Saturday, December 31, 2011
Robert Kubica Could Be Ruled Out For At Least A Year Following Accident
Polish racing driver Robert Kubica will spend at least one whole year recovering from a rally crash he suffered this morning, according to his surgeon. Kubica, who races for Renault Lotus crashed the Skoda Fabia rally car this morning and was airlifted to hospital suffering serious injuries. He has spent many hours in surgery, with [...]
Why are the FIA bringing out their toolkits?
By Matt Carver
It's been two months since Sebastian Vettel was crowned as the Formula 1 world champion of 2010, after what was arguably the most enthralling and closely-fought championship in recent history. But bizarrely, the sports governing body, the FIA, have decided that it needs 'spicing up' with a whole raft of new technical regulations.
Even without these supposed enhancements, the setup for the 2011 season looks stronger than ever. The live TV broadcasts will now be in High Definition, there will be five former world champions on the gird, the teams are closely matched, and worldwide viewing figures are very strong. So this begs the obvious question: If it's not broken, why are the FIA bringing out their toolkits?
The answer can be found in a simple, four-syllable word that sparks a lot of debate: Overtaking.
The Return of KERS
For 2011, the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) will again be available to all the teams, after its banishment for 2010 following an uninspiring implementation in the previous season. For those unfamiliar with the concept, a KERS unit is essentially just a large battery which harnesses a reserve of energy from heavy braking. This energy can then be fed though the drive train at the press of a button for an 80bhp boost for several seconds per lap.
It was originally intended as a 'push-to-pass' button to aid overtaking, but the unit itself was heavy and had a strong destabilizing effect. The cars that were fitted with KERS were more unstable and thus slower for the majority of a lap, but had the extra muscle on the long straights. So it quickly became more of an overtaking deterrent than an aid, and there is no reason to believe that it will be any different next season.
The Controversial Moveable Wings
The big concern for next season is the introduction of moveable wings, which will allow a chasing car to greatly reduce its aerodynamic drag, allowing for greater top speed, but only when closely following a competitor. This is hugely controversial, for the simple reason that it hands an artificial advantage to the chasing car, effectively handicapping the leading car for having superior track position. The problem here is that it appears to violate a fundamental rule of fair racing. Surely you can't artificially penalize a driver for having track position just to make it more entertaining. This is no different from telling Usain Bolt that whoever wins the silver medal is now allowed to use performance enhancing drungs, but only until he starts winning, then he will be back on the protein 'shakes so that it doesn't get boring.
The Nightmare Scenario
Let's take Spa for example, the much-loved host venue for the Belgian Grand Prix. There is always plenty of overtaking at Spa, mainly due to the layout of the first few turns. The tricky first hairpin leads uphill through the staggeringly fast Eau Rouge bend, onto a lengthy straight, leading down to a tight right hander. It's hard to see how any driver could sufficiently defend their position through this section against a competitor who has artificially increased top speed. This could lead to the nightmare scenario; A driver with a narrow lead may decide to deliberately concede position before starting the final lap, as the advantage of the movable wing could be more beneficial than having track position. This would be a farce in every sense of the word, and could damage the sport's competitive integrity.
There can be no doubt that on some occasions, overtaking in F1 can become almost impossible. In Hungary last year, Vettel was forced to spend more than twenty laps simply staring at the back of Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, despite being significantly faster. Alonso's championship hopes eventually faded as he spent the last 40 minutes of the season finale waiting in vain for Vitaly Petrov to plough his Renault into the Abu Dhabi tyre wall. But on other occasions, the wheel-to-wheel action was spectacular. In Turkey, The two Mclarens where bumping wheels for the lead at turn one, just a few minutes after the Red Bulls were bashing each other into the scenery. Robert Kubica provided plenty of excitement whilst scything through half the field in Singapore, and the Japanese fans at Suzuka were amply entertained by Kamui Kobayashi flinging his BMW Sauber past anyone and everyone at the hairpin.
Surely this should lead us to one inevitable conclusion. It is the layout of certain circuits that appears to be curtailing the action. Only time will tell if alterations to the cars themselves will have the desired effect.
This original article "Formula 1's Risky New Regulations" is written by Matt Carver who is a Contributing Writer at Suite101.
What color red is Flying Lizard Porsche ?
