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

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.

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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