Baron’s goal for 2008 is expected to be accomplished with the help of three iconic race drivers. McNish returns to the seat of a DP for the second time. Since then, McNish, driving the Audi R10 TDI with Rinaldo Capello, achieved Driver's Championships in the American Le Mans Series.

"I am pleased to join SAMAX Motorsport for the Daytona 24 Hours," said McNish. "The team has proved their worth in Grand-Am and especially at the 24 with a great 2nd overall last year. This year we have a strong driver lineup with my Audi team mates Lucas, Mike and myself joining Henri. [With] the Pontiac Riley combination and strong technical staff, we all hope to be challenging for victory."

McNish is nothing new to winning at Daytona. He achieved a class victory in 1998 and supported it with another second place overall finish in 1999. He also bagged overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998.

"Personally, I have always enjoyed this race," McNish added. "I have had some great runs there and finished 2nd overall on two occasions. It is a great warm-up to the season, and most teams have a strong car and driver lineups. But most importantly, it has a Rolex Daytona watch at the end for the winner."

Two of Audi drivers - Luhr and Rockenfeller - also sport a remarkable racing experience credentials. Luhr is a longtime Porsche driver. He grabbed the GT class win at the Rolex 24 in 2001. He entered Audi team last year after winning the LMP2 Driver's Championship with Sascha Maassen in 2006. He spent much of 2007 season competing in the German DTM Series, but also made two starts in Audi's R10 TDI prototype.

Rockenfeller, meanwhile, also spent last season racing mainly in the DTM. Before joining Audi team, the German was a regular rival in the Rolex Series. He will return for another season of DTM this year but will also be part of Audi's sports car program.

Race aficionados will certainly expect a heart-throbbing action this season. And drivers will hit the Audi clutch with much gusto.

Random Lugnuts: Same Old Story...

2008-01-03T04:11:00.000-08:00

By Bill Crittenden

A history of open wheel racers in NASCAR...

Ekstrom Wants Audi To Improve Performance

2008-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Mattias Ekstrom, the reigning DTM title holder, believes that Audi has room to improve with the race performances in the upcoming season. Even though Ekstrom won his second title this year, he feels that his team was stronger in qualifying than they were in the races.

"We had a great year, and it was nice to get the title back from Mercedes," Ekstrom told autosport.com. "But it wasn't an easier year than any others. We were definitely very strong with our qualifying pace in the second half of the season, but we didn't always match that pace in the races. That's not a big problem, though, because you always have room to improve, and it means that we won't relax over the winter."

The DTM champion etched his name into the Race of Champions record books at Wembley Stadium as he became only the third driver in the two decade history of the event to successfully defend his reign.

Having knocked his Nations Cup team-mate Kristensen out in the first round, Ekstrom then defeated American Travis Pastrana in the quarter-final to secure his place in the semi-final against WTCC champion Priaulx, according to Yahoo Eurosport.

It left him against F1 legend Michael Schumacher in the best-of-three final, with Ekstrom taking victory in the opening heat at the wheel of the Solution F touring car. Schumi drew level in the ROC Buggy before a return to the Astra-based silhouette machine - with Ekstrom again victorious to lift the title for the second year in succession, the report continued.

"It is always difficult to win the Race of Champions because you have to beat 16 top drivers to take the title," he told Crash.net Radio. "I'm really proud because it is difficult to do it two times in a row. But I felt like I had a good evening with a good flow and I'm really happy.”

"It isn't easy to defend the title but I'll try to become the first person to do it three times in a row. That is in twelve months time though and a lot of water will flow under the bridge before then!" he added.

The team sponsored by the maker of Audi Fox radiators took five pole positions from the final five races this season, but an Audi driver only went on to win in two of those races. To stress, at Mugello and Zandvoort, they locked out the top five places on the grid, while they took the top three places at the Nurburgring and Hockenheim.

Two New Special Edition MX-5 For The New Year

2007-12-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Mazda has been known for its use of the Wankel engines and its engineering prowess especially in the development and subsequent manufacturing of the Mazda MX-5. For the upcoming New Year, the automaker has announced that they will be offering two special edition versions of the MX-5 to European consumers. The said special edition MX-5s will be given the "Niseko" tag after Japan’s most renowned skiing resort.

The Auto Channel reported that the newest edition of the MX-5 still has the performance that has made it Britain's favorite sports car brand. The Niseko MX-5 will be given better driving dynamics and handling. It will be available to consumers by January 1, 2008. The 'entry level' version of the Niseko MX-5 is the 1.8i Niseko soft top with a five-speed transmission and the other one is the 2.0i Niseko roadster coupe with a six-speed gearbox.

Mark Cameron, Mazda UK's marketing director, had this to say: "Mazda MX-5 customers have traditionally given a warm welcome to each new ‘special edition’ model introduced during our roadster’s 18 year history. Now, for the first time with the Niseko, we are offering a ‘special’ model in both soft-top and roadster coupe forms and with co-ordinated brown leather seats and interior trim. Personally, I think the new 'Icy Blue' colour is going to appeal particularly to women buyers, although since launch the third generation Mazda MX-5 has achieved a 50/50, male/female sales mix as predicted."

"Traditionally, MX-5 buyers spend more on accessories and do more to individualise their cars, than other Mazda owners. Although the majority of those buyers use their MX-5s all-year-round, the peak ordering period is from February through to May, so the introduction of Niseko in January will boost sales at the back end of winter and give us a head-start for a spring sales boom," said Cameron.

The MX-5 Niseko will be given 17-inch alloy wheels, a unique body finish, front fog lamps, and Niseko badges. On the inside, the Mazda MX-5 Niseko will sport dark brown heated leather seats which will come in handy during those winter trips. The leather seats will be complemented with dark brown leather clad gear knobs and handbrake. It will also be equipped with Niseko-branded interior mats. The special edition Mazda MX-5 will also be given auto parts as reliable as Acura CL ball joints. Auto enthusiasts in Europe will no doubt be looking forward to the New Year with their sights set on buying a Mazda MX-5 Niseko.

Lowe's Fernandez Racing Abandons Old Chassis

2007-11-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

By Evander Klum

What is underneath that Acura car cover? Perhaps, a race car with a brand new chassis…

Fernandez Racing officially announced that it will abandon its present Lola chassis in favor of Acura's ARX-01b chassis in the American Le Mans Series' LMP2 class. The shift will start next year.

According to reports, Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz will drive the No. 15 Acura ARX-01b. The drivers recorded three podiums and six top-five results this season. The Acura ARX is HPD's first effort in race car design and development.

"What Acura has accomplished in their first season of the American Le Mans Series is remarkable," said Fernandez. "They were strong out of the box with not only a brand new engine but the chassis as well. Expectations are even higher for next year with the amount of development work planned for the off-season. To become a full Acura effort is something that everyone at Lowe's Fernandez Racing is really excited about because this will definitely help to take our program up to the next level."

Acura's chassis is the most recent version of the ARX-01a. The chassis was developed by Honda Performance Development through a technical partnership with Wirth Research in England. This year, the ARX-01a was touted by Andretti Green Racing and Highcroft Racing, with the two teams combining for one win and seven podiums, as well as an additional three top-five finishes in 12 events, reported the Auto Week. All three Acura teams used the Acura LM V8, a 3.4-liter, normally-aspirated engine designed and developed by HPD.

“The opportunity to run an ARX chassis next season greatly adds to our resource base,” noted Tom Anderson, the team co-owner and managing director. “Not only will we benefit from the substantial development work by HPD, Wirth and the AGR and Highcroft teams to date, we will be able to contribute to that database as we begin to operate as part of a three-car effort on all fronts. ”

The chassis made its debut in a 12-hour simulation run at Sebring International Raceway in February of this year.

“We are very pleased to have Lowe’s Fernandez Racing compete with our latest version of the Acura P2 chassis, the ARX-01b, in 2008,” said Robert Clarke, President of HPD. “As the assigned engine development team within Acura’s ALMS program, the Lowe’s Fernandez team worked well with our HPD engineers and contributed significantly to the development of the Acura LM V8 engine, our win in the Twelve Hours of Sebring and our perfect reliability record in our inaugural season in the series.”