I have the Fujimi kit and aftermarket decals, but can't seem to find the right shade of red to match the decals. I'm comfortable with spray cans or airbrush if I have to mix. Any help would be appreciated, and thanks in advance.
aj
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/989941.aspx
Alain de Changy Colin Chapman Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves
'60 Buick Vert - w/ Whites & Caps
For all you guys born after 1950 
- 
I grew up with these things and they were always associated with "Daddy's Car". Blackwalls were ALWAYS on a kids car, or at least some black primer, the standard color of a WIP - TRUE - At least in SoCal in the 50's where I grew up.
So here's some whites and caps for the guys that love 'um. Gotta redeem myself - LOL
[MG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh49/treehuggerdave/2009_1125Photobucket10011.jpg[/IMG]
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/988850.aspx
Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy Colin Chapman
Acura's Future Product Plans
Four New Launches, Including a New NSX
Las Vegas, Nevada – Security has traditionally been tight in Vegas casinos, but not this tight. We’re among a small group of journalists allowed past burly bodyguards into a conference room in the lower level of the Aria Resort’s conference center. This isn’t an attempt to reenact a scene from Ocean’s Eleven – instead, we’re here to see four new Acura products hours after they were secretly shown to North American dealers.
Photo Gallery: Acura’s Future Product Plans – New NSX, Small Car, and Flagship Sedan - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: Acura’s Future Product Plans – New NSX, Small Car, and Flagship Sedan - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1112_acura_future_product_plans_new_nsx/index.html
Button Steps Up Pre Season Training With Lance Armstrong
Jenson Button teamed up with record breaking cyclist Lance Armstrong, as he continues to prepare for another Formula One season. The McLaren driver excitedly tweeted that he would be riding with Armstrong, the 7 time Tour de France winner, in Hawaii. Armstrong responded via Twitter “I hope he doesn’t ride as srong as he drives [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/button-steps-up-pre-season-training-with-lance-armstrong/
What F1 Fanatics really thought of the 2011 season | 2011 F1 season review
Results of the F1 Fanatic reader polls throughout 2011.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/BCnjrvjT3B8/
Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli
Friday, December 30, 2011
A poem for those who have never driven an Aston.
There are those who think this nameplate is called ?Austin Martin.? There are those who criticize Aston for making endless variations of sports cars with the same basic design. Who can?t tell a DB9 from a DBS from a Rapide from a Vantage from? the Virage. There are those who don?t understand why you haven?t [...]
Source: http://blogs.automobilemag.com/a-poem-for-those-who-have-never-driven-an-aston-11767.html
2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S
Absurd. Ridiculous. Insane. Awesome. Weird. Pointless.
Absurd. Ridiculous. Insane. Awesome. Weird. Pointless. These are all adjectives that can aptly describe the Panamera Turbo S. Journalists overuse the phrase "explosive acceleration," but it is a completely accurate way to explain how this Porsche jumps off the line in Sport Plus mode. Thanks to the carbon-ceramic stoppers, braking is even more dramatic. Still, besides bragging rights, I see little point to owning this car in this speed-limited country. Seriously, who is going to drive a Panamera on a racetrack? I can think of countless better ways to spend $195K on a car(s). The Turbo S is notably lacking in the flashiness department, too, and certainly doesn't look like it costs that much. It sure would be fun to take it to a drag strip, though!
Photo Gallery: 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 Porsche Panamera Turbo S - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1112_2012_porsche_panamera_turbo_s/index.html
Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg Eddie Cheever Andrea Chiesa
Red Bull set to dominate?
To some, the decision of Red Bull and Ferrari to pull out of the Formula 1 Teams' Association, the umbrella group that represents the teams' interests, could look innocuous enough. In reality it could have far-reaching consequences.
The F1 teams have put a brave public face on it, but behind the scenes there are serious concerns that it could lead to a period of Red Bull domination about which their rivals can do little.
The move by two of F1's most powerful teams was provoked by continuing distrust about whether all of the competitors were adhering to the terms of a document called the Resource Restriction Agreement.
The RRA sets out limits on the amount of staff, external spend and aerodynamic research teams can employ and covers work on the design of the car - with drivers' salaries, marketing and engines excluded.
