Rare Hennessey HPE700 Ferrari 458 Italia Arrives in Canada

It’s back, and even meaner than before! We first learned about this Hennessey Twin-Turbo 458 Italia back in April, when it was still at the Hennessey tuning shop in Sealy, Texas.
The owner, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has been a long-time fan of Lamborghini’s, and was skeptical when he was talked into buying his first Ferrari. After having the Hennessey HPE700 twin-turbo package installed, he and his wife drove the car over 2,500km from Texas to Scottsdale, Arizona, and then up to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Now that’s a true break-in road test if you ask us!

The car, one of only three produced to date, unleashes 700hp at the tap of the gas pedal. The owner is slowly beginning to enjoy his Ferrari. Traditionally driving his green Edo Competition Lamborghini Murcielago LP750-4 SV on road trips, he has now opted to take his Hennessey 458 Italia on an upcoming road rally.



With the aggressive spooling turbos and quick launch off the line, the owner is actually thrilled to be behind the wheel. The car currently waits for the owner at ZR Auto in Calgary, after receiving some maintenance after its long road trip back to Canada. It has also been outfitted with a custom graphics package, and there are talks of a Novitec lowering kit being installed with some aftermarket Novitec wheels.



The 458 Italia Twin-Turbo will be participating in the upcoming Area 27 road rally in British Columbia, Canada, alongside 99 other exotics. ZR Auto is bringing a group of 40 cars ranging from the Edo Competition Ferrari F40 LM Spec and gold-chrome Lamborghini Diablo, to a Bentley Continental GT, Lamborghini Aventador and numerous other high-end vehicles.

Honda to buy into McLaren?

Reports have emerged in Japan suggesting that Honda is considering buying into McLaren.
After a six year absence, the Japanese car manufacturer is returning to Formula 1 next year, initially as McLaren’s works supplier of V6 turbo engines.
But when Honda quit at the end of 2008, it had  wholly owned the Brackley based team that today is Mercedes.

The Honda buy-in reports were reported on Tuesday by German-language Speed Week, saying that the shares in question are currently held by the Bahrain-owned Mumtalakat company.
Bahrain currently owns 50 per cent of the Woking based team. (GMM)

 

 

China about to unleash massive anti-clunker policy

Some of the world's most notoriously smoggy cities are hoping for relief in a new plan taking aim at what's coming out of their tailpipes. In response to serious air pollution problems and an attempt to meet emissions standards, China plans to decommission more than 5 million aging vehicles by the end of 2014. 330,000 of the cars being retired will come from Beijing, which sees some 31 percent of its PM2.5 particulate matter coming from vehicle emissions. In all, 20 percent of the vehicles being scrapped will come from Beijing, Tianjin, and the surrounding Hebei province. China also plans to remove up to 5 million additional cars next year.

Exactly how China plans to remove the offending vehicles remains unclear.

China's State Council says that due to failing to keep up with pollution targets, the country now needs to work even harder to cut emissions over the next two years. The problem is quite serious, after all. A big part of this plan is removing the "yellow label" vehicles that don't meet China's fuel standards. Exactly how China plans to remove the offending vehicles remains unclear, but past projects suggest the possibility of offering cash subsidies to some drivers. Previously, Beijing has paid drivers who voluntarily gave up their older vehicles, but the incentives weren't given to owners of the yellow label cars. China has trouble enforcing emissions standards, and Li Kunsheng, an official at the Beijing municipal environmental bureau doesn't see fining drivers as a viable option for solving the pollution problem. It'll be interesting to see how China decides to implement this new plan to get rid of old clunkers. Similar, smaller scrapping plans have been tried before.

In addition to controlling the number of cars on the road and scrapping the worst polluters, China will focus on upgrading fuel quality, closing coal-powered heating systems, updating power stations, steel mills and cement plants, and reducing energy consumption in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions and alleviate its pollution problems.

 

News Source: Reuters

DeltaWing offers up four-seater concept

The DeltaWing has been an interesting experiment to watch evolve. It started out as just a test in the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans to see if such a radically different design could actually be competitive on the track. It has kept racing though and entered its second season of racing in the US this year. DeltaWing Technologies Inc. is now taking the next big leap in the racecar's tech with a four-seat roadcar concept (pictured above).

The concept shares the distinctive shape of the DeltaWing with a narrow front and wide rear, but the greenhouse is much larger to accommodate four people instead of just one racing driver. Obviously, at the moment it lacks important parts like headlights and door handles, but the rendering gives a general idea of what a street version of the racecar would look like.

However, we might not ever see the DeltaWing road car on the streets. Instead of building the car, DeltaWing Technologies is trying to license the platform to automakers for mass production. "We aren't large enough to build enough to make an impact," said Gary Fong, Director of Communications at DeltaWing Technologies to Autoblog. It wants thousands of these vehicles produced each year, and partnering with a large company is the best way to do that. DeltaWing would work closely with the company and thinks it could have a production-ready prototype in four years, according to Fong.

DeltaWing Technologies has some big promises in the lithe concept's package. It believes that a small, four-cylinder engine with 85-110 horsepower would allow the car to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in about six seconds, a 130 mph top speed and as much as 70 miles per gallon fuel economy. It says that's possible because the DeltaWing is lighter and more aerodynamically efficient than traditional vehicles.