Clarke added: “Now, with our on-going Acura chassis development program with Wirth Research and the HPD staff, the Lowe’s Fernandez team will have the opportunity to work together with our other Acura teams on the new chassis as we prepare for a very competitive 2008 ALMS road racing campaign. We believe the combined communication and cooperation of all of our Acura teams will assist us in our quest for race victories and the 2008 P2 class championship. ”

Lowe’s Fernandez Racing will start testing the #15 Lowe’s Acura ARX-01b in January, said Auto Racing Daily. The 2008 ALMS season opens March 15 with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

New FSI Engine for Audi A5

2007-11-11T10:14:00.000-08:00

By Phil Walkley

Audi is ready to bring more FSI effectiveness to the A5 coupe. The brand new four cylindered FSI engine for the A5 coupe merges the petrol injection along with turbo charging thereby increasing the overall performance

The A3, A4, A6 and TT models had used the 1.8-litre turbo petrol unit but it will not be implemented in the A5 1.8TFSI since the latest Audi A5 will be using the high-tech and direct-injected component. It has been declared that the four-cylinder engine that will power the Audi A5 coupe is estimated to be presented by November end. Even care has been taken to incorporate the new design to harmonize the new changes introduced.

The new unit has the fuel-rationing FSI direct petrol injection combined along the output improving turbo charging and is ready to provide 170PS at 4,800rpm along with 250Nm of torque peak which usually is on hand between 1,500rpm to 4,800rpm.The front wheel driven Audi A5 1.8TFSI has six-speed manual transmission and due to performance optimization changes, it surpasses 62mph in just 8.4seconds and can attain a top speed of 140mph.You can even order for the latest high-tech and directly injected model of the Audi A5 coupe for an OTR cost of ₤26,190 although the first UK are likely to hit the market by late November.

The well-known 1.8-litre Turbo petrol engine that had been used in the A3, A4, A6 and TT versions in the past and will be discontinued in the A5 1.8TFSI because the latest model of A5 will implement the superior and direct injected element. The brand new Audi A5 coupe has been modified accordingly to accommodate the four-cylinder engine and this model will hit the market by end of November.

If we compare the older V6-powered A5 model with the latest four-cylinder edition we can easily note that the huge equipment list has hardly changed. The latest version of Audi A5 coupe has some luxurious fittings like Milano leather-upholstery, three-zone climate control, rear acoustic parking sensors and features that you won’t find elsewhere. The Audi now offers many more features like the Xenon lamps along with LED daytime running lights now that are found only in bigger cars.

The Audi is ready to unveil its new model to replace its successful older predecessor thereby bringing more FSI efficiency to their A5 coupe model.

Phil Walkley is an Audi enthusiast who is always looking for news on Audi cars.

Special Edition Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT

2007-10-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

By Evander Klum

British motor sports tuner RML Group (Ray Mallock Ltd) wanted to give the special edition Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 with their exclusive engineering touches. The staff developed a new breed of a super car model based from the vehicle called the SLR 722 GT, a more powerful model that is built exclusively for race tracks. RML Group enhanced the car's suspension, braking system, aerodynamic parts, exhaust system (with oxygen sensor), and even the interior components. The SLR 722 GT was made through the request of SLR CLUB members to have a new SLR 722 model. The SLR CLUB is an exclusive organization that hosts events relating to the SLR model.

Going back to the new SLR 722 GT, this super car model now comes with an up rated supercharged AMG 5.5-litre V8 engine under its redesigned sleek hood. The engine is capable of pumping out 500 kW / 680 PS and pulls out a maximum torque output of 830 Newton metres. This power unit is also combined with a five-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel shift paddles suitable for racing conditions. A mechanical locking differential with a locking effect of 70 percent is also included for additional performance. With this powertrain package, the new SLR 722 GT can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds and can reach an electronically limited top speed of 315 km/h or about 196 mph. This super car model also features a racing air filter and a new exhaust system.

RML Group also gave the SLR 722 GT with newly developed suspension system. These include new wheel location system for improved kinematics and lateral dynamics, modified stabiliser at the front axle, adjustable wheel camber, and shock absorbers with variable compression. The SLR 722 GT also comes with wheels equipped with central locks to allow fast tire changing during races.

Outside, the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT features new body components and other design highlights from RML Group. The front apron with front splitter shows the car's agile characteristics along with wide wings, prominent side skirts. At the rear, the SLR 722 GT offers large rear diffuser and the fixed rear spoiler. This allows the SLR 722 GT to have an aggressive aerodynamic look and performance. An 18-inch light alloy wheels completes the overall exterior appeal of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 GT. Inside, the SLR 722 GT is equipped with a functional interior inspired by motor sports racing. These include rollover cage, redesigned instrument panel with a racing display, racing steering wheel, bucket seats, and six-point seat belts for safety.

Unfortunately, RML Group will only roll out 21 units of this modified super car model, and individuals who already ordered the SLR 722 GT are members of the SLR CLUB.

Audi Out For Glory

2007-10-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

The introduction of a diesel car last year at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race was a sign of better things to come from Audi in motorsport. This year, they returned to the said endurance race, Audi once again proved the supremacy of their diesel powered race car. Their dominance is also showing at the American Le Mans Series as they have swept all eight races in their class. But they have been beaten by lighter LM P2 cars in the past six races and the team will be looking to break that unlucky streak.

The next race of the season will be held at the Road Atlanta where Audi is known to excel in the past. But going into the said race, Audi is facing a major challenge from LM P2 cars. Although Audi has called for changes in the rules to make the sport fair for the heavier LM P1 cars, the ruling body of the sport has not done anything to change the rules. As a result, Audi's motorsport chief Wolfgang Ulrich said that they will be having a tough challenge going into the next race.

"The race at Road Atlanta is, along with Sebring and Le Mans, one of the most important sportscar races of the year," said Ulrich. The Road Atlanta race will have drivers competing in a grueling 1o-hour endurance race. "For this reason, we are particularly proud to have been unbeaten at Petit Le Mans to date. The LM P2 cars will make life difficult for us once again and the regulations are unchanged since the previous race. Even so, we aim to continue our impressive winning streak at Petit Le Mans."

The race is scheduled for October 6 and Audi and the other teams are now busy preparing for the 1000-mile race. Rinaldo Capello who will be driving the Number 1 Audi Sport North America R10 agreed with Ulrich that the next race is one of the most important events in the American Le Mans calendar. "Petit Le Mans is the most important race in the American Le Mans Series alongside the 12-hour race at Sebring, and is, at the same time, the penultimate race of the season." With two races to go, Capello and co-driver Allan McNish can clinch the championship at the Road Atlanta race on their Audi performance chip-equipped R10 TDI.

"This means that, at the same time as keeping one eye on the championship, it is important to score a good result so that we have a good points cushion heading into the finale at Laguna Seca. It would be even better for me if we could wrap up the drivers title in the penultimate round at Road Atlanta. I'm quite certain that our Audi R10 TDI will show its full potential in this race. It's clear that we are aiming for overall honors," added Capello.

But 24 Hours of Le Mans three-time winner Marco Werner is also looking to win at the said race to get closer to the championship. "We should be quick at Road Atlanta – and we know that the R10 TDI is reliable. I hope that ‘lady luck', which you need it in such a race, is also on our side," said the German driver.

2007 National Short Track Championships

2007-10-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

Videos of the National Short Track Championships from The Crittenden Automotive Library are now on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=CarsAndRacingStuff

Porsche 911 Turbo

2007-10-01T15:24:00.000-07:00

By Jan Hvizdak

Porsche’s new 911 Turbo houses a pioneering, twin turbo-charged 3.6 litre boxer engine, which produces the output of 480 horsepower. It holds the crown as the world’s first petrol engine to use variable turbine technology (VTG), boasting an upgraded all-wheel-drive system and contemporary style.

The 911 Turbo’s engine represents a new output record for the 3.6 litre Boxer engine, producing 133 bhp per litre. The engine’s new variable turbine geometry system generates 480 horsepower at 6000 rpm. In terms of torque, the previous 911 Turbo’s peak rpm range was between 2,700 – 4,600 rpm. The new 911 Turbo extends this range from 1,950 – 5,000 rpm, with peak torque at 457 lb/ft. A 10-second, mid-rpm-range “overboost” can be produced in the optional Sport Chrono Package. This temporarily increases turbo boost by 2.9 psi, taking peak torque to 502 lb/ft.

The six-speed manual gearbox is capable of 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds which is significant value, with the optional Tiptronic S five-speed automatic gearbox reaching the same speed in just 3.4 seconds. Both gearboxes are capable of a top speed of 193 mph.