World Champion Sebastian Vettel's (left) team Red Bull and Michael Schumacher's (right) former team Ferrari announced that they have quit the Formula One Teams Association (Fota). PHOTO: Getty
It is not a budget cap per se, but it does have the effect of keeping costs under control, to the point that the biggest budgets have dropped from in the region of £300m in 2008 to an estimated £150-200m in 2011.
To cite just one example, the RRA limits the amount of hours a team can dedicate to wind-tunnel testing - a key way of honing an F1 car's aerodynamics, the single biggest performance differentiator.
And the more wind-tunnel hours you do, the less simulation of aerodynamics on a computer is allowed (and vice versa).
Because there is only so much of this work that a team can do, there is only so much money they can spend.
The problem that has arisen is that some of the teams - led by Ferrari and Mercedes - believe Red Bull have been exceeding these limits since 2010, the first of their two consecutive title-winning years.
Red Bull insist they have always operated within the RRA - and they counter their rivals' accusations by pointing out that it is easier for an F1 team allied to a car company (as Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren all are) to hide extra work than it is for one that operates in isolation.
A year's worth of talks to try to reach a compromise agreement with which everyone is happy have come to nothing, leading to a situation where Ferrari and Red Bull have run out of patience. They signalled their intention to quit Fota late on Friday - although they have to give two months' notice.
Ferrari's statement was long and detailed, talking about their reluctance at a "difficult decision", their ongoing commitment to cost-reduction and other changes in F1, and emphasising their own central role in Fota since it was set up in 2008.
Red Bull's ran to only two sentences: "Red Bull Racing can confirm it has served notice to withdraw from Fota. The team will remain committed to finding a solution regarding cost saving in Formula 1."
This in itself has led to more suspicion.
It is clear, more than one insider has said, why Ferrari pulled out of Fota - if the organisation could not sort out an RRA, what was the point of it? - but Red Bull's reasoning was very different.
The implication being that the world champions did not like the RRA because they had no intention of adhering to it. Fota had become an inconvenience.
Red Bull were not available for comment.
This suspicion has been poisoning the atmosphere within F1 all year, despite attempts to reduce it.
As well as the endless meetings aimed at bringing the two warring sides together, there was an investigation in the summer by external consultants into the way the teams were detailing their use of resources.
But while Red Bull believe this effectively cleared them of wrongdoing, their accusers disagree. "The analysis showed more than one concern about what Red Bull were doing," one insider told me.
The next step, as laid out by the RRA, was for a full audit of the accounts of the team about which there were suspicions - if a certain number of teams wanted this to happen, the accused team had to agree.
But this point was never reached, and after further meetings at the season-closing Brazilian Grand Prix, Ferrari and Red Bull ran out of patience.
So what happens next? Is this the death knell for Fota? Will the departure of Ferrari and Red Bull lead to a domino effect of teams leaving the organisation?
Alternatively, will a rump stick together, recognising that there can still be strength in numbers, not least in the forthcoming negotiations with F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone over a new Concorde Agreement, the document which binds the teams, the commercial rights holder and governing body the FIA together?
That may become clearer after a Fota meeting on Tuesday.
More importantly, does this mean the end for resource restrictions in F1 - and will the sport therefore revert to the 'arms race' spending that led to the RRA in the first place?
On the face of it, the answer to that is no. The RRA is still technically in force. It is a legally binding document which lasts until at least 2012, or perhaps even 2017 - depending on whom you believe, and which version of the document you are talking about.
In theory, if Red Bull's rivals feel that they are breaking the RRA, they can sue them. If that sounds unlikely, one insider I spoke to for this article raised it as a possibility.
Equally, though, Red Bull and Ferrari are due to meet the other members of F1's big four - McLaren and Mercedes - next week to discuss resource restriction and how to move forward on it.
That hardly sounds like the actions of a group of people on the verge of legal action.
In public, everyone in F1 says they want to avoid a return to unrestricted spending.
One of the main reasons for this is that (effectively) unrestricted money is no longer available to top F1 teams - the effects of the credit crunch have reached even this notoriously expensive sport's rarefied climes.
Many of the smaller teams are living hand-to-mouth to a degree, with only the top four existing in relative comfort.
But even they have limitations on what they can spend.
McLaren are a private team who have to live within the budget they can raise from sponsorship and other commercial partnerships.
