Renault R28 Shakedown At Valencia

The ING Renault F1 Team just rocked the racetracks at Jerez as they finished and came out successful in their test last week in preparation for the upcoming 2008 F1 World Championship season. Today, the team shifted to Valencia to test the R28 this week. At the end of the month, the team will officially launch the R28 racecar to the public.

According to MotorSport.com, in Renault’s F1 history, Fernando Alonso is the first ever driver to try the new car. Alonso used up the hours during the opening day focusing on inspecting the common functions of the car and checking all the systems if they were functioning properly.

“When you have your first day with a new car, you always have to take your time to check that all the systems are functioning correctly, and that is what we did today. We were able to lengthen our runs little by little and ended the day with a 17-lap stint. Everything went well, but it is still too early to try and compare our performance with that of other teams, and that was not the objective today. The good news is that we encountered few problems, and we will be able to continue our work tomorrow,” says Fernando Alonso.

“It was a good first day of work, which is always important with a new car. The whole team is very enthusiastic about working with the R28 and it is clear that everyone has given their all to get this new car on track. We were able to follow our programme without any difficulties and there were no big surprises with the new car. It is a solid basis on which we can build in the days to come,” Christian Silk, Renault F1 Test Chief Engineer, mentioned.

“Today has been very successful. We completed just under 40 laps and the car ran pretty much trouble-free – that is about as good a first day as you can expect with a new car. We would have completed our first run pretty much on time if it had not been for the weather, and I think that’s a real tribute to the whole factory and all the hard work that has been put in to get this car here today. Overall, a really positive first day’s work,” says Bob Bell, ING Renault Technical Director, Chassis.

Is It Time For Dennis To Quit F1?

One of the hottest F1 honchos in 2007 is Ron Dennis. And this year, Mercedes-Benz reportedly is ‘on the verge’ of buying a majority shareholding in McLaren – a move that is bound to precipitate Ron Dennis’ withdrawal into retirement.

It can be recalled that 2007 was injurious to the reputation of Dennis and the McLaren team. Those are the reasons why watchers predict the honcho will withdraw from F1. The rumors intensified when the team unveiled the MP4-23 on Monday at Mercedes’ headquarters in Stuttgart.

Earlier, The Times reported that the honcho ‘looked uneasy and confined himself to a short introduction’ and it was noticeable that Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren’s chief executive, who took center stage.

The Guardian, meanwhile, noted that “It was the first time in their 13-year partnership that McLaren had unveiled their new formula one car on Mercedes’ home turf and, although the unexpected presence of Bernie Ecclestone, the formula one commercial rights holder, may have signaled formal absolution for the British team after their involvement in the last season’s espionage scandal, the fact that Dennis took very much a back seat at the formal press conference fuelled speculation that the 60-year-old McLaren chairman might be considering a dignified retreat into semi-retirement.”

Asked if he will be taking a back seat, Dennis told Planet-F1: “We are formulating the future in lots of ways. But there is absolutely no decision on anything that relates to people’s positions within the company. We’re very focused on the future; we know what we are doing and where we are going. It’s as simple as that. There’s no real change in any way shape or form.”

“It’s not a question of even spending time thinking about the past. I’ve spent too much time in that period, so I’m just very focused on the future. Our company has a fantastic history, a great partnership with Mercedes Benz, and we are forward-thinking. We wanted to put ourselves in a position of looking forward and concentrating on doing what we do best, which is win races,” he added.

“I’m a racer at heart,” he concluded. “My enthusiasm is as strong as you would expect it to be having done this for the best part of 40 years.”

Mercedes currently owns a 40% stake in the team with Dennis in possession of a 15% shareholding with which the car manufacturers would become majority shareholders, reported Planet-F1.

Ford’s Sync Attracts Buyers

The Ford Sync was developed by Microsoft and Ford for consumers like you and me. The automaker needs customers and it is a good thing that they have the Sync as it is reportedly dragging customers into dealerships.

Ken Venema, a sales consultant at Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury in Grand Rapids Michigan had this to say according to The Auto Channel:  “I must have a half-dozen sales because of SYNC. I strongly believe that.  I’m sold on it. And I’m sure glad Ford’s got it.”

Kim Winkler, new car sales manager also of Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury added:  “I am using (SYNC) as a showroom builder. I am pumped on it because it’s something that we can offer the market that doesn’t focus on price, and it’s something we have that our competitors don’t.”

According to the report:  “SYNC, Ford’s industry-exclusive technology that provides customers in-vehicle voice command compatibility with portable digital media players and most Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, is helping drive vehicles sales across the country.  SYNC-equipped Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles were moving more than twice as fast off dealer lots in November than those same vehicles without SYNC. And customer satisfaction is high.”

The in-car feature has also received a couple of awards last year.  There is no doubt that the feature will have more consumers lining up on Ford dealerships in the near future.

“It’s early in Sync’s launch — we’ll know more about its impact in a few months — but so far all indicators are extraordinarily positive,” said John Emmert, Sync marketing manager.

Everton McLeod, a sales consultant with Manhattan Ford said:  “It wasn’t like they just told us about it. Everybody had to do something — pair a phone, dial a number — so the instructor could see that we actually grasped what he taught us.”

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.”