At the heart of the 911 Turbo’s increased performance is its variable turbine geometry system. This technology is based on adjustable guide blades, which change position to guide engine exhaust flow onto the impeller wheel of the turbocharger in the most effective way possible. This equips the 911 Turbo with improved dexterity and acceleration, especially at lower rpm outputs.

The 911 Turbo brings this improved power to the road with a modernised all-wheel-drive system and a new, electronically controlled multi-disc clutch. Variable power distribution, to both the front and rear, is provided by Porsche Traction Management (PTM). This equips the new 911 Turbo with outstanding agility on meandering roads, superb grip in adverse weather conditions and impressive safety features at even the highest speeds. The PTM system results in one of the lightest all-wheel-drive setups available.

The 911 Turbo’s exceptional acceleration is matched by its braking system – six-piston monobloc calipers on the front wheels and four-piston monobloc calipers on the rear wheels. Also available is Porsche’s Ceramic Composite Brake system (PCCB). This setup offers larger front discs, complete corrosion protection, superior fade resistance and a weight saving of 37 pounds against the standard braking system.

Styling

The new Porsche 911 Turbo boasts advanced styling features. The changes to the front end include rigid cooling air inlets, sunken fog lights and LED indicators, which are found in the side air inlets. The rear of the vehicle is wider than the previous model by 22 mm (0.9 in.). The new wing spoiler has been matched to fit the wider profile of the car, sloping downwards at both ends to complement the contours of the rear fender. The redesigned side air inlets and new air ducts allow for more efficient engine cooling.

Porsche’s 2007 911 Turbo is available in the United States and Canada from this summer.

Jan Hvizdak, the author of this article works for sport-cars.org where you can find another article on Porsche 911 Turbo. However, if you like luxury, off-road and safe cars, you're welcomed to visit article on Mercedes-Benz G Guard too.

Hyundai Launches Canadian Performance Parts Division

2007-09-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Automotive enthusiasts have always been obsessed with taking stock cars and improving their performance to match more expensive vehicles. The movies Fast and the Furious and its sequels show how an ordinary Honda or Toyota can be tuned to become supercars. The most popular brands of cars for tuners are Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen. But a newcomer in the said segment is making waves and has recently launched a division for performance parts in Canada.

Hyundai, the Korean automaker known for its economy cars, is slowly moving up the ranks when it comes to popularity among performance enthusiasts. The sporty Tiburon coupe is an example of Hyundai's achievement in the said department. The Accent is also becoming a favorite for performance enthusiasts.

The Canadian arm of the Korean automaker recently announced that they will be counting on the growing number of Canadian youth becoming more and more interested on tinkering with their vehicles. As part of that expansion, Hyundai will introduce Hyundai Performance Parts in the country. The said marketing arm of the Korean automaker will be offering a wide variety of aftermarket performance parts to Canadian consumers.

Some of these performance parts are performance clutch assemblies and brake upgrades. Other parts that Hyundai Performance Parts will offer to Canadians are B&M short shift kits, suspension upgrades for better handling and ride stability, lowering spring kits for better aerodynamics and better balance and even cold air intake which are designed to improve a Hyundai's engine performance. These performance parts will be available to Canadian consumers just like shocks Canada.

Aside from parts designed to improve the performance of Hyundai vehicles, Hyundai Performance Parts will also offer aftermarket components designed to improve the aesthetics of a car. Some of these parts for exterior styling includes chrome exhaust tips, rear wing, and alloy wheels. These components combined with performance-enhancing parts can give Canadian consumers what they really want for their vehicles. For finishing touches, Hyundai Performance Parts also offers interior trim kits to stylize the cockpit of any Hyundai car. A high-end Clarion audio system is also being offered by Hyundai in the country for those who want to have a good audio system to go along with their souped up Hyundai.

These parts will be available to Canadian consumers through the wide network of Hyundai dealerships in the country. Customers can also order the said parts from Hyundai's Canadian website. The current listing of parts is expected to grow as Hyundai plans to expand their offerings. The reason for this is that the company wants to make more and more of its cars tunable. Installation of the said performance auto parts will not void the lengthy warranty offered by the automaker.

This offer is surely a good thing for Canadian tuners. For those who are only beginning to be hooked to this hobby, they will have a major automaker backing their passion. With the use of performance parts backed by a major car manufacturer, tuning a car for Canadians surely was made easier.

Audi Pulls Out Of Race

2007-09-24T18:18:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Most of us would certainly think that Audi is one company that can dominate a motorsport. For two years in a row, the automaker has competed at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel race car and won. The automaker's winning streak now stands at four straight victories at the said endurance race. And one will count the win by Team Bentley in 2003 when Audi supplied the team with its engine - the automaker's streak will extend to eight straight wins. At the American 24 Hours of Le Mans this year, the result is pretty much the same. Audi Sport North America fields the diesel Audi R10 and has won all events in the LM P1 class.

But in the most recent event of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, the Audi team was forced to withdraw all of its cars from the track after the team management decided that the race was getting rough between Audi and Mercedes drivers.

The race was marred by incidents early on as Mika Hakkinen of Mercedes and Martin Tomczyk collided in the first corner. The former Formula One champion was out on the spot and Tomczyk retired later on in the race. The toughness of the battle between Audi and Mercedes drivers can be attributed to the fact that the latest race is the penultimate event of the season.

As can be expected, Audi's decision to withdraw all of its drivers with ten laps remaining was met with disgust from spectators. But Audi was quick to defend the decision saying that it is necessary for things to change. Audi is calling for fair racing especially that the last race will decide who will win the championship. Audi's Martin Tomczyk and Mattias Ekstrom are expected to battle it out with Mercedes' Bruno Spengler at the last event of the season with the help racing parts as reliable as Audi OEM parts.

Audi's chairman Rupert Stadler said: "What happened on the race track today was simply unacceptable. We're proceeding from the assumption that emotions will cool down again before the Hockenheim race and that spectators will see a finale with fair sport. It's also clear that we continue to be committed to the DTM. But a few things will probably have to change."

Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich, the head of Audi Motorsport, was also infuriated by the actions of Mercedes drivers La Rosa, Hakkinen, Matthias Lauda, and Bruno Spengler. He said that the decision of withdrawing the remaining Audi drivers from the race is necessary. "We wanted to see a tough, but fair touring car race today," said Ulrich. "But we had to get the impression that the Mercedes drivers used every opportunity to eliminate our cars. This is not the style in which we want to conduct motorsport. We want to see tough and fair duels but nothing of the kind we had today."

"That's why we took the decision to withdraw all of our vehicles. That was not an easy decision, and it cost us points, and maybe even the title. But we wanted to send a clear message for fair motorsport," added Ulrich.

Subaru Says Goodbye To Rally Superstar McRae

2007-09-21T18:34:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

"We are saddened that former Subaru world champion rally driver Colin McRae and his son Johnny have died following a helicopter crash in Lanarkshire, Scotland," says Subaru on their website.

The man who is behind the success of Subaru in the World Rally Championship is now dead but his Legacy will live on. Colin McRae who in the past others think is a virtual racer due to the popularity of his Dirt racing game passed away last Saturday, September 15 after their Squirrel helicopter crashed. Along with the rally superstar and his son was Johnny's friend six-year old Ben Porcelli and Colin's lifelong friend Greame Duncan.

Colin McRae will always be remembered perhaps for his aggressive driving style. He drives like he is immortal and his car is invincible. Many claim that McRae single-handedly made the World Rally Championship a household name. At age 27, his give-it-all-you-got driving style earned him the title of being the first British World Rally champion.

The Subaru World Rally Team managing director Richard Taylor has this to say about the late driving great: "All of us at the Subaru World Rally Team are shocked and upset by the tragic news of Colin McRae's death, which was announced on Sunday." Taylor also pointed out that McRae is not only the first British World rally Champion but is also the first Subaru rally driver to win a championship.

"Colin was Subaru's first World Champion and a man who almost single-handedly brought the sport of rallying to the attention of millions around the world. He was an inspiration to motorsport fans and remained a close friend to many of us in the team," he proclaimed. Taylor also extended his condolences to Colin's wife Alison and the rest of the McRae family. "At this terribly sad time our thoughts are with his wife, Alison, and the rest of Colin's family."