Mercedes, huge car company though it may be, has set clear limits on the amount of money its team can spend.
Even Ferrari, who 10 years ago could effectively spend what they wanted, now have to be careful with money.
But Red Bull are different, or so their rivals believe.
Team principal Christian Horner insists they have far from the biggest budget in F1 - he ranks them about third or fourth.
But his rivals raise their eyebrows at that, pointing out that Red Bull is worth billions and that the soft-drinks company is weathering the global economic downturn well by comparison with car companies and traditional corporate giants. In that sense, their rivals say, they really can spend what they want.
So whether founded on reality or not, and whether the accusation at its heart contains any truth, the fear at the heart of F1 is quite simple.
If Red Bull, despite the RRA, are prepared to spend what they want, as well as having the best designer in Adrian Newey and arguably the best driver in Sebastian Vettel, who can stop them dominating for years to come?
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/12/red_bull_set_to_dominate.html
Driven: 2012 Honda Civic Si
The sport compact that appeals more to the head than the heart.
Any Honda Civic has always been a car that appeals to logic, and has long been seen as a safe choice for legions of small-car buyers. The Civic Si, however, aspires to be something more. It has more power, a close-ratio gearbox, a firmer chassis, and various appearance items. The Si is definitely the most interesting version of the new Civic, and it's a car that's highly competent overall. Even so, the Si doesn't generate the kind of excitement that a sport compact should.
Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Honda Civic Si - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: Driven: 2012 Honda Civic Si - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/driven/1112_2012_honda_civic_si/index.html
November 2011 Auto Sales
Going out with a bang.
We’ve been building up to this for the past couple months. New-car sales have been strengthening through the fall, and it now appears that automakers will end the year on a high note. Certainly that was the case in November, with industry sales running 14% ahead of last year (nearly double the increase we saw in October). That made for an annualized sales rate of 13.6 million, which is a high for the year. Anyone who has been near a TV this past month knows that automakers got a jump on the typical year-end sales frenzy with a nonstop ad blitz. The sell-a-thon has made for bigger incentives than last month, and yet analysts claim, paradoxically, that transaction prices are still strong. An aging national fleet and pent-up demand created by several slow sales years is considered to be the underlying factor driving these larger volumes. If that’s the case, then the auto industry won’t just enjoy a strong finish to 2011, but could be poised for good 2012 as well.
Photo Gallery: November 2011 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: November 2011 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1112_november_2011_auto_sales/index.html
Karthikeyan Makes Surprise F1 Return With HRT
Narain Karthikeyan has made a surprise return to Formula One after being announced as one of Hispania HRT’s drivers for the 2011 season. The Indian driver was unveiled as the first racer to be working with the Spanish based squad, who look likely to enter into a second season of racing despite on-going financial concerns. [...]
Source: http://f1fanatics.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/karthikeyan-makes-surprise-f1-return-with-hrt/
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Stock Datsun 510
Has anyone seen a kit of a factory '68 - '73 Datsun 510, or a custom that does not have bubble flares like the Revell kits? I have seen a Japanese SSS Bluebird kit, but that car has a more acute angle to the rear window. I have nothing against the flares, in fact, I have two flared kits ready to go, and I might even try my hand at making one a widebody, but my preference for 1:1 510's is the factory body. I'd also be very interested in a wagon.
Thanks, Greg
Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/992612.aspx
Toro Rosso STR6 Launch pictures ( 1st of February)
Scuderia Toro Rosso presented the media their brand new STR6 in the pitlane of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, on 1 February 2011.
The STR6 is basically the second car, after its predecessor the STR5, that was completely designed by Scuderia Toro Rosso, following the introduction of regulations that banned the use of "customer chassis", a chassis developed by one team and purchased by another.