The concept certainly evokes the three-passenger Nissan BladeGlider, which uses electric power but makes some similar promises. Given the legal battle between DeltaWing and Nissan over the shape, it will interesting to see if either of these futuristic vehicles will make it to the street. Scroll down to read the full announcement.

Google unveils fully autonomous, hands-free car prototype

Welcome to the future, friends. Google has unveiled its first self-driving car. This isn't like past attempts, though. It's not a Toyota Prius or Lexus RX with a bunch of bulky computer equipment, but Google's very own car, built from scratch. That'd be a big enough deal in and of itself, but this car is exciting for another reason – there are no manual controls. No brake pedal, gas pedal, gear shift or steering wheel. It's completely and totally autonomous, requiring nothing more than an address.

"On the inside, we've designed for learning, not luxury." – Chris Urmson

As is the case with most autonomous cars, Google's latest effort depends on a series of cameras and sensors to let the computer know what's happening around it. We've already detailed Google's most recent advances in this regard.

The car, which was unveiled by CEO Sergey Brin yesterday, is limited to 25 miles per hour. The interior is as basic as the car's top speed, with little more than a set of seats. Interior trim is limited – the roof, for example, looks like bare sheetmetal with an integrated roll cage.

"On the inside, we've designed for learning, not luxury, so we're light on creature comforts, but we'll have two seats (with seat belts), a space for passengers' belongings, buttons to start and stop and a screen that shows the route-and that's about it," wrote the director for Google's self-driving car project, Chris Urmson, in a blog post.

According to Urmson, Google will build about 100 prototypes, with testing set to begin later this summer. As for public use, the tech giant is aiming to launch a California-based pilot program "in the next few years."

Of course, we'll be sure to follow up on this project as it progresses. In the meantime, scroll down for a short video from Google, which shows the first impressions of some of the car's very first public drivers.

BMW unconvinced by Audi prediction

Asked about the possibility of three-cylinder engines in larger cars like the 3 Series and 5 Series, Frolich was unconvinced by Audi CEO Rupert Stadler’s prediction that this will become the norm within ten years. That’s despite four-cylinder turbo engines having beginning to usurp thirsty six-cylinders in the large executive saloon and estate class, in Europe at least.
Frolich forecasted: “[small engines in the larger cars] will happen, but only when the buyers are ready. Many buyers don’t care how many cylinders are in their BMW, and the new MINI shows the potential for three-cylinder. But honestly, it is much easier for us to make three-cylinder engines work with front-wheel drive than rear-wheel drive.”

BMW sticks to its guns for future gearboxes

Future BMWs won’t chase efficiency with nine or more gears, but will get three-cylinder power, according to tech chief

BMW is convinced its current transmission policy of eight-speed automatics, seven-speed dual-clutches and six-speed manuals is the perfect combination, according to its small and midsize cars boss, Klaus Frolich.

Speaking to Auto Express at the launch of the new X4 and 4 Series Gran Coupe – both of which offer an eight-speed ‘Sport Auto’ paddleshifter option – Frolich expressed scepticism at the gearbox policies of rivals Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes and Cadillac, all of whom are working on transmissions offering nine or more forward speeds.

“We ran some tests” explained Frolich. “The [efficiency] difference between an automatic with six speeds and eight speeds is seven or eight per cent, which is a good result. But the benefit for nine speeds [instead of eight] is almost zero per cent. Plus, it adds weight, complexity and cost, and with turbocharged engines you have a good spread of torque, so [drivers] do not want to have the gearbox constantly changing its mind.”

Quizzed over the policy to equip BMW’s M Division cars with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox (known as M-DCT), Frolich said: “Seven gears is not optimum, it is a compromise. As in a manual gearbox, in a twin-clutch you must arrange all the gears in a line, so for weight and packaging reasons we are limited to seven speeds. But our new turbo M cars have so much torque this is no problem. DCT remains right for M cars because we can’t make a torque-convertor that would be durable up to 8000rpm.”

Frolich also confirmed that for the foreseeable future, the manual transmission is safe at BMW, both in M Division cars and regular non-performance models. “Of course, with a manual you are slower, but it is more emotional; it now says ‘I am a serious driver, I am a connoisseur’. So, we will continue [to offer a manual] even if only ten per cent of customers want it. That is why we offer a manual M5 sedan in North America. It is stupid – the development costs are huge – but we will keep doing it as long as the customer wants it.”

First drive: BMW X4

Paul Horrell delves into BMW's other, smallish coupe crossover niche...

 

Am I seeing double?
Nope, on the very same day as BMW let us loose in one new mid-size four-door coupe-hatchback, the 4-series Gran Coupe, it let us loose in another, the X4. The X4 being the taller one with semi-SUV undercarriage.