Subaru has been known for equipping their WRC drivers with reliable cars and parts such as Subaru control arms. And Colin McRae used his Good-given talent with the world-class Subaru cars to reach the summit of the sport.

David Richards, the owner of the team McRae which won the championship in 1995, praised the legendary driver saying: "Colin was an amazingly talented driver. He had a passion and commitment for the sport which I have rarely seen in anyone else. You knew that whenever he got behind the wheel of a car that he would extract every ounce of its performance. And it was this all or nothing approach to driving that won him so many fans."

"Despite his success he always remained a very approachable person, someone who would always take time to talk to his fans and who continued to support the sport which brought him his fame."

"On a personal note he was also great friend. I have known him for more than 20 years since he was a teenager, sitting in the service park watching his father Jimmy compete in one of our Porsche rally cars. While it is a very sad day for motorsport, we should remember that Colin was a family man and I know I can speak for everyone at Prodrive and Subaru when I say that all our thoughts are with his wife and family at this very sad time," he shared.

Subaru To Offer SRS CS Auto In Impreza

2007-09-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Subaru of America, Inc. partners with SRS Labs Inc. to offer cutting-edge SRS Circle Surround Auto to the new Impreza.

The new feature delivers surround sound from any audio source including surround encoded content, stereo and mono radio broadcasts, satellite radio, standard CDs and compressed music files. CS Auto overcomes many of the challenges inherent in automobiles to present a realistic and immersive surround sound environment, CNN reported.

SRS Lab, a leader in the manufacture of quality surround sound voiced and audio technologies, recently announced that the SRS CS Auto will be offered as an optional feature in the 2008 Subaru Impreza.

"The sound quality offered by SRS Circle Surround Auto is amazing," said Tim Colbeck, the vice president of sales of Subaru of America, Inc. "It's a smart and extremely effective way of producing premium quality sound in a vehicle."

The optional feature does not only deliver awe-inspiring in-car surround sound experience but also yields an overall higher quality of sound from various audio sources such as surround encoded content, satellite radio, HD Radio, mono or stereo radio broadcasts, standard CD and compressed music files from a portable media player.

"Subaru understands the unique challenges that can limit audio performance within the interior of an automobile, which is why they choose SRS to be their audio processing partner for the 2008 Subaru Impreza," said Chris Sabbarese, Product Manager for SRS Labs. "With CS Auto consumers will experience high-end surround sound, with enhanced audio fidelity, along with an expansive sound field and rich, deep bass."

CS Auto is especially engineered to meet the unique challenges of modern car interior. CS Auto includes processing to elevate the sound image to ear level, even from speakers located in some car-doors and under the dashboard. Also, the innovative feature creates a "phantom center speaker" to efficiently pull out and clarify vocals in the audio track.

CS Auto also includes a channel-mixing feature that enables car occupants using the front and rear seats to clearly hear all vocals and be engrossed in a thrilling audio experience. What is more, CS Auto incorporates SRS Labs' patented bass enhancement system to produce a virtual subwoofer to finally complete the gratifying surround experience.

All new and available in Subaru dealer showrooms across the country, the 2008 Subaru Impreza and the company's performance flagship the Subaru Impreza WRX boast more sophisticated styling, along with enhanced comfort and utility, while still delivering the handling and performance of Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, the report added. Also new for the model year 2008, is the availability of stability control or Subaru Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC).

The automaker, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan, is focusing on improving its lineup, offers, as well as auto parts accessories such as the Subaru coil springs, engine, upholstery, and the like.

Saab Celebrates 3 Decades Of Turbocharging

2007-09-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

At the Frankfurt Show in September 1977, Saab astonished the auto industry by launching its very first turbocharged model. Thirty years after, the Scandinavian automaker celebrates the milestone by introducing an ultimate performance car.

It all began exactly three decades ago, at exactly the same place, when the first 99 Turbo model was presented by Saab to the world media. At that time, the Swedish automaker was alone in pursuing turbocharging as a reliable and realistic means of extracting more power as well efficiency from a production engine.

A turbocharger develops more power by harnessing the energy from an engine’s exhaust gas flow. What made it appealing? Well, it recycles energy that was otherwise wasted.

It can be recalled that turbocharging was the suited key to the automaker’s ‘rightsizing’ engine philosophy: less is more. It means getting ‘more for less’ in terms of both power and environmental performance. The philosophy is reflected by the Saab BioPower’s number one position in the emerging ‘flex-fuel’ segment in the United Kingdom.

The new Saab Turbo X, equipped with cutting-edge technology, will be making its world debut tomorrow at the first press day of the auto show. Its public debut will mark a new aura to the 9-3 range of the automaker.

The Turbo X is a driver-focused, all-wheel-drive vehicle that sets new performance standards for the brand. It is equipped with a bunch of interesting features. To note, the Black Limited Edition radiates the iconic appeal of the automaker’s first black 900 Turbo.

According to the automaker, the car features an innovative XWD for greater driver involvement and dynamic chassis control, active torque split between both axles and rear wheels, tuned suspension and electronic chassis settings for optimum handling, 2.8 V6 turbo engine that generates 280 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque, and distinctive styling additions for improved aerodynamics. These features are added without compromising trusted parts such as Saab brake rotors, radiators, filters, and more.

The new Saab 9-3 range, on the other hand, features bold, more assertive looks inspired by Saab’s Scandinavian design tradition and the award-winning Aero X concept car. Saab said that the car boasts of an all-new bodywork forward of the A-pillars, cleaner looks, new doors, light and bumper assemblies front and rear, two-stage, 1.9 turbo diesel that generates 180 horsepower for class-leading power and efficiency. Additionally, for extra horses, the automaker is offering BioPower (E85) engine that produces 200 horsepower.

As Saab’s leading expert, Dr. Per Gillbrand, dubbed the ‘father of the production turbo’, used to say: “A turbocharged power plant is really ‘two engines in one.’ There is a ‘small’ engine for driving in everyday traffic conditions and then a ‘large’ one, giving more power and performance, when the turbocharger joins the party at higher throttle openings.”

“All engines have an oil pump, a fuel pump and a water pump”, Gillbrand noted. “So why not an air pump, which is all a turbo really is. I think it's odd that all engines don’t have one!” Nowadays, thanks to the power of such independent thinking, an increasing number does.

Saab developed technology to ‘tame the turbo’ by using a by-pass valve to control the build-up of boost pressure. It did not take long for the world to appreciate what had been achieved, reported The Auto Channel. At present, in an era when the need to save energy and achieve greater fuel efficiency has never been this stirring and the future of the Scandinavian automaker’s turbocharging has never been more intense.

Porsche Injects 911 Power Into The Cayenne

2007-09-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Porsche AG, the maker of remarkable supercars, has decided to inject more 911 power into the Cayenne in the form of a new variant called the GTS. The new variant will be unveiled next week at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The performance-oriented Cayenne is based on the S variant but is lowered by nearly an inch. The Cayenne GTS features the advanced Porsche Active Suspension Management system in combination with steel springs. The system features a suspension setup that was previously reserved for Porsche's cars only. To enhance the handling, the German automaker is also offering the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control active anti-roll system and optional air suspension.
The S' direct injected 4.8-liter V-8 gets a timely boost to the tune of an additional 20hp, bringing its output to 405. Torque, however, remains unaltered at 369 lb-ft. The GTS comes standard with a six-speed manual, with a Tiptronic automatic optional. Aside from the engine and other systems, the new variant also flaunts enhanced auto parts that are far from the aged Porsche 924 radiator.

The Cayenne GTS is fitted with the Turbo's front and rear fascias and rides on 21-inch wheels. It comes in two distinct colors: Nordic Gold Metallic and GTS Red. The colors are in addition to the existing colors available throughout the Cayenne Range. Inside are new 12-way adjustable sports seats upholstered in a mix of leather and Alcantara.

The Cayenne, a mid-size luxury sport utility, has been built since 2002. The SUV is the first V8 engined vehicle built by the German automaker since 1995, when the 928 was discontinued. According to the automaker, the sportiest of Porsche sport utilities, comes as standard with a six-speed manual gearbox and a shorter axle drive ratio than the Cayenne S. The GTS can thus accelerate from zero to 100km/h in just 6.1 seconds - precisely 0.5 seconds quicker than the Cayenne S.

The new Cayenne GTS, positioned above the S, but below the Turbo, is instantly identifiable: the front and rear look similar as the Turbo, and the 14mm wheel-arch enlargements offer plenty of space for the standard 21-inch alloy rims.