Technical specifications
| Chassis | carbon-fibre and honeycomb composite monocoque |
| Suspension (front) | Upper and lower carbon wishbones, torsion bar springs and anti-roll bars, Sachs dampers |
| Suspension (rear) | as front |
| Engine | Ferrari Type 056 2,400 cc (146.5 cu in) 90� V8, limited to 18,000 RPM with KERS naturally aspirated mid-mounted |
| Transmission | Seven-speed semi-automatic gearbox with reverse gear |
| Weight | 640 kg (1,411 lb) (including driver) |
| Fuel | Shell V-Power |
| Tyres | Pirelli P Zero |
| Advanti Wheels (front and rear): 13" |
Link
Toro Rosso STR06 ? Double Floor (Scarbsf1's Blog)
"Scuderia Toro Rosso (STR) launched their car on the first day of the Valencia test. It?s significance has been somewhat lost amongst the fanfare of the front running teams cars and the innovation of the midfield runners. However the new STR06 deserves more attention, as it has some unique aerodynamic concepts that are drawing praise from other teams engineers. STR have been able to reduce the cooling and packaging demands placed on the sidepods. Thus with a smaller sidepod envelope, the team have revived an old concept from Ferrari, the double floor."Toro Rosso STR6 Launch pictures
Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla
Sutil?s manager denies Ferrari rumours | F1 Fanatic round-up
In the round-up: Adrian Sutil-to-Ferrari rumours denied.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/UfA_miHQ5J0/
November 2011 Auto Sales
Going out with a bang.
We’ve been building up to this for the past couple months. New-car sales have been strengthening through the fall, and it now appears that automakers will end the year on a high note. Certainly that was the case in November, with industry sales running 14% ahead of last year (nearly double the increase we saw in October). That made for an annualized sales rate of 13.6 million, which is a high for the year. Anyone who has been near a TV this past month knows that automakers got a jump on the typical year-end sales frenzy with a nonstop ad blitz. The sell-a-thon has made for bigger incentives than last month, and yet analysts claim, paradoxically, that transaction prices are still strong. An aging national fleet and pent-up demand created by several slow sales years is considered to be the underlying factor driving these larger volumes. If that’s the case, then the auto industry won’t just enjoy a strong finish to 2011, but could be poised for good 2012 as well.
Photo Gallery: November 2011 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: November 2011 Auto Sales - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1112_november_2011_auto_sales/index.html
What now for Buemi and Alguersuari?
With Toro Rosso having thrown the babies out with the bathwater, on the orders of Red Bull in Austria, there is not much hope for either Sebastien Buemi or Jaime Alguersuari. The Spaniard will no doubt go looking for HRT – wherever that may be at the moment – and would be a logical choice [...]
Source: http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2011/12/14/what-now-for-buemi-and-alguersuari/
Webber on ?one of the great heroes? of Formula 1
Mark Webber has been speaking about Rubens�Barrichello as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1 history. The Veteran faces an uncertain future ahead of the final race of 2011 in Brazil this time out, with nobody sure whether it will be his last race in Formula 1. In his BBC Column, Webber said: “Unfortunately, [...]
Old Dreams, New Art Form
Decades of automotive design sketches and drawings.
Fantastically long and low, with sheer fins and swooping bodies, they are dream cars on paper. But many of the drawings turned out in Detroit's studios, such as those of early Motorama and other concept cars, were destroyed.
Photo Gallery: Old Dreams, New Art Form - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: Old Dreams, New Art Form - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1201_old_dreams_new_art_form/index.html
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
2006 Volkswagen Concept A
This Golf-based crossover concept car gives an idea of where Volkswagen is taking their car design in the next couple of years. Expect a production model derived from the 2006 Volkswagen Concept A sometime in early 2008.
In January, visitors to Iceland might expect snow from wall to wall and extreme temperatures that threaten to turn skin into parchment. But instead, the island where we had an exclusive first go in Volkswagen's Golf-sized Concept A crossover welcomed us with partly cloudy skies and a relatively balmy 46 degrees.
Photo Gallery: 2006 Volkswagen Concept A - Car Review & Road Test - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/compact/0605_2006_volkswagen_concept_a/index.html
2012 BMW 740i Sedan
This six-cylinder engine is all the 7 Series really needs.
My colleague Kelly Murphy and I both live out in the country and frequently make use of the high beams on test cars. Like him, I was very impressed by the candlepower that the 7-series headlights throw out onto the road. BMW has done brilliant headlights for years, but, wow, these are really amazing. The German car companies REALLY know how to make good headlights; the ones in a Porsche Panamera that I drove recently were also superb.