Mini-me X6?
Couldn't have put it better. A bit less intimidating, because it's smaller. But still pug-nosed and wasp-tailed and not by any stretch a beauty.
Are they trying to come over all Macan on us?
You could say, but it's still a heavy lump of as thing - 1.9 tonnes with a six-cylinder engine up front. And it feels its weight.
In straight lines or corners?
Both.
Straights first please
OK, we drove the 306bhp 35i petrol. Even tough it has a turbo, it really needs big revs to dole out the kind of forward wrench you'd expect. And then it guzzles fuel - I got just 20 miles out of each imperial gallon.
But the UK gets a diesel-only range (BMW have none for our testing yet). The top one is the 35d, with a tad more power and much more torque than the 35i. Its numbers are 313bhp and 465lb ft. Should do the job. There will also be the 20d, one of the first applications of BMW's all-new 2.0 diesel, more refined than the old unit and more economical.
Oh, and with the 35i, there was a slightly disquieting sense, after a few downhill straight-corner pairings, that the brakes didn't have a whole lot in reserve.
And corners?
Well there's no argument with its actual appetite for bends, which it can gulp its way through with nary a burp. The active rear diff, optional in X3s, is standard in the X4, and the springs and dampers are stiffer, and the steering rack sharper on lock. You want the adaptive damper option too. Switch into the sport mode and you kill most understeer, and then the thing pivots round the bend with vein-popping determination as you get on the right pedal. But that's the thing. It's having to work very hard and you know it. It doesn't tickle your driving buds with delicacy or feedback.
Do you lose much practicality for the looks?
The X4 shares front wings and doors and a bonnet with the X3, and inside it has the same dash, but the seats are lower within the body. There's only just enough room in the back seat, and your knees are aimed uncomfortably upward. The boot's useful though.
But I can get a different BMW if I want practicality.
Indeed. If you want a mid-size BMW with four doors and a tailgate, you can now get it in no less than five different elevations. Starting from the lowest (deep breath): 4-series Gran Coupe, 3-series Touring, 3-series Gran Turismo, X4 and X3. Root around BMW UK's web configurator and it's possible to spec each and every one of them with the 35d engine, 8-speed autobox and four-wheel drive.

Peek inside the new Volvo XC90

Volvo's 'most luxurious ever interior' to debut in new big SUV. Looks great, doesn't it?

 

Here are the first pictures of the brand new Volvo XC90. Well, pictures of its innards, anyway.

Today, Volvo is beginning its launch tease for its upcoming SUV, showing us the car from the ‘inside out'. And as you'll see, it's a very nice inside.

We're told it's the most luxurious interior to have ever been designed for a Volvo, taking its inspiration from Swedish design and including a giant, tablet-like touch-screen control console that sits at the heart of the dashboard. It's huge.

It's button-free and gives you access to a wide range of Internet based providings, naturally. Elsewhere there's the usual slathering of soft leather, wood, and hand-crafted details such as a gearlever made of crystal glass, and diamond-cut controls for the start/stop and volume control.

The new XC90 will sit on Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture - a modular platform that allows a wider range of design possibilities, better safety features (it is a Volvo) and more interior space. These are good, honourable things.

We'll see the outside of the all-new XC90 later this summer.

Half of Chinese car buyers won't shop Japanese over hard feelings

The hard feelings between China and Japan is no real secret. Besides modern-day disputes, the two countries have had a long-running enmity that dates back to well before the atrocities of World War II. All things considered, then, it shouldn't be a shock that half of Chinese car buyers wouldn't consider a Japanese car.

This survey, conducted by Bernstein Research, found that 51 percent of 40,000 Chinese consumers wouldn't even consider a Japanese car – which, again, isn't really surprising, when you consider stories like this. According to Bernstein, the most troubling thing is the location of these sentiments – smaller, growing cities where the population is going to need sets of wheels. We imagine it wouldn't be as big of an issue in traffic-clogged Shanghai or Beijing, but these small cities are going to become a major focus for automakers.

"Nationalistic feelings are an impediment. [Japanese] premium brands will struggle," analyst Max Warburton wrote in a research note, according to The Wall Street Journal. Things will improve for Japanese makes, although China will remain a challenge, with Warburton writing, "the one thing that comes out most clearly is that most Chinese really want a German car. While we expect Japanese brands to continue to recover market share this year, ultimately the market will belong to the Germans."

There are a few other insights from the study. According to WSJ, Japanese brands are viewed better than Korean brands, and they're seen as more comfortable than the offerings from Germany or the US, despite the fact that everyone in China apparently wants a German car.

This is a tough position for the Japanese makes to be in, as there's really not a lot they can do to win favor with Chinese buyers. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, particularly as the importance of the PRC continues to increase year after year.

 

News Source: The Wall Street Journal - sub. req.

Image Credit: Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP / Getty Images

Brembo breaks out $115M Michigan plant expansion

Brembo has announced a major, $115-million investment in its Homer, MI factory (don't feel bad if you have no idea where Homer is, your author, a life-long Michigander, had to look it up on a map). The plant is about a 70-mile drive from Brembo's North American research and development headquarters in the Detroit suburb of Plymouth.

Production of brake rotors will be increased by 25 percent, to 12.5 million units per year, up from 10 million in 2013. The facility will also see its caliper and corner assembly capacity increase by a third, from 300,000 to 400,000 per year. This marks the third consecutive year of expansion at the plant, and the fourth since Brembo took possession of the facility from Hayes-Lemmerz in 2007.

The move is a clever one for Brembo, which sees North America becoming its largest market this year, following a 2013 that saw profits in the New World jump 19 percent.

"That's good growth," Matteo Tiraboschi told Automotive News. "Brembo is growing very fast in this market."

While we all know Brembo for its efforts in performance vehicles – its most visible market – the brand is a major supplier to more mundane offerings. It's a major partner of Chrysler, supplying components for the manufacturers minivan and compact fleets.

Take a look below for the official press release from Brembo.

News Source: Brembo, Automotive News - sub. req.

Image Credit: Dodge

Universal pursuing $50-million insurance claim for Fast & Furious 7

How can you put a cost on human life? You can't. But you can attempt to put a price on how much that person's absence can cost a company. And in the case of Paul Walker, that could turn out to be as much as $50 million.