The new Cayenne, with Tiptronic S transmission, has an average consumption of 13.9 liters/100 km in accordance with EU standards, the automaker added. The Cayenne GTS will go on sale in February. In Germany, it will cost 76,725 Euros including 19 percent VAT and country-specific requirements. The base price is 64,300 Euros. The base price for the USA is $69,300 - $11,400 more than the S variant.

With a sticker price like that, the automaker is still all the wage. Porsche is anticipated to remain as the much-adored car of higher earners. The Glasgow Daily Record reported that the 2007 "Rich Car List" shows Porsche keeping the top spot from last year, followed by, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Saab, Audi, Jeep, BMW, Smart and Alfa Romeo.

Craig Staniland of swiftcover.com explained: "The car is a status symbol but smaller and greener cars are becoming popular with higher income earners."

Audi Sets Forth Its Most Powerful Production Ever

2007-09-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Audi AG will be pulling the wraps off its RS6 – its most powerful production ever built. The car features a twin-turbo 5.2-litre V10 that produces 572bhp – 145bhp more power than the previous model. The new RS6 will break cover at the Frankfurt auto show next week.

The launching of the high-performance car will bring Audi back on top of supercar manufacturers. Powerful German cars include Merc's E63 AMG produces 503bhp whilst the BMW M5 generates a mere 500bhp. The RS6's 572bhp peak power arrives at 6250rpm whilst torque is up to an internal-organ-squashing 480lb ft available from just 1500 rpm. The RS6 also outpowers the M5 Touring, which is priced at £67,075.

The RS6 features Quattro four-wheel drive with a 60 percent rear bias, and a six-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox. The standard wheels are 19-inch alloys, and ceramic brakes are an optional extra. With the rear seats folded the boot capacity is a whopping 1,660 liters. Traditionally, the RS Audi's have been available in wagon, sedan or sedan bodies, and the smaller RS4 can already be ordered in each of these configurations.

Supplementing the power bolstered by the engine, the Dynamic Ride Control can be fixed to the car’s sport suspension to deliver ideal balance between long-trip comfort and stunning lateral performance which the driver can choose at the push of a button. According to some aficionados, the new car is likely the only machine with so much power to also offer 1,660 liters of luggage space. The automaker claims a 0-60 feat in 4.6 seconds from the 4,400 lb rocket wagon.

The powerful production from the automaker also boasts off the traditional luxury and style associated with Audis. From the captivating Audi grille, striking lines and curves, to the pampering amenities, the car is unmistakably awesome.

The interior promises to pamper occupants in sporty luxury and is trimmed in leather, aluminum, suede and carbonfiber. Audi’s MMI system is also installed. Additionally, the rest of the cabin flaunts sport pedals and embossed seats which can be wrapped in either Silk Nappa or Valcona leather.

Visual enhancements entertained by the new model include fat wheels, air diffuser, oval exhausts pipes, flared wheel arches, bonnet and front wings made from aluminium. Inside, Audi’s engineers give the car a flat-bottomed steering wheel and carbonfiber panels.

But makes it more remarkable is the new-found performance. According to Reuters, the key performance figures of the new RS6 go like this: 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, 0-124mph in 14.9 seconds, with top speed of course limited to 155mph. The German automaker said that the Quattro system has a 40:60 rear-drive bias, which should help to improve the handling and allow for some super-saloon drift action.

No price for the new RS6 is revealed yet. But experts in the industry said that the car is expected to cost from £70 000 when it becomes available next year. The car will be available for orders in Europe from November.

The sedan version of the RS6, on the other hand, will arrive in South Africa in the third quarter of next year.

VW Launches New Formula 3 Engine

2007-09-04T15:04:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

The new Volkswagen Formula 3 engine has made its successful racing début during the DTM weekend at the Nürburgring.

In the Formula 3 Euro Series race on Saturday, Maximilian Götz in his Dallara F306 VW from Team RC Motorsport finished sixth thus immediately accumulating points in the début race. Additionally, on Sunday, Götz claimed ninth place, thus finishing in the top ten for the second time. During the practice, Götz and teammate Jonathan Summerton, with positions 8 and 13 respectively, have already etched a stimulating and positive start for the German team.

Götz, 21, has nothing but good things to say about the two-liter engine that produces 210 horsepower. "The tests had suggested what potential the engine has but now we know much better where Volkswagen stands compared to the competition: We’re very close already,” he told Paddock Talk.

In the first race, Götz advanced from grid position eight to sixth place. "A perfect début and a great reward for everyone involved in this project," he said. Götz started the race on Sunday from third place – the top eight in the first race start to the second event in reverse order. "After the start I hit the brakes too late, which cost me five places. After that, I was able to keep the pace of the experienced drivers very well."

For Summerton, the 19-year-old driver who finished in 15th position, the DTM weekend in the Eifel did not go according to plan. "In the first race I was hit after the start. My car was damaged in the incident and, as a result, very difficult to drive,” the American summed up the event after finishing in 18th place. The start to the second race was similar to the first one: "I was hit again, this time the rear wing was damaged. Nevertheless, my car had very good balance and my laps were fast and consistent,” he said.

"We’re highly satisfied with the début of our new Formula 3 engine. It’s competitive straight from the start. This was also proved by our fastest race lap, we were separated from the absolute best time by merely three tenths of a second. A big compliment to our engineers, teams and drivers who made this good start possible by working so intensively," said Kris Nissen, the VW motorsport director. "Our goal is to equip six racing cars with our engines next year and to contest all races of the Formula 3 Euro Series. The results of this season’s events give us the opportunity to assess where we stand and to pursue the engine’s evolution for 2008."

A third Dallara "powered by Volkswagen" driven by Marco Holzer, 19, is fielded by Team AM Holzer Rennsport. "Our weekend wasn’t off to an optimum start. But the collaboration with Volkswagen is paying off: in the end, we came up with a good set-up,” said Rennsport who occupied places 20 and 14.

With the launch of the powerful 210-hp engine mated to trusted race parts such as the VW strut and radiator, the team is expected to generate equally-powerful performance.

Separately, VW is showing its complete motorsport lineup in the Eifel. Aside from the races of the Formula 3 Euro Series – in which the Wolfsburg-based automaker is making its comeback – and the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup, the other racing projects are represented at the Nürburgring as well. According to the Paddock Talk, the Golf GTI, which clinched class victory and the spectacular eighth place overall in the 24h-race in June, and the Race Touareg, which will be fielded by Volkswagen in January in the 2008 Dakar Rally, are on display.

Solstice, Sky: Different But Similar

2007-08-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

General Motors Corp.’s distinct brands Pontiac and Saturn will be rolling off different but similar cars. How ironic could they get?

Earlier, the largest American automaker launched the Pontiac Solstice. The stunning roadster was unveiled at the 2004 North American International Auto Show. The automaker began its production in mid-2005 for the 2006 model year in Wilmington, Delaware. The debut served as an antidote to the bland lineup of the GM brand.

Shoppers who wanted the Solstice had to wait months for one to arrive, and they paid as much as $6,000 above the sticker price to be among the first in their neighborhood to have one, reported the New York Times. The waiting lists swelled after the Solstice appeared in an episode of Donald Trump’s reality TV show, “The Apprentice,” and Mr. Trump promised one to that season’s winner.

Solstice owner Hal Waldrop said that he recently saw six of the roadsters lined up at the Pontiac dealership near his home in Frisco, Tex., just north of Dallas. “I had never seen more than two there previously,” he told The Times. The 49-year-old Mr. Waldrop was told he was 45th on the dealer’s waiting list for a Solstice and would have to wait up to a year to receive one when he ordered one in November 2005.

“The car is just a joy,” Mr. Waldrop noted. “When the top’s down and you’re on a twisty road, I can’t imagine anything would be more fun. Even today, I cannot stop at a gas station without someone walking up and telling me how much they like it. Almost everybody guesses it would be a $40,000 car if they don’t know what it is.”

Though the car was such a big hit, it did not bolster much interest in the overall Pontiac brand. As such, even the Solstice itself appears to be hurting its existence. Sales of the Solstice are down 19 percent in 2007 through July. The Detroit-based automaker, which apologized for not building enough Solstices initially, now has about worth of five months’ supply in inventory, double the automaker’s average.