Photo Gallery: 2012 BMW 740i Sedan - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 BMW 740i Sedan - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1112_2012_bmw_740i_sedan/index.html
Marco Apicella Mário de Araújo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold
Send me your questions about F1 2011
Hello all,
I am filming the final 2011 entries for this video blog after next weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix and that means I need your help.
I will be answering a selection of your questions as well as reviewing the season.
So if you have any questions about F1 2011 - whether it be about Red Bull's domination, Sebastian Vettel's superb season, McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Mercedes and their ambition, or anything else to do with F1 - please do post them below.
We will pick a selection of the best and I will answer them here after the end of the season.
Thanks,
Murray
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/murraywalker/2011/11/send_me_your_questions_about_f_3.html
2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
The hardcore 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 RS is finally coming to the US! Celebrate with us here.
The GT3 RS is a Porsche 911 for those with no fear. We didn't get the 996-series GT3 RS, but Yankee speed freaks soon will be able to flog the 997-series follow-up. The RS is lighter than the already svelte GT3 thanks to the use of carbon fiber for the car's hood panel and its adjustable rear wing. Wider rear fenders like those from the 911 Carrera 4 cover the RS's increased rear track. Sharing its 415-hp flat six and six-speed manual gearbox with the regular GT3, the RS will be offered with black or silver paint as standard, but buyers can pay extra to have their cars sprayed in funky, 1970s-style shades of orange or green. The 911 GT3 RS hits the track in early 2007.
Photo Gallery: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS -New and Future Cars, Trucks, and SUVs - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RS -New and Future Cars, Trucks, and SUVs - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/future_cars/2007/0609_2007_porsche_911_gt3_rs/index.html
R.I.P. Saab
The past two years have been rough for Saab.
The past two years have been rough for Saab. Since its independence from General Motors in 2010, the quirky Swedish brand has been beleaguered with financial woes, production stops, and an ever-shrinking customer base for its products. Now, with the final days of Saab upon us, we take a brief look back at the 22 months after GM's divestment of the downfall of the brand "born from jets."
Photo Gallery: R.I.P. Saab - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: R.I.P. Saab - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/1109_rip_saab/index.html
Webber wins but Vettel is still the man to beat
If Mark Webber did not sound as if he was jumping for joy after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix - his first win of 2012 in the final race of what has been a tough season for the Australian - it should be no surprise.
There is no artifice about Webber and he knows as well as anyone that, statistically, this has been a disappointing year for him. One win in a race in which his team-mate had one arm tied behind his back does not on its own signify that his fortunes will change next season.
Nor, though, does the manner of victory necessarily mean that they won't.
Eleven wins and a new all-time record 15 pole positions for Sebastian Vettel as against one win and three poles for Webber are numbers that do not make comfortable reading for the older man.
But it should be remembered that the two men were evenly matched in 2010 as they both battled for the title with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Webber is determined to recapture that form and there have been signs in the second half of the season that he is heading in the right direction.
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Undoubtedly he struggled in the first half of this year. He was hit hard by reliability problems - if there was a problem with Red Bull's troublesome Kers power-boost system at the start of the year, it seemed Webber's car would have it - but also he took much longer than Vettel to adapt to the different demands of the new Pirelli tyres.
By the time he had, Vettel was long gone in the championship. It has, though, been much closer between the two in the second half of the season.
Vettel has still had the upper hand - and his electrifying qualifying pace and consistency has put him in a position to control many of the races.
But Webber has been getting on top of one of his biggest problems this year - higher tyre wear than Vettel, sometimes influenced by problems outside his control - and on race pace the two have been pretty evenly matched, even if it has not always been obvious because of their different positions in the race.
Webber could have won in Korea had not a mystifying pit-wall decision prevented him from passing Hamilton and exploiting a strategy that should have beaten Vettel, too.
In the end, the much-needed win came in Brazil in a race in which Vettel's gearbox problem prevented him having a straight fight with his team-mate.
But as Webber pointed out, these things happen and you take wins however they come. Not only has he himself been on the receiving end of that sort of fortune many a time, it was probably also about time Vettel had some bad luck.
"Even if the win didn't come today there were some positive signs for me in recent races," he said.
"There has been some good pace from me considering some of the things that have been going on. Today was a good grand prix.
"It's not a bad thing to finish the year like this, one of the most important things is I started to feel the car a bit better, to get a bit more of an understanding."