That's how much Universal Pictures is expected to claim from its insurance in order to finish filming Fast & Furious 7 without its late star, Paul Walker, who was killed over five months ago in a car crash in LA. When the fatal accident occurred, Walker was in the midst of filming the seventh installment of the wildly popular Fast & Furious franchise. Rather than scrap the project or start anew – both of which would have undoubtedly cost the studio even more – Universal chose to finish the film, using a combination of other actors (including Walker's brothers) and CGI to fill in where Walker would be missed.

The process will not only cost the studio extra time – including some high-priced salaries like that of Vin Diesel – but also a veritable fortune to orchestrate the intricate camerawork and computer animation to digitally recreate Paul Walker's likeness on screen.

Fortunately, The Hollywood Reporter notes that Universal is insured for such calamity, and with the delays and added costs now estimated at $50 million (on top of the film's original budget of $200 million), it's reportedly passing on that cost to its underwriters. The Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is apparently in the process of working out the specifics with the studio's insurance broker, Albert G. Ruben at Aon, but if it ends up paying the $50 million bill, it would be the largest insurance claim of its kind in history. Previous notable claims were made for $20 million when John Candy died during the filming of Wagons East! in 1994 and for an estimated $10-15 million when Robert Downey Jr. broke his ankle during the filming of Iron Man 3. 

 

News Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Mercedes' Silver Arrows legend was born 80 years ago

In 1932 the international motorsport oversight body did what many Formula One fans wish the FIA would do today: declared that from 1934 there would be no restriction on Grand Prix racecar design beyond having a maximum weight of 750 kilograms (1,650 pounds). That led Mercedes-Benz to develop the Silberpfeil, the racer that began the Silver Arrows legend, the aluminum-bodied W25. In its first race on June 3, 1934 at the Nürburgring the W25 driven by Manfred von Brauchitsch won the event and set the track record.

The day before the race, however, the W25 was painted white, but when it was put on the scales to satisfy the one condition it had to fulfill it weighed 751 kg. The legend is that the solution devised by team manager Alfred Neubauer: grind off all the paint. The aluminum dart with the supercharged 3.4-liter inline-eight-cylinder stayed at or near the front of grand prix racing for the next five years, then continued the trend after World War II, cementing the Silver Arrows legend into racing history.

You can read all about its history in the press release below and admire the past in the high-res gallery above, then watch its modern incarnation driven by Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg the next time the F1 circus comes to town.

Toyota's Lentz says fuel cells are the future, not EVs

Toyota is not bullish on EVs. That comes from the company's North American CEO, Jim Lentz, who said the company will focus not on electrification, but on continued hybridization with a long-term focus on hydrogen fuel cells.

Lentz questioned the long-range ability of EVs, saying that Toyota feels "there are better alternatives, such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids, and tomorrow with fuel cells." Lentz spoke about Toyota's focus on hydrogen following Forbes Brainstorm Green conference and barely a week after a battery deal between Tesla and Toyota ended, according to Automotive News.

That deal provided for 2,500 battery packs for the Rav4 EV. While valuable to Toyota, the deal "was never about open-ended volume," Lentz said. "It was time to either continue or stop. My personal feeling was that I would rather invest my dollars in fuel cell development than in another 2,500 EVs."

Freed of its venture with Tesla, hydrogen now appears to be in Toyota's focus. According to AN, Toyota is starting in California, offering a $7-million loan to a company called FirstElement Fuel to develop hydrogen fueling infrastructure in the Golden State. Automotive News cites a study by Toyota that claims 68 refueling stations located across the state would provide for 10,000 HFC owners. California is already planning on having 50 stations by the end of 2016.

"My hope is that other automakers will see our investment and will invest as well, so hopefully we can accelerate to 70 [stations] before 2018," Lentz said. "Unlike hybrids when we were on our own, all the major players will be out there with us in fuel cells."

News Source: Automotive News - sub. req.

Sights And Sounds: Hunter-Reay Wins Indianapolis 500

Ryan Hunter-Reay celebrates in victory lane after winning the Indianapolis 500. (Photo: Getty Images)

4:00 p.m. ET – Thank you for joining us for the 2014 Indianapolis 500. Congratulations once again to Ryan Hunter-Reay and his Andretti Autosport crew on winning the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

3:40 p.m. ET – For the 2012 IndyCar Series champion and newly-crowned Indy 500 winner, it’s time to celebrate.

Ryan Hunter-Reay lifts the American flag in celebration after winning the Indianapolis 500. (Photo: Getty Images)

Ryan Hunter-Reay celebrates with his son Ryden after winning the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500. (Photo: Getty Images)

F1: Rosberg Takes Second Straight Monaco GP Win

Nico Rosberg raced to his second victory of the 2014 season. (Photo: Getty Images)

Nico Rosberg won the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday to take the overall championship lead from his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who came second to give Mercedes a fifth straight 1-2 finish.
The German driver clinched his second victory of the season and fifth of his career, making a strong start and holding off Hamilton to repeat his maiden GP win from pole here in Monaco last year.

“The pressure was on all the way but I kept it cool and was able to win,” said Rosberg, who celebrated by hugging his team engineers.

Rosberg finished 9.2 seconds ahead of Hamilton, who was just 0.4 faster than Daniel Ricciardo. The Red Bull driver was unable to get past Hamilton on a track that is the most difficult to overtake on in Formula One.