According to Autodata, a company that trails auto statistics, sales of Pontiac-branded cars and trucks are off 17 percent, compared with nine percent for all eight GM brands.

“It was such a radical departure from what people expected out of Pontiac that it created a tremendous buzz when it first hit the market,” said Wes Brown, an auto consultant and a partner in the Los Angeles marketing firm Iceology. “It looks pretty cool, but ultimately it’s not able to overcome some of those barriers people have within their mind with regard to the brand image.”
On the other hand, the demand for the Solstice’s fraternal twin Saturn Sky has shown no signs of declines. The automaker has about one month’s worth of the Sky available, and many shoppers still have to wait several weeks or months for the more expensive and more angular twin to arrive.

“They’re very much fashion statements,” Brown said of cars like the Solstice. “The newest one that arrives is the hottest one, and that bloom can last from 6 to 18 months, depending on what else comes out.”

The Saturn hood and other auto accessories are etching a dependable name in the industry. This is the reason behind the company’s constant growth. “Saturn, although it had been struggling, has nowhere near the type of negative baggage that the Pontiac brand does,” noted Mr. Brown. “That brand is damaged. If you ask the average person, I don’t think they could tell you what the brand’s supposed to be.”

What Do NASCAR Collectibles Mean to You?

2007-08-23T17:18:00.000-07:00

By Brian Connors

Many a physical object is purchased not only as an ornament for the home or work area or for a simple article of clothing. There’s a deeper reason beyond mere practicality for many of the various goods that we bring into our surroundings. This is true as well for the NASCAR collectibles that many of us have purchased in the past. How so?

Let me ask you a question. Do you go to a sporting event merely to be a spectator? No, because you go to support a team or individual that you have a level of passion for. This entity being a team or person means something to you and you wish others to recognize that fact. There’s a spirit that is shared between you that you most certainly are proud of. It’s a channel that describes what you are all about to the world around you.

NASCAR collectibles fit into this description. There are certain drivers whose characteristics you wish to emulate and be reminded of. For instance, the cool, calm and collected demeanor of some drivers may be something that you have or wish to have. There could also be a driving fire that you wish to demonstrate that some drivers have shown. Also, the simple NASCAR name itself declares a niche that describes your personality. In essence, NASCAR merchandise mean much more than just “stuff”.

There are many items that declare your loyalty to the world of stock car racing or one of its competitors in particular. There are shirts, jackets, die-cast, car mats, entry rugs, clocks and dozens of other examples to choose from. Each of these products says something about you. They advertise your personal theme to others. You let them know something about you without you saying a word. Is it fierce determination? Is it the trait of being a noble sportsman? Is it being identified with a proven winner?

It’s your call and no one else’s. Let NASCAR collectibles tell the world what is important to you. Let your personal domain or manner of attire send both a reminder to you and a message to others what you are all about!

( Brian is the owner of Stock Car USA Collectibles and wishes to share his thoughts on the meaning of NASCAR merchandise. He invites you to visit his website at http://www.StockCarUSA.com for stock car racing merchandise ideas today. )

Audi Goes Playful With Its 2008 R8 Supercar

2007-08-18T13:33:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Audi AG earlier announced pricing for its R8 supercar. At $139,900, the German automaker expects more aficionados will be attracted to its pricing. Aside from the price, one thing that could pull shoppers closer is the fact that the automaker has entertained playful modifications to closely compete with the Porsche 911.

The R8, unveiled last fall and set to arrive in showrooms next month as a 2008 model, has tickled the excitement of aficionados with nifty new surprises. The supercar is going to be quite something.

No fewer than four Audi employees escorted the 2008 Audi R8 to the Los Angeles Times' garage a few weeks ago, a veritable task force of handlers to introduce me to the company's new six-figure, mid-engine supercar, TransWorldNews reported.

TransWorldNews continued: “Once they arrived, there wasn't much for them to do but stand around and Armor-All their suit lapels. Despite the R8's evident exoticism, the car is low, wide and mirthless, its gimlet eyes fixing you with white-hot LEDs like it was brooding on ways to wreck your marriage, the car required no special instructions. The Cavalli-suited entourage underscores the fact that the R8 - certainly one of the finest mid-engine sports cars ever built - is not about posting quick lap times or eating into the Porsche 911's market share, though it will do both to a bloody fare-thee-well.”

“Truth be told, most surprises about the R8 were blown long ago. Audi revealed the car's specs to coincide with that Paris unveiling. Only the luckier automotive journalists have had a chance to drive the R8, so there's still the mystery of whether it will be a worthy competitor for other low-six-figure luxo sportsters such as the Porsche 911 Turbo and Aston Martin V8 Vantage,” said Chris Chase of CanWest News Service.

Critics say that the R8 is comprehensively engineered, seductively styled, and flawlessly executed. There were no gear-shifting paddles attached to the flat-bottomed steering wheel, no hydraulics to elevate the front end as there are in the Lamborghini Murcielago. Also, there were no wing-setting launch sequence as in the Bugatti Veyron, but the magnet is there. And that pull lingers.

The 2008 Audi R8 is equipped with a 4.2-litre V8 that generates 420bhp, a choice of six-speed manual transmission or a sequential manual Audi calls R-tronic, and fabulous Audi accessories. The German automaker claims 4.6 seconds to reach 100 km/h and a top speed of 301 km/h. In Canada, the supercar will come standard with 19-inch wheels and tires, while 18-inchers will be standard in the United States and overseas markets.

For 2009, a more powerful engine variant that uses a 570-hp 5.2 L V10, an enlarged version of the Lamborghini Gallardo's engine and already featured in the Audi S8, is expected to be incorporated to the R8. But this was not confirmed by the automaker.

Currently, the automaker is in the process of developing a new turbocharged 5.2 L V10 engine for the future Audi RS6. And there is a strong possibility that this powerful engine will make its way into the R8.

Audi Failed To Beat LM P2 Cars

2007-08-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

At the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi once again proved that diesel engines have what it takes to beat gasoline-engined racecars. At the American Le Mans Series, Audi proved that their car’s performance at the prestigious endurance race is not a one-off showing. The team’s LM P1 car is still yet to be beaten in its class but the last six races has seen them being beaten by LM P2 cars. The current aim now for the team is to break the winning streak of LM P2 cars.

Although no additional points are given to an overall winner, Audi is still keen on taking the overall victory in the series’ next event. The reason for this is that the team is looking to pave the way for their diesel initiative in the United States. European automakers are in the forefront in developing a new generation of diesel engines and Audi is one of the apparent leaders in the development of clean diesel engines.

The latest race of the season was held at the “Road America” in Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. The track is considered as the best suited track for high speed cars. With the Audi R10 designed for high speed racing, the team is confident that they will break the winning streak of LM P2 cars at Road America. The team looked for a good performance from defending champions Dindo Capello and Allan McNish on board their R10 units with racing parts as reliable as Audi A6 parts.
The pair though failed to break the winning streak of LM P2 cars as they finished in the second place overall although they have won the battle in their class. McNish and Capello finished just a couple of seconds behind the overall winner - a Porsche. This is the first time in five years that Audi has not won on this high-speed track.

McNish is apparently disappointed with the result of the event. “It's disappointing to have started from pole-position and ultimately finish second by less than two seconds having led much of the race despite two tire issues when I was leading,” he claims.

“I should be satisfied for winning the LM P1 class for the sixth time this season but as a racing driver, I’m never content to finish a race in second place overall,” he said. “There was a very good possibility of us winning this race but it slipped away from us.”

Meanwhile, Audi’s motorsports chief, Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, is bemoaning the weight difference between LM P2 and LM P1 cars. The LM P2 cars are lighter than LM P1 cars thus the former has a distinct advantage over the latter.

“Once again the Audi R10 TDI was the dominating LM P1 car and remains undefeated in its class,” said Dr. Ullrich. “That we were not able to get the overall victory even on the fastest track of the American Le Mans Series shows once more that the weight difference between the LM P1 and the LM P2 cars is simply too big. On top of that comes the smaller fuel tank we must use compared to our opposition.”

Chevrolet Teams Continue Dominance

2007-08-16T17:32:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

The current season of the NASCAR Nextel Cup has been all Chevrolet. Teams using the Impala SS from the General Motors marque have won the majority of races. Midway into the season though, Chevrolet has to fight off a strong resurgence from Ford and Dodge. On one stretch, Ford has won two races and Dodge with one while Chevy only has one. But after that, Chevrolet drivers are back in their dominating form as they have won three out of the last four races.

