2007 F1 Quotes: Who Said What?

This season is one of the very interesting in the entire Formula One history. From the espionage scandal, to remarkable accidents, and finally to the most dramatic season finale, 2007 season is indeed full of thrill and spills.

Aside from the breath-taking racing scenes, another thing worth reminiscing are the F1 quotes.Who uttered the most controversial lines this season? Press the rewind button.

F1 planet has so much to tell…BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen on Formula One racing’s green future: “We should not call it ‘green’ Formula One or ‘green’ motorsport. We should emphasize that we see a chance to pioneer future technologies for road cars, which make road cars more environmentally friendly. But motorsport itself will never be ‘green’. It should be thought of as a pioneering role.”

Three-time world champion Niki Lauda on the pit-lane incident between Hamilton and Alonso in Hungary: “What we saw in Budapest was normal business in team mate relations, as race drivers are groomed to be egocentric, spoiled brats. The only problem is that you have to do it in an intelligent way so you don’t get caught, like Alonso.”

Renault’s Heikki Kovalainen on his debut podium: “I have been there before but not in Formula One. It felt very good and now that the spell seems broken I want to be up there more often.”

Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel on his lapse of judgment during the Japanese Grand Prix that dumped him – and Red Bull’s Mark Webber – out of the race: “It did take two or three days until I was able to breath normally again. We both were in fantastic positions and my guess is that we would have brought that two-three position home. It was inconceivable how hard that was to swallow.”

FIA president Max Mosley on not stripping the McLaren drivers of their points after the team were found guilty of breaking the International Sporting Code: “It was a decision of logic versus emotion. Logic would have demanded to slash all points, but emotion was not willing to wreck such an incredible championship with an armchair judgment.”

Kimi Raikkonen on his championship joy: “I am so happy it almost hurts! This is like a dream come true. This year I really enjoyed Formula One more than ever before.”

Lewis Hamilton on losing out to the Finn: “Obviously I am pretty disappointed. However I have to put the result into perspective, this is only my first year in Formula One and overall it has just been phenomenal. I am still very young and have plenty more years in me to achieve my dream of becoming world champion.”

Three-time world champion Niki Lauda on Lewis Hamilton’s debut season: “He was fighting for the championship until the last race. A rookie en route to become world champion. A story almost too good to be true. His time will come.”

Alonso on leaving McLaren: “Since I was a boy I had always wanted to drive for McLaren, but sometimes in life things do not work out. I continue to believe that McLaren is a great team. I know there have been suggestions of favouritism, but in the end I was always provided with an equal opportunity to win.”

credit: Formula 1 Website

Emission Law May Hinder GM Muscle Cars

How damaging is the new emission law to automakers? Let General Motors tell its tale…

When GM pulls the wraps off a new supercharged version of the Corvette at the Detroit auto show next month, it will unveil a performance car designed to compete the fastest and most pricey European cars.

But the Corvette’s chief engineer says the 2009 Corvette ZR1 may be the last in a long tradition of Detroit performance cars, endangered by stronger federal fuel economy regulations and limits on carbon dioxide emissions. “High-performance vehicles such as this may actually be legislated out of existence,” Tadge Juechter said at a recent showing of the ZR1, which is engineered to flaunt 620hp.

On Wednesday, President Bush signed into law legislation that will force automakers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. The legislation also requires wider use of ethanol, calling it “a major step” toward energy independence and lessening global warming. Additionally, it requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40% to an industry average 35 mpg by 2020.

But Juechter said to sell one of the Chevrolet supercars, GM would need to offset that with cars that get 45 mpg. “It could really be an endangered species,” he added.

Aaron Bragman, an auto analyst with the consulting firm Global Insight, said predicting the death of the muscle car might be premature. He said, the Corvette fuel efficient when compared with its competitors. Although fuel economy figures weren’t released for the ZR1, the current 505-horsepower Corvette ZO6 gets an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, according to the automaker.

The ZR1, he said, gets around the same mileage as a Chevrolet pickup truck, and GM won’t be getting out of the pickup business because of gas mileage standards. “I think it’s a little over-dramatization,” Bragman told Associated Press. “GM wants to sell big, high-performance, fun cars. And typically that’s what Americans want to buy. Performance cars of the future may be powered by smaller engines or electric motors, but they won’t die.”

GM describes the ZRI:

“The ZR1 will have a top speed of more than 200 mph, driven by an all-new supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine. It has 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and a suspension tuned to provide extraordinary cornering grip. The car has a carbon-fiber hood, fenders and roof for weight savings, and its huge carbon-ceramic brake rotors give it great stopping power.”

The 2009 Corvette ZR1 will cost around $100,000 and is set to go on sale next summer.

2008 Infiniti EX35 Available Now

Good news for those who have been waiting for the release of the 2008 Infiniti EX35. The luxury division of Nissan recently announced that the luxury crossover SUV is now available nationwide.