Four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel’s frustrating season with Red Bull continued as he abandoned early with a power unit failure.

7

No sleeping in your autonomous car, warns California

Autonomous cars have been testing in California for quite a while now. Google even showed off its self-driving Toyota Prius taking a blind man to Taco Bell in 2012. Perhaps it's not surprising, then, that the California Department of Motor Vehicles has decided it's about time to draft a set of rules governing autonomous cars on public roads.

First off, there won't be any sleeping or reading the newspaper in the vehicles. The rules stipulate that the operator must be in the driver's seat when the vehicle is on public roads and must be able to take physical control of the vehicle at any time. The DMV even wants testers to keep a log of when and why the autonomous function is shut off during testing.

You also won't be able to just hop into one of Google's self-driving models for a drive either (as if they would let you). Each autonomous car and driver must be registered with the state. The pilots must be certified as understanding the technology and go through a defensive driver training course. The manufacture also has to take out $5 million in insurance in case of injury, death or property damage caused by the vehicle.

If they meet all of the stipulations, manufactures can pay $150 to register 10 vehicles and 20 drivers with a one-year, renewable permit. According to Engadget, the new rules are meant to put tighter restrictions on self-driving cars and make sure they are tested safely in public. It does seem like a bad idea to have robot cars prowling the streets with no oversight, right? Scroll down to read the full list of regulations for testing autonomously on California's roads.

News Source: Endgadget, California Department of Motor Vehicles

Lamborghini donates Huracán to Italian police

Lamborghini made a big entrance with the Huracán LP 610-4, and now the Italian State Police can, too. The Sant'Agata automaker donated one to Giovanni Law to the replace the Gallardo the authorities have had in service for six years.

It will be used to "sustain security on Italian roads" and is loaded with a Q-Branch worth of features that you won't even find on any Ad Personam options list: a "Proof Video Data System" to track the Lamborghini and the suspects being chased, number plate recognition and tracking and real-time transmission of images to HQ, four sirens, an aerodynamic light bar, a refrigerated trunk for organ storage, a defibrillator and - naturally - a hand-held stop sign.

The Huracán LP 610-4 Polizia should go into service by year's end. There's a press release below so you'll know who to look out for if you turn scofflaw inside the nation-state line.

Zagato Lamborghini 5-95 successfully aims to be an instant collectible

1965 was the first time Zagato and Lamborghini hooked up, when the Milanese coachbuilder created the Lamborghini 3500 GTZ for Marquis Gerino Gerini. There have been several more collaborations since then, the one you see above being the latest: the Lamborghini 5-95, created for collector Albert Spiess and designed to be "a modern collectible" in honor of Zagato's 95th anniversary.

Underneath its Speed Racer curves is a Gallardo LP570-4, its visual mass pushed forward thanks to the striving front fascia and a wind deflector at the bottom of the windshield that lengthens the hood, and a shortened trunk that "reveals the brutality of the mechanical components" in back. Between them are Zagato trademarks like wraparound glass and the double-bubble roof, and the size of the obvious air intakes has been reduced by hiding others in the greenhouse and fixing a center intake above the roof.

The Lamborghini 5-95 is on show at this year's Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como in Switzerland. As for being a collectible, since it's headed straight for Spiess' garage afterward, we'd say they've got that part sealed up. For you non-collectors, there's a short video where you can hear the car fire up and a press release below with a lot more info.

News Source: Marchettino via YouTube

Monaco Qualifying: Rosberg denies Hamilton

Nico Rosberg on his way to pole position for the Monaco GP

Nico Rosberg claimed his second success Monaco Grand Prix pole position in dramtic fashion, an error on his final lap bringing out the yellow flags, which then denied team-mate Lewis Hamilton the opportunity to improve on his time.
Rosberg claimed provisional pole with his first run in Q3 in the Principality, the German setting a time of 1:15.989. It was just enough to put him ahead of Hamilton, whose opening lap yielded a time of just over five hundredths adrift of his team-mate.
In the closing minutes Rosberg set off ahead of Hamilton in search of an improvement. However on the run to the Mirabeau corner Rosberg momentarily lost control under braking and was forced to take an escape road. The incident immediately saw the yellow flags raised.
“I just locked up, the outside front, I think it was, or the inside, I’m not sure, and that put me off line,” said Rosberg. “I was still trying to make it but in the last moment I had to turn out because I was going to hit the tyre wall. It was close but I managed to go into the escape road.

Top three in the Monaco parc ferme

“I thought it was over once that happened, because I thought the track would ramp up and somebody else could beat the time but no, of course, in the end I’m really, really happy that it worked out in the end. To be on pole is fantastic, at home; couldn’t be better,” he added.
Hamilton, meanwhile, was getting into his own final flying lap, setting a personal best first sector time that could have given him the chance to eclipse Rosberg.
The chance never came, however, as the flags prevented the championship leader from making his charge. He was forced to pull out of the lap and cede pole position to his team-mate.
Third place went to Daniel Ricciardo, who was also displeased with how the last moments of the session had played out, though for different reasons.