The latest race was the Centurion Boats at the Glen held at the Watkins Glen International. The race was won by two time NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion Tony Stewart. Stewart has posted the last three victories for Chevrolet. Going into the race though, Juan Pablo Montoya and Jeff Gordon are expected to win since both have shown their capabilities on road courses in the past.

Jeff Gordon was leading towards the end of the race with almost everyone believing that Gordon has the race already won. A mistake though opened a window for Stewart who overtook Gordon and never looked back. Gordon lost control of his car at turn one of the track on the last lap of the race. This enabled Stewart to pass him.

It is interesting to note that Stewart was the one leading the race before Gordon. On lap number 44 of the 90-lap race, Stewart was unable to control the effect of his car’s Chevy brake pads which sent his car spinning.

“Jeff lost it the same way I lost it,” said Stewart after the race. “I had to keep fighting back. I kept the pressure on Jeff hoping he made a mistake and he did. I just had more time to make up for my spin. I was probably the most shocked person to see that happen. He's won here and won 4 championships; it was tricky in turn one.”

Gordon, on the other hand, was furious at his mistake. He currently leads the drivers’ championship standings but he failed to get the ten extra points that would further cement his lead going into the Chase for the Nextel Cup. “Pretty much the same thing that happened to Tony earlier in the race in the braking zone getting into turn one,” said Gordon. “Just stupid. I knew I had to push, Tony was really good. I wanted that win really bad. Points don't mean anything. I pushed and I pushed too far. What happened is the team deserved to win and the driver didn't get it done.”

Meanwhile, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hope of a championship bid in his final year with his father’s team suffered a setback. His car was running well until his engine failed. His car was then towed into the pits. The engine failure means that the most popular NASCAR today did not earn any points. This dropped him to 14th in the standings. He is now trailing Kurt Busch by 100 points. Only the top twelve will be qualified to participate in the Chase for the Nextel Cup.

What Is The Definition Of a Supercar?

2007-08-13T19:16:00.000-07:00

By Ryan Hooper

Have you ever wondered, what makes a car a supercar?

Asking what makes a car super is like asking, what makes a woman beautiful - everyone has its own opinion.

A term supercar was coined to describe extremely expensive, extremely beautiful and extremely fast cars. But the proper use of this term is often subjective and disputed, especially among enthusiasts. There is no clear definition of what characteristics a car must have to be a supercar. What constitutes a supercar is often a matter of opinion. Also, the use of the term is heavily dependent on the era - a car that is considered to be a supercar at one time may lose its superiority in the future.

It is also important to know that the term supercar refers to factory-built, usually unmodified, street-legal cars. Heavily modified and potentially street - illegal vehicles do not fall into the supercar category. Supercars are not muscle cars or tuned up sports cars. And there is no such thing as a cut price supercar.

A supercar is a car that combines speed, handling, unique design and represents the pinnacle of the automaker's art. Supercar is the car equivalent of a supermodel or a race horse. There are, off course, some basic criteria for measuring whether a car should be considered a supercar or not. Things to consider: design, acceleration, top speed, handling, power-to-weight ratio, style, rarity, price - all of these has to be super in a supercar.

Want an example? Here is a prime example of a supercar - The Bugatti Veyron.

The Bugatti Veyron is currently (2007) the most expensive (around $1.5 million) and fastest fully street legal car in the world. The Guinness Book of World Records included Bugatti Veyron under the heading - Fastest Production Car. With 1001 horsepower this supercar champion features all the most recent automotive advancements and is able to achieve a top speed of 253 mph (407km/h). This is faster than any production car ever made, it's actually faster than Formula 1 cars. Supercars are not just fast, they are blazingly fast.

Other supercars include: Koenigsegg CCX, Pagani Zonda, McLaren F1, Saleen S7 Twin Turbo, Enzo Ferrari, Lamborghini Murcielago and so on.

On the fun side, if you ever doubt whether a car is a supercar or not, consider this: A car might be a supercar if - you have a wallpaper or a poster of it, it's worth more than your house, you drool when you see one, it can break the speed limit in 1st gear, you will probably never own one, but if you do, you would never give the keys to the valet.

In conclusion, a supercar is a car that changes your idea of what a car is and what a car can do.
About the author: Ryan Hooper is a car lover and a big admirer of the first true American supercar: Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

Mazda Celebrates 40th Rotary Engine Anniversary

2007-08-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

Japanese automaker Mazda is known in the auto industry as the maker of vehicles equipped with rotary engines. The company has started the use of the Wankel engine 40 years ago in the Cosmo Sport, known in Japan as the Mazda Savanna. The company used the engine in 1967 - ten years after Felix Wankel built the first running prototype of the two-stroke engine.

In the past, many automakers have started improving the Wankel engine. The poor fuel economy of the engine and heavy emission are some of the characteristics of the engine in the past and automakers have poured in money and effort in the development of better Wankel engines. Years later, most automakers have dropped the development of the Wankel engine in favor of the four-stroke engines. While automakers like General Motors and Ford has decided to no longer pursue the development of Wankel engines, Mazda continued their improvements on the engine designed by Felix Wankel.

In the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the rotary engine as used by Mazda, the automaker announced that they will be marketing special edition variants of the RX-8. The vehicles though will be sold only in Japan.

According to the automaker, the special edition RX-8 will be available in two variants. The first one is the RX-8 Type S which will be equipped with a six-speed manual transmission. The second variant is the RX-8 Type E, and it will come with a six-speed automatic gearbox.

As a special edition vehicle, the RX-8s will have a 40TH ANNIVERSARY ROTARY ENGINE badge. Other exterior features of the special edition RX-8 are the semi-gloss chrome light bezels. It will also sport 18-inch Dark Silver chrome aluminum ally wheels. For extra safety during night driving, the special edition RX-8 is fitted with front fog lights.

The Wankel engine has some distinct advantages over engines with reciprocating piston. In a Wankel engine, instead of the reciprocating pistons, the power released by the combustion of the fuel is transferred to a rotor. The advantage of using a rotor is that it has a higher power output compared to a similarly sized engine with reciprocating pistons. This means that it can be used on cars designed to have a small engine compartment.

Due to its design, Wankel engines also have fewer moving parts than conventional four-stroke engines. For example, a 1.2-liter Wankel engine in a Mazda has fewer Mazda parts compared to a similarly sized engine. This means that wear and tear on the parts is not a major problem when it comes to replacement. For example, a Wankel engine has no complicated valve trains while conventional four-stroke engines have complex parts for the intake and exhaust valves.

The disadvantage of the Wankel engine is also the result of the absence of the intake valves. Since these engines have no intake valves, automakers have to devise a way to inject the fuel inside the combustion chamber in a very short span of time while the combustion chamber is open. The result is more fuel consumption. But just like diesel engines, Wankel engines are also being improved to have a better fuel economy. In fact, Mazda is reportedly working on the development of a Wankel engine that will run on hydrogen.

The special edition RX-8 will be a rare breed since Mazda is only planning to manufacture 200 units of the vehicle. The RX-8 special edition will have a starting price of $26,500 according to the automaker.

360 Modena

2007-08-07T19:31:00.001-07:00

By Jonathan Blocker

Heir Apparent: The Ferrari 360 Modena

At the turn of the century, the quiet little town of Modena was going about its business in the southern Po Valley in Italy. It was like any other town, with busy shops and hard working parents, and the streets were filled with children, who once in a while marveled at the machines that would occasionally rumble by on stiff rubber wheels. Three of those boys would go on to create legendary automotive companies that would bear their names – Maserati, Lamborghini and a young man named Enzo Ferrari. Today Modena is home of factories for automotive legends like Bugatti, De Tomaso, Lamborghini and, of course, Ferrari, thus earning it the reputation as the capital of engines. Now, nearly one hundred years later, the little town has another distinction by virtue of its name – the 360 Modena, one of the first Ferraris For Sale to be made entirely of aluminum. The line of small, two-seat sports cars went into production in 1999, and is modeled after its predecessor, the legendary F355, and serves as a replacement for the classic small-body Testerossa models, long the flagship of the brand. The 360 Modena is longer, taller, and with a wider wheel base than its ancestors, yet is slimmer in width, lending it less radical yet more muscular and aerodynamic lines. Like any new Ferrari based on earlier designs, the Modena 360 is chock full of performance enhancements and technical innovations that result in zero-to-100 miles per hour accelleration in 10.2 seconds, markedly slower than the 6.6 seconds of it’s muscular cousin, the Enzo Ferrari supercar, but still quick enough to snap a neck that isn’t paying attention. The convertible version of the Modena is the 360 Spider, perhaps better known from its frequency in movies, but other than poundage is the exact same car. A stripped-down and performance-juiced version of the Modena exists in the form of the Challenge Stradale, sans leather and ornamentation. As with all Ferraris, the 360 Modena delivers speed, distinctive styling and the prestige of that little yellow emblem, all in a two-seater that proudly promises to propel the Ferrari legacy into the distant future.