"It's great Mark has won a race," team principal Christian Horner said.
"It would have been very, very tough for him to have not won a race if Seb had won 11.
"Hopefully this win will give him a big confidence boost. He's third in the championship. Hopefully he'll go into the winter, have a bit of time off, recharge his batteries and I'm sure he'll come back stronger in 2012.
"Let's not take anything away from Sebastian, though. He has been operating at such a high level this year. That's what's compounded the issue for Mark. He's been up against a team-mate in the most phenomenal form and operating at the most phenomenally high level."
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Webber is under no illusions that Vettel will be formidably tough to beat again next season.
The German's drive on Sunday was yet another from the top drawer in a season that has been full of them.
He drove the first few laps as he has in so many races this year - building a 2.2-second lead in two laps. But after that Webber managed to keep him within three seconds or so - striking distance, in other words - until Red Bull came on the radio at the end of the first stint to warn Vettel of a gearbox problem.
This is not the first time this has happened to him and at first you wondered how he and the team he might react.
Back in Canada in 2010, Vettel also had a gearbox problem while running in fourth place ahead of Webber, who was ordered not to attack him as the team feared what might happen if he did.
But there was to be no repeat of that, as Vettel's engineer Guillaume Rocquelin came repeatedly on to the radio to warn him of the worsening problem. Eventually he had to accept that this was a race he was not going to win, and he let Webber past.
From then on, it was a case of managing the problem, which he did magnificently.
"Despite running a gear taller in each corner and trying to reduce the amount of shifts as much as possible, his pace was still very strong," Horner said. "There must be zero oil left in that gearbox because it went off the scale - a very mature and measured drive."
Inevitably, there were conspiracy theorists who suggested Red Bull were making the whole thing up to provide a convenient excuse to provide Webber with a win he needed and which also lifted him into third in the championship ahead of Alonso by one point. These can be dismissed, however.
For Vettel to still finish second in those conditions was impressive. One doubts, though, whether his performance merits the comparison Vettel himself made with Ayrton Senna's victory here in 1991, when the great Brazilian battled a failing gearbox in the rain to hold off the faster Williams of Riccardo Patrese despite driving the last two laps with only sixth gear.
Red Bull's advantage in Brazil was bigger than it has been in recent races, which is a worrying sign for their rivals.
Jenson Button drove a brilliant season this year to take second in the championship, the first time Hamilton has been beaten by a team-mate, and put in another strong performance on Sunday.
Alonso, too, has been mighty, battling the odds in an uncompetitive car. And Hamilton himself will surely find some equilibrium over the winter and come back stronger in 2012.
All of them, though, can do nothing if Red Bull produce a car next year with the sort of advantage seen from this year's RB7.
"What makes retaining the title so special," Horner said on Sunday, "is the calibre of opponents we are up against is so high.
"We are a stronger team in all areas than in 2010. I'm convinced with continuity we can still improve. We don't know what the other teams are doing. We will keep our heads down and hopefully turn up with a competitive car in Melbourne next year."
The gauntlet has been thrown down and it is up to McLaren and Ferrari to pick it up.
This blog is about the Brazilian Grand Prix and 2011 F1 season. If you wish to read about - and comment on - the BBC's plans for 2012, please do so here
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/andrewbenson/2011/11/webber_wins_but_vettel_is_stil.html
TopSpeed's Best of 2011: Concept of the Year
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here are so many auto shows throughout the course of the year that it’s hard to keep up with all of the cool concepts brought to each one. Then again, some of these concepts are so outlandish that they will never see the light of production day anyway, leaving us with the feeling of being offered a delectable chocolate cake only to be reminded of our New Year’s weight loss resolution.
Even if production chances are slim for some, concepts hold a special place in all of our hearts because of the attention to detail automakers put into them. Automakers use these concepts to put out just how much they are capable of doing and quite possibly may do on their future models.
From three different, color coordinated layers of information to V12 engines with spectacular power outputs, concepts have a way of getting underneath our skin and staying there until the production model is attained. This year, our choices are unmistakable and in no particular order: the Jaguar C-X16 Concept, the BMW i8 Concept, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Concept, the Chevrolet Mi-Ray Concept, and the Nissan Juke Nismo Concept.