According to The Auto Channel: “The 2008 EX is offered in four models – EX35 RWD (rear-wheel drive), EX35 RWD Journey, EX35 AWD (all-wheel drive) and EX35 AWD Journey. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts at $31,300 for the EX RWD and $34,850 for the EX RWD Journey. The EX35 AWD with ATTESA E-TS intelligent all-wheel drive system is priced at $32,700 and $36,250 for the EX35 AWD Journey model.”

Mark Igo, the vice president and general manager for Infiniti, said: “We’re pleased to be making the new Infiniti EX35 available just in time for that last-minute holiday shopping. With its long list of advanced technology features, EX is a perfect companion for all the other high-tech items on car enthusiasts’ shopping lists. And, with its available intelligent all-wheel drive, EX is also the perfect vehicle for holiday getaways, no matter what the weather may bring.”

And just what are the features that make the Infiniti EX35 attractive? The Auto Channel reports: “Around View Monitor (AVM) system, which utilizes four small cameras to give the driver a ‘top-down view’ of the outside of the vehicle while parking; Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) system, which uses the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) system to help assist the driver in maintaining lane position if the vehicle inadvertently starts to drift out of the intended lane; and ‘Scratch Shield,’ a special ’self-healing’ clear coat designed to maintain its gloss level over time and keep the EX looking new.”

Surely, anyone looking for a good luxury crossover would consider seriously about buying an EX35.

Kia Spectra5 Gets Top Spot

The Cerato 5-door or the 2008 Kia Spectra5 has reached the top spot in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 Best Cars & Trucks rankings as it was released today. Among the 12 cars on the “Affordable Compact Wagons” category, the Spectra5 scored a “Very Good” overall rating with 8.3 to top the list which included wagons and hatchbacks priced below $25,000 as competitors.

“Spectra5’s top ranking proves that style and substance do not have to be compromised when combined with safety, value and quality. This is a great distinction for the Spectra5 in what is known to be a tough, competitive segment, and rounds out an awards-laden year for Kia’s full line of vehicles,” said Len Hunt, president and CEO of Kia Motors America.

One among the top selling cars of Kia this 2007 is the Spectra line. The new car model was able to sell 167,790 units around the globe until November.

The straff, writers and editor for the U.S. News & World Report was able to identify rankings of cars, trucks and SUVs through analysis of leading automotive reviews, safety ratings and reliability statistics. If you wish to know more about the news, go to this site: http://www.RankingsAndReviews.com and see for yourself. All these information is also available on the U.S. News & World Report. Check it out.

Cars.com And Yahoo’s New Treat

Yahoooo! Users can now enjoy some new features on Yahoo Autos!

Yahoo! and Cars.com announced the launch of a strategic partnership to offer online shoppers comprehensive new and used vehicle listings on Yahoo! Autos. As such, the users of Yahoo! Autos can now have easy access to the best picks composed of over 2.4 million new, used, certified pre-owned, and private-seller vehicle listings from Cars.com dealers and private-party sellers across the nation.

The launch of the new features will etch are designed to help auto shoppers find the vehicles that fits their lifestyle, needs, and budget.

“We’re focused on providing optimal depth, breadth and relevance of vehicle listings to our valued consumers on Yahoo! Autos. It’s important that we deliver an effortless experience to help people find the right car based on their particular location and specific vehicle needs,” said Michael Yang, vice president and general manager, Yahoo! Autos. “By teaming up with Cars.com, we are marrying our best-in-class user search experience with their strong dealer and auto manufacturer relationships and access to new and used car listings.”

“As we look to provide our advertisers with the broadest reach and access to the most qualified buyers, Yahoo! Autos is the clear partner of choice as the fastest growing site for in-market vehicle shoppers,” said Mitch Golub, president of Cars.com. “In addition to an unduplicated audience, Yahoo! Autos complements Cars.com in its commitment to deliver serious shoppers to our vast network of dealers. In fact, nearly 73% of Yahoo! Autos shoppers intend to purchase, a number in keeping with the 75% of Cars.com shoppers who intend to buy.”

credit: Design Taxi Network

Land Rover Reveals LRX Concept At Detroit Auto Show

Gerry McGovern, the company’s design director, said, “LRX is a design born out of passion for the brand, but it is different, relevant, engaging and exciting – because Land Rover has never built ordinary cars. LRX has a highly desirable identity and the design alludes strongly to its capability, while clearly underlining our forward-looking philosophy – it’s a Land Rover that would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn’t flinch at getting its wheels dirty.”

It feels like they placed all the car assets into one vehicle. And that goes to the LRX – the new car concept of Land Rover.

Land Rover’s managing director Phil Popham also gave his comment on the new car concept of his company. He said, “The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles. LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it’s a very different Land Rover.”

It’s all in one they say, the ability of an SUV plus the gorgeous functions of a crossover in a coupe will all be placed on the new car concept.