Sebastian Vettel was fourth fastest

“I think all three of us don’t seem to be too pleased with ourselves,” he said. “I think we left a bit on the table. We fought the car pretty hard in qualifying and trying to find a bit more from it. I thought I was getting around it OK but coming up to Turn 8 I just lost the rear completely on exit and pretty much the lap was gone after that. Frustrated, I think we could have been much closer. So a little bit disappointed.”
Ricciardo finished ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel for the fourth time this season, while Fernando Alonso will start fifth ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
Jean-Eric Vergne claimed an impressive seventh place in the session his time of 1:17.540 just 1500ths of a second behind Raikkonen’s. Team-mate Daniil Kvyat was ninth, the first time both Toro Rosso cars have qualified in the top 10 since the opening race of the season. Kvyat’s performance was especially good considering that the Russian rookie has never raced at Monaco in any category. Additionally, in Q1 a mistake saw him hit the wall on the run down to the Nouvelle Chicacne and he was forced to pit for a new front wing.

Fernando Alonso was fifth fastest

Eighth place went to Kevin Magnussen, the McLaren rookie claiming his third top-10 qualifying position of the year. Tenth place in the session went to Force India’s Sergio Perez.
Elsewhere, Felipe Massa was forced to sit out Q2 after he was pitched into the barriers by Marcus Ericsson at the end of Q1. The Caterham driver tried to pass the Williams driver down the inside but miscalculated and caused them both to hit the wall. Massa had already done enough to progress to Q2 but was not able to take part.

Massa was furious, “I gave him the space and he went over my car. I don’t know what more there is to say. The race tomorrow will be very tough. I feel disappointed,” said Massa. (F1 Media)

Monaco Grand Prix, Qualifying – Saturday, 24 May 2014

Pos	No	Driver	Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Laps
1	6	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1:17.678	1:16.465	1:15.989	26
2	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1:17.823	1:16.354	1:16.048	27
3	3	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull Racing-Renault	1:17.900	1:17.233	1:16.384	22
4	1	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull Racing-Renault	1:18.383	1:17.074	1:16.547	25
5	14	Fernando Alonso	Ferrari	1:17.853	1:17.200	1:16.686	27
6	7	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	1:17.902	1:17.398	1:17.389	27
7	25	Jean-Eric Vergne	STR-Renault	1:17.557	1:17.657	1:17.540	26
8	20	Kevin Magnussen	McLaren-Mercedes	1:17.978	1:17.609	1:17.555	25
9	26	Daniil Kvyat	STR-Renault	1:18.616	1:17.594	1:18.090	23
10	11	Sergio Perez	Force India-Mercedes	1:18.108	1:17.755	1:18.327	26
11	27	Nico Hulkenberg	Force India-Mercedes	1:18.432	1:17.846		20
12	22	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes	1:17.890	1:17.988		20
13	77	Valtteri Bottas	Williams-Mercedes	1:18.407	1:18.082		20
14	8	Romain Grosjean	Lotus-Renault	1:18.335	1:18.196		23
15	13	Pastor Maldonado	Lotus-Renault	1:18.585	1:18.356		21
16	19	Felipe Massa	Williams-Mercedes	1:18.209	No time		10
17	21	Esteban Gutierrez	Sauber-Ferrari	1:18.741			11
18	99	Adrian Sutil	Sauber-Ferrari	1:18.745			11
19	17	Jules Bianchi	Marussia-Ferrari	1:19.332			10
20	4	Max Chilton	Marussia-Ferrari	1:19.928			9
21	10	Kamui Kobayashi	Caterham-Renault	1:20.133			9
22	9	Marcus Ericsson	Caterham-Renault	1:21.732			9
		Q1 107% Time		1:22.985

Mini Superleggera Vision is the all-electric roadster Mini needs to make

It could be argued that Mini has not built a pretty car since the R53, the first of the reborn Minis, was put out to pasture at the end of 2006. I've owned two R53s, so yes, I'm horribly biased. The styling situation in Oxford hasn't improved much for 2014, either, as the bigger, more frightened-looking Mini begins to arrive in dealerships, boasting a very un-Mini-like front overhang. This, though... this works.

It's called the Superleggera Vision, and straight away, we should point out that it's not designed by Mini. It's a product of Touring Superleggera, whose other creations include the stunning Disco Volante. It's a darn nice piece of design, and we're especially fond of its tiny, Jaguar D-type-like rear fin. It's also perfectly designed for its debut location – the Concours d'Elegance at Italy's Villa d'Este.

Despite being a Mini, the Superleggera still boasts a traditional roadster layout, with a long hood and a shorter rear deck. The front end boasts a pair of traditionally styled Mini headlamps, which sit above a version of the new Cooper's gaping grille. The profile is brightened by a pair of character lines, the most noticeable of which runs from ahead and over the front wheel wells toward the back of the diminutive droptop. Of course, we can't not mention that amazing fin. It should be fitted to every Mini Roadster posthaste. The rear of the car, meanwhile, almost reminds us of an old Aston Martin Vanquish, thanks to the shape of its taillights and their rounded rectangular enclosure. And yes, those are Union Jacks inside the taillights. God save the queen.

The cabin is awash in aluminum and leather trim, but it's a generally minimalist design. The overall theme blends more classic roadster characteristics with traditional Mini touches, and is most notable when looking at the large, thin-rimmed, three-spoke steering wheel harkens back to old British roadsters. That's accented by the centrally mounted speedometer and the column-mounted tachometer, both classic Mini features.

Under hood, there's an electric drivetrain, although we're completely absent of any details on it. Still, we should point out what a 180 this has been for BMW – at last year's Villa d'Este, it showed a V12-powered, ultra-luxury coupe. Now, it's showing a tiny, convertible EV.