Jonathon Blocker is a Ferrari aficionado who is intimate with a variety of Ferraris and has developed an expertise on the collectible Ferrari.

NASCAR's Said Joins Buffum In X Games 13

2007-08-04T05:47:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Fontanelle

NASCAR icon Boris Said joins the legendary rally veteran John Buffum to Challenge Sunday’s X Games 13. The drivers received an “at-large” slot for their BFGoodrich Tires-sponsored Subaru Impreza WRX STI and thus will compete beginning this weekend in the action sports competition.

Said, who will come to this Sunday’s Los Angeles event directly from Saturday’s NASCAR BUSCH Series race in Montreal, will drive and Buffum will be his co-driver/coach, reported PR Newswire.

"I've been watching rally my whole life, and I think it's one of the most exciting sports in the world,” noted Said. “I'm really excited to see the track and even more excited to see the 70-foot jump I've been told about. My only regret is that I'll be doing the NASCAR Busch race in Montreal on Saturday and will miss practice, but I guess that’s why rally has the bravest co-drivers. I can't wait to get there and race.”

Said earned his X Games bid via an “at large” invitation due to his numerous racing accomplishments, which include winning the 1997 and 1998 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1991 12 Hours of Sebring, the report continued. During 2002 which was Said’s first full season of competition, he won the SCCA Trans-Am Championship. In 2005, he became the first American to win the esteemed 24 Hours of Nurburgring in Germany. Said also has four American Le Mans Series and a number of SPEED World Challenge wins to his credit.

“Having Boris drive one of our Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally cars in the X Games should attract more overall racing fans to rallying,” said Tim Mahoney, the senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Subaru of America, Inc. “And since ESPN is a NASCAR broadcaster, the network’s interest in highlighting Boris’s participation - and that of Subaru – can only be stronger.” “Boris’s accomplishments in a variety of other forms of racing provides a familiar face to fans outside rallying and can demonstrate to them, as well as the rally faithful, the performance of a rally-spec Subaru Impreza WRX STI,” added James Han, the SOA Motorsports manager, who pointed out that, different from the typical stock cars Said has been driving, the Subaru rally car incorporates symmetrical all-wheel drive and a boxer engine.

Said has etched a good name even beyond international sports car racing. He has performed in several NASCAR disciplines and series including Craftsman Truck, BUSCH and Nextel Cup. In 1998, he won a Truck series at Infineon Sears Point Raceway.

Said will drive a 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI prepared by Vermont SportsCar, which also fields entries for Subaru Rally Team USA drivers Travis Pastrana and Ken Block. Like his NASCAR entry, Said’s rally car will be No. 60.

The Impreza WRX STI is the highest standard-edition trim in the Impreza compact car line. It features Subaru OEM parts mated to performance car accessories.

Rally action at X Games 13 begins with practice on August 2 and 3 and ends with the Super Special final competition on August 5. The final will be broadcast live on ABC.

The X Games features over 150 of the world’s best athletes competing in BMX Freestyle, Skateboard, Moto X, Surfing and Rally Car Racing. L.A.-based venues include STAPLES Center and The Home Depot Center.

As of August 2, X Games 13 rally car racing entry list consist of drivers and co-drivers includes Travis Pastrana/Christian Edstrom, Boris Said/John Buffum, Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino, Colin McRae/Carolyn Bosley, Tanner Foust/Christine Beavis, Andrew Pinker/Robbie Durant, Matt Iorio/Ole Holter, Paul Choiniere/Jeffrey Becker, Ramana Lagemann/Mark Williams, Andrew Comrie-Picard/Marc Goldfarb, Antoine L’Estage/Nathalie Richard, Boris Said/John Buffum, and Pat Moro/Mike Rossey.

Porsche Range of Hybrid Vehicles Soon to be the Fastest in the World

2007-08-02T19:59:00.000-07:00

By Evander Klum

News from GoAutonews states that the Panamera which is a four-door Porsche sedan is going to be produced with a range of engines that will include a V10 model and a hybrid version that employs the same drivetrain as the Cayenne hybrid. The Panamera is said to have the potential of becoming the fastest hybrid in the world.

By 2009 it is expected that the V10, V6, and V8 versions of the Panamera are to be released followed by hybrid versions after two years. The hybrid will make use of Cayenne’s 34kW electric motor driving via the standard six-speed Tiptronic transmission. Top speed is obtained through the use of the so-called parallel system of Porsche that involves an electric motor placed in between the petrol engine and the transmission that boost stability and provide the benefits derived from power split systems that are commonly employed by other automakers in transferring a fixed amount of torque by way of the electrical path while limiting the top speed so as to match the capability of the electric motor.

The four-door, four-seat Panamera will roundup Porsche’s planned quartet which will be comprised of the 911, Cayenne, Boxster/Cayman and of course the Panamera. After the launching of the fourth series, Porsche will introduce a sports coupe from the premium class and will be regarded as a genuine Porsche in performance, exclusivity and sporting spirit.

GoAutonews has also predicted that Porsche might reveal the Panamera at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

More news on Porsche Hybrids… Porsche the producer of Porsche catalytic converter has recently confirmed that its engineers are working to achieve 26 mpg from the full hybrid system that will be installed in the upcoming hybrid version of the Cayenne.

The German sports car maker has already released pictures of the Cayenne Hybrid as its way of arousing interest for the vehicle before its formal launch scheduled at the end of the decade.

The automaker is also targeting an average fuel consumption of around 24 mpg in the US and further stated that "future developments may allow Porsche engineers to push towards an average fuel consumption figure of approximately 26 miles per gallon."

Porsche has also explained that the Cayenne Hybrid will be given a full-hybrid design "where the hybrid module [clutch and electric motor] is positioned between the combustion engine and the transmission rather than having the hybrid drivetrain branching output along various lines and in various directions via a planetary gearset." This particular design is employed since it perfectly suits the current platform of the Cayenne. It also improves acceleration as well as engine flexibility.

The power steering together with other auto components such as vacuum pump for both brakes and air-conditioning are powered by electricity which further lowers down fuel consumption. In addition, the electrohydraulic steering which is fitted in the Cayenne Hybrid is said to be a first of its kind used for vehicles.

Porsche has also announced its plans of creating a similar hybrid technology in a version of its Panamera four-door Gran Turismo probably at the end of the decade.

Lexus IS 250 AWD Sedan Standard Features

2007-07-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-26T21:07:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-07-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-21T15:10:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-17T20:17:00.000-07:00

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'

2007-07-14T20:02:00.001-07:00

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

2007-07-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-09T16:29:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-04T03:56:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-02T17:35:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

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.

Mazda MX-5 setting New Guinness World Record

2007-06-27T16:18:00.000-07:00

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"

2007-06-26T20:00:00.001-07:00

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

2007-06-25T03:42:00.001-07:00

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

2007-06-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-15T09:38:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-09T20:10:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-09T13:39:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

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.

LuBu Blogs

2007-06-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

This blog is part of the LuBu Blogs Network. Check out The Wing Nut for politics and current affairs, or The Average Joe's Finance for financial tips for the regular guy.

BMW Sauber Prepares For Canadian Grand Prix

2007-06-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

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.

About Greenedia

Greenedia is your guide to the best Green social media available on the Internet. Green social media is not just about activism. We aggregate the most widely-read green blogs, podcasts and online video, all in one place. It's about the economy, business and investment. It's about living, building, driving and eating green. It's about daily life and the future lives of our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Please visit Greenedia.com.

Yates Racing Remains Loyal to Ford

2007-06-02T21:41:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-02T17:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

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

2007-06-02T14:13:00.000-07:00

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.