Hit the jump for details on each of these imaginative concepts.
TopSpeed's Best of 2011: Concept of the Year originally appeared on topspeed.com on Tuesday, 27 December 2011 19:00 EST.
Source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/topspeed-s-best-of-2011-concept-of-the-year-ar122168.html
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
First Look: Subaru Impreza S206
Subaru Launches Special-Edition Impreza S206 for Japan
Subaru has released another special-edition version of the Impreza WRX STI. Like the previous Impreza R205, the new S206 is a limited-run model with a range of engine and chassis upgrades. Just 300 copies of the S206 will be produced.
Photo Gallery: First Look: Subaru Impreza S206 - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: First Look: Subaru Impreza S206 - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/tokyo/2011/1111_subaru_impreza_s206/index.html
2012 Nissan Altima 2.5S
The Nissan Altima is a quietly competent vehicle.
The Nissan Altima is a quietly competent vehicle. There's no flashy design, no fancy dual-clutch automatic transmission, and no high-performance pretensions here. But there's also nothing really wrong with the Altima, which is why it's always near the top of the all-important mid-size-sedan sales charts.
Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Altima 2.5S - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: 2012 Nissan Altima 2.5S - Editors' Notebook - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1112_2012_nissan_altima_2_5s/index.html
Webber on fighting with Button, Alonso and Hamilton
Fresh from winning the Brazilian Grand Prix at the weekend, Mark Webber has been reflecting on the 2011 season. The Australian claimed that the win in Brazil – his first of the year – had been coming for a while. He also found time to discuss the exciting battles he has had with the likes [...]
First Look: 2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack
All Roads But Ours: Volkswagen Launches Passat Alltrack Overseas
The third-generation Audi A6 Allroad Quattro may still be under development, but its fraternal twin - the Volkswagen Passat Alltrack - has already been unveiled to the world.
Photo Gallery: First Look: 2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack - Automobile Magazine
Photo Gallery: First Look: 2012 Volkswagen Passat Alltrack - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/tokyo/2011/1111_2012_volkswagen_passat_alltrack/index.html
2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder
The Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder is hot and fresh for 2007. Read about it in our new cars section.
Toned down from the wild Concept S show car that was seen earlier this year at Geneva, the Gallardo Spyder makes use of a powered top that stows under the engine cover and behind the passenger compartment. In case you invert the car, there is a pop-up roll bar and strengthened A-pillars. While the car was in the body shop, the Lamborghini engineers increased the 5.0-liter V-10's power from 492 to 512 hp. (All 2006 Gallardos receive the power hike.) The six-speed transmission has been recalibrated, along with the suspension and steering. Lamborghini says that the car will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 195 mph with the roof up. Topless, the car is 4 mph slower. The Gallardo Spyder goes on sale in Europe early next year, priced at about $200,000.
Photo Gallery: 2007 Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder - 2007 New Cars - Automobile Magazine
Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/new_car_previews/2007/0605_2007_lamborghini_gallardo_spyder/index.html
What Did You Get Today?
Hi all, being this topic has been started 2 years ago on another fourm and is still running, I decided to start one here for those who want to show of there latest scores and buys.
Here's what I got at our club meeting last night:
I allready got cracking on it and built the nice, but rather flimsy cardbord diorama. I'll be starting a WIP topic on the '37 soon and i'll put the diner on at the end when she's all finished. I also got old '90s mopar magazines and won a American Grafitti '58 Impala 'Vert diecast kit from our raffle (not shown in pics). The 'Impy I gave to my friend who i'm trying to get in to building; him and I are going build and paint it as i'm showing him the basics of modeling when he's ready.
Here's what I got at our club meeting last night:
I allready got cracking on it and built the nice, but rather flimsy cardbord diorama. I'll be starting a WIP topic on the '37 soon and i'll put the diner on at the end when she's all finished. I also got old '90s mopar magazines and won a American Grafitti '58 Impala 'Vert diecast kit from our raffle (not shown in pics). The 'Impy I gave to my friend who i'm trying to get in to building; him and I are going build and paint it as i'm showing him the basics of modeling when he's ready.Source: http://cs.scaleautomag.com/SCACS/forums/thread/908812.aspx
Colin Chapman Dave Charlton Pedro Matos Chaves Bill Cheesbourg
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