Take a look up top for our full gallery of images provided by BMW.

Porsche unlocks secrets of its mid-engine 911

Porsche is beginning to realize that it's sitting on a goldmine of automotive history with its secret vault full of rare cars. Autoblog toured it a few months ago, and they were amazed at all of the curiosities hidden inside. Now, it's starting to let more folks in thanks to a new series of YouTube videos. The first covered the 965 prototype that shoved a water-cooled, Audi V8 into one of its cars. Next up, a mid-engine 911 that acted as the powertrain test mule for the Boxster.

The Porsche 911 is inextricably linked to its rear-engine layout. They go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, at the time Porsche was developing the Boxster, the company didn't want to lay all of its cards out of the table during testing. As opposed to using camouflage, it put a whole different car on top. The prototype looked just like any other 911 Targa of the day, but the biggest giveaway that something was amiss was the heavily tinted rear window. By obscuring it, inquisitive journalists couldn't peak at the new engine that replaced the backseat.

It might not look like anything too important on the outside, but this is a major piece of Porsche Boxster history underneath.

BMW crushing ActiveE EVs, saving all batteries

It's unlikely to spark a movement and a movie, the way a certain EV1 did a decade ago, but anyone who's seen Who Killed The Electric Car? will likely cringe at this bit of news. Despite the fact that crushing and recycling old vehicles is standard operating procedure in the auto industry, when EVs are involved, it's always a touchy subject.

The next phase is that "all of the lithium-ion batteries being repurposed for Battery Second Life research projects."

So, what's the news? Well, the image you see above, which comes from the spotting of 16 smashed BMW ActiveE EVs on flatbed trailers on California Route 91 near Los Angeles, CA. EV advocate Chelsea Sexton told Green Car Reports, "It's all very déjà vu, right down to [BMW's] DriveNow promotion as a don't-look-behind-the-curtain distraction – recall GM touting EV1s being donated to museums and universities? – and VINs spray painted on the sides, allowing former drivers to identify their own cars."

BMW's take on this is that the ActiveEs were always meant to have a limited lifespan, and their time has come. As spokesman Dave Buchko tells AutoblogGreen, "The learning begun with the ActiveE will transition to the next phase with all of the lithium-ion batteries being repurposed for Battery Second Life research projects." (You can read his full statement below.) Originally, there were 700 ActiveEs leased to Electronauts (give or take). Yahoo! Autos points out that the ActiveEs were originally imported into the US as "pre-production" cars, which means they can't be sold, they can only be used for carsharing projects or re-leased. Eighty of those ActiveEs recently found a second life as vehicles in BMW's DriveNow carsharing fleet in San Francisco (bringing the total of ActiveEs in the program to 150) and "some have also been returned to Munich for additional research markets," Buchko said.

The big picture here is that no one should be sad to see these cars go. Yes, they may have had some life left in them, but the rules say their time is done and everything is being done to crush responsibly in accordance with the law. Like Plug In Cars says, we're in a completely different era now than we were when GM crushed all those EV1s a decade ago. Instead of marking the end of a plug-in vehicle program, sending the ActiveEs away to be recycled is a symbol of the evolution and growth of BMW's i Project. As further proof, despite a few minor hiccups, the first BMW i3 runabouts with range extenders are being delivered in the US this week.

News Source: Yahoo! Autos, 

Image Credit: Jimmy N. on Facebook

Nissan Announces Factory LMP1 Program For 2015

Nissan plans to begin testing the GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 car in October. (Photo: Nissan)

Following months of speculation and intrigue, Nissan officially announced Friday its entry into the LMP1 class for 2015, which will see a two-car full factory program in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the legendary GT-R model.
The Japanese manufacturer’s all-new prototype, the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, will take on the likes of Audi, Toyota and Porsche in what will be a global effort encompassing technical resources and facilities in Japan, Europe and the U.S.

Nissan Announces Factory LMP1 Program For 2015

Nissan plans to begin testing the GT-R LM NISMO LMP1 car in October. (Photo: Nissan)

Following months of speculation and intrigue, Nissan officially announced Friday its entry into the LMP1 class for 2015, which will see a two-car full factory program in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the legendary GT-R model.
The Japanese manufacturer’s all-new prototype, the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO, will take on the likes of Audi, Toyota and Porsche in what will be a global effort encompassing technical resources and facilities in Japan, Europe and the U.S.

Mercedes sees room for C-Class four-door coupe

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class isn't on sale in the US yet, and there are already rumors of even more variants for the platform on the way. Mercedes is reportedly working on a four-door coupe model of its executive sedan with styling derived from the CLS-Class four-door coupe, in an effort take on the BMW 4 Series Gran Coupe.

Mercedes' research and development chief Thomas Weber told Auto Express that there are many bodies on the way including the two-door coupe, convertible and others. When asked specifically about a four-door coupe variant, he replied: "Yes, there is room between the CLA and the CLS – we are intensively looking at remaining niches that will provide us with profitability and growth." That seems like a decent indication of things to come.

Like its competition over at BMW, Mercedes isn't afraid to create new vehicles to fill market niches. For example, we've spied vehicles like the CLA Shooting Brake (twice) and MLC-Class, plus, there have been rumors of a GLA-Class crossover coupe. Merc clearly doesn't want to lose out in this German war of competing in increasingly specific model segments.