“LRX has unmistakable Land Rover design and the breadth of capability that you’d expect from our vehicles. But it carries those essentials into a segment where the brand has never been before, and with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class,” Popham continued to explain.

Moreover, he also said, “It is Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product development. At this stage, LRX is purely a concept, designed to help us develop our thinking as well as gauge customer reaction – but this feels like a hugely exciting direction to take.”

Land Rover Crosses Boundary

British brand Land Rover is known for its rugged 4×4 vehicles with luxurious qualities.  Naturally, these vehicles are large ones which can tackle dirt roads and other off-road tracks but also has the aesthetic value which makes them perfect vehicles for cruising around the block.  Well, that is if you can afford that much gas.  Anyway, the British brand recently announced that they are headed in a new direction with the LRX concept vehicle which is about to be unveiled at the 2008 NAIAS.

Phil Popham. Land Rover’s managing director described the LRX according to The Auto Channel saying:  “The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles.  The LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it’s a very different Land Rover.”  Pretty confusing?  Let us let Popham explain further.

“LRX has unmistakable Land Rover design and the breadth of capability that you’d expect from our vehicles. But it carries those essentials into a segment where the brand has never been before, and with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class.  It is Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product development. At this stage, LRX is purely a concept, designed to help us develop our thinking as well as gauge customer reaction — but this feels like a hugely exciting direction to take.”

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s design director is also full of praise for the LRX and the company.  “LRX is a design born out of passion for the brand, but it is different, relevant, engaging and exciting — because Land Rover has never built ordinary cars,’ he said.  “LRX has a highly desirable identity and the design alludes strongly to its capability, while clearly underlining our forward-looking philosophy — it’s a Land Rover that would be comfortable on Bond Street or Fifth Avenue, but wouldn’t flinch at getting its wheels dirty.”

Land Rover Reached 200,000. Finally!

The 200,000th vehicle sale is a dream come true for Land Rover… at last! According to The Auto Channel, worldwide sales for the famous 4×4 group landed at 205,717 last November. It was 27% beyond the same month last year. This milestone positioned Land Rover on the right path for three consecutive record sales years. A number of markets, which includes China, Russia, Spain and France, accounted their best sales ever last month.

“This is a significant milestone in Land Rover’s history and puts us on a firm footing as we approach our 60th anniversary. This sales achievement has been driven by exciting new product with improved environmental performance. Confidence is high – we’re firmly in the black with innovative new products that will continue Land Rover’s sustainable development,” says Land Rover’s Managing Director, Phil Popham.

Volkswagen’s Small Family Of Brand New Concept Cars

A new breed of cute and stylish concept cars is today’s talk of the town! The small family of new concept cars from Volkswagen is here. Volkswagen drove the New Small Family on an exciting world tour prior to their group appearance at the upcoming 2007 Bologna Motor Show.

Here are the members of the Small family cars:

• Up! – Two-door city specialist vehicle offering more space and fun for four
• Space Up! – Four-door microvan with maximum variability
• Space Up! Blue – Zero emissions thanks to electric engine and fuel cells

“For both my team and for me, it was a dream to design these concept vehicles,” confirmed Walter de Silva, the Chief Designer of Volkswagen Group, at the start of the press conference, “because these cars embody the emergence of a new era. Anyone looking at the New Small Family will immediately see how friendly and neat these Volkswagens are. Cars of this sort are fun. No explanation is needed – they speak for themselves.”

“Because every Up! also demonstrates commitment to protecting our environment,” shares Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, a Board Member with the responsibility for Technical Development at Volkswagen. “After all, extremely clean petrol and diesel engines and electric motors will be working in the backs of these cars.”

Kudos For Nissan Rogue

Who among you is not familiar with the Nissan Sentra? Hmmnn… I see no hands. It means that Kicking Tires was right – Nissan Sentra have gained an outstanding popularity ever since it came to the US car market years ago. Now, according to the car news authority, Nissan Sentra is the second most popular car model in Nissan’s line up but which car model comes next?

Believe it or not, the Nissan Rogue comes next to Nissan Sentra being the third most popular car in the Japanese car maker’s line up. Sentra received a 2% increase for last month’s car sales. Kudos for Sentra.

However, although Rouge was released in October, and was the first attempt of the company to produce a subcompact SUV, the new car model was able to make a big splash in the US car market. A huge amount of 5,650 units was sold last November. And that comes behind the also popular Altima sedan and coupe selling a huge number of 19,811units. Sentra remained to be the second most popular selling 8,180 units. Nissan Versa then gets the fourth spot being able to sell 5,561 units.

This is an exact revelation that Nissan is slowly becoming popular and slowly climbing the fame of Honda CR-v and Toyota RAV4 on the crowded segment. But, these two vehicles sold a huge amount of 16,498 and 12,354 units respectively for the month of November. Nissan has to do more efforts in order to cope up with the huge gap between the two. Still, Honda CR-V remains to be the most popular SUV in the US car market.