 

News Source: Auto Express

Image Credit: Copyright 2014 Jonathon Ramsey / AOL

US Army Humvee driver

What It Takes To Drive The Army's Favorite Mule

For the first time in two hours, it was quiet. SPC Brian Stehlin turned the HMMWV ignition switch from Run to Engine Stop, killing the agricultural clatter of the AM General diesel. The four of us, three soldiers in the US Army Reserve and me, pulled up on the combat lock handles inside of each door, freeing us from the thickly lined metal box that passes for an automotive interior. We stepped out, and for just a few seconds the late-morning symphony of insects and birds was the loudest ambient sound. We'd gotten stuck.

Before this, I didn't know that Humvees (the pronounceable common name for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV) got stuck. Raised on images, television clips and movies of Humvees racing across deserts and scaling seemingly insurmountable objects, I'd have sooner assumed that the Army's workhorse would charge through a hillside in a torquey blast than bog down before it in the slick Joliet mud.

Of course, neither the quiet nor the mud-entrenchment lasted very long. If I learned one thing during my day of HMMWV driver training with the Reserves' 416th Theater Engineer Command, it's that the Army doesn't lack for ways to get you moving again. Small arms fire from the range down the street crackled, silencing the local fauna just before orders were shouted, chains were pulled from truck beds and the pastoral air was filled once more with grumbling of turbodiesel V8s. Getting stuck turned out to be a lesson in getting free – one of just a few I'd soak up while hanging with the Army.

How IndyCar technology wound up in your kid's car seat

This Built America: Dorel Juvenile Group

"What I'm assembling is potentially going to save someone's life. You can't just go anywhere to get that." – Mark Evanko

From their first day on the job, employees at Dorel Juvenile Group learn to never treat the products they make like just another piece of plastic.

The 950 people who work at the company's Columbus, Indiana factory work three shifts round the clock to build four million child car seats a year. The seats must withstand violent impacts and save the lives of the children sitting in them.

That responsibility remains at the forefront of every decision the company makes – from the type of plastic and foam it uses to investing in technology inspired by the auto racing industry. These seats could be made outside the US for less money, but Dorel makes it a point to look beyond the bottom line.

"Overseas, they sell you something, and the employees aren't tied to what you're about," said Mark Evanko, senior vice president of quality control at Dorel. "Here there's this intrinsic feeling that what I'm assembling is potentially going to save someone's life. You can't just go anywhere to get that."

Audi reveals facelifted A7 and S7 in Europe

Audi has revealed the nip/tuck and stylistic upgrades for the A7 that we got clues to in spy shots from back in January. The single-frame grille has been subtly reworked along with the lower front fascia and headlilghts. Those bulbs are underlined by a new design for the LED DRLs, and – in Europe – they can be had with Matrix Beam LEDs that come with dynamic turn signals. Out back is a tweaked bumper, as well as new exhaust tips and taillights with an LED pattern that mimics the front lights.

Cockpit inhabitants get new surface treatments like the aluminum and Beaufort walnut inlays, Valcona leather and five possible colors for the seats. The company's MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch is fitted with an Nvidia chip for faster graphics processing, and LTE-enabled internet connectivity is standard.

Up front, the 3.0-liter bi-turbo TDI gets a power boost to 320 horsepower and is attached to an eight-speed transmission; a seven-speed S tronic transmission is paired to the rest of the line. The revised 3.0-liter V6 TDI recently discussed at the Vienna Motor Symposium also joins the lineup, here offered in both the 272-hp and 218-hp variants, that latter "ultra" version said to return 50 US miles per gallon.

When they go on sale later this year, they'll start at 51,300 euros ($70,043 in US dollars) for the A7 and 82,300 euros ($112,369 US) for the S7.

New 2015 VW Passat: full tech details revealed

Volkswagen releases full tech info on eighth-generation Passat – lighter, more spacious with new BiTurbo TDI engine

VW has released full details on the technology that will underpin the all-new Passat. Set to be fully-revealed on July 3 before making its public debut at the Paris Motor Show in October, the new eighth-generation Passat will be up to 85kg lighter than its predecessor, feature new 237bhp TDI BiTurbo and plug-in hybrid powertrains and be even more spacious than its predecessor.

With over 23 million units sold since 1973, the Passat is VW’s best-selling model ever, surpassing even the Beetle. And according Dr Heinz-Jakob Neuser, member of the board for the VW brand, it will be a “new benchmark in this segment”. No official photographs of the car’s exterior are available yet, but sketches shown during the presentation shows a strong family resemblance to the Golf, with a more coupe-like roofline that closes the gap between the Passat Saloon and the sportier CC variant.

The first VW Group product to be based on a stretched version of the MQB platform, the Passat will be up to 85kg lighter than its predecessor. That’s thanks largely to the use of high-strength vacuum-formed steels in the body – accounting for 33kg, as well as the chassis (9kg), powertrain (40kg) and electrics (3kg).


An updated electronic tailgate system allows you to open the hatch by waving your foot underneath the bumper, and now closes and locks automatically when you walk away. 

Handy 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats expand the space should you need it, while a dual-level boot floor and a section on runners – to help you slide heavy boxes from front to back – boost functionality. Drop the passenger seat forward and objects up toa maximum length of 2.85m can be loaded.

Under the bonnet the big news is the introduction of a new 237bhp 2.0 TDI BiTurbo engine with 500Nm of torque – a massive 62bhp and 120Nm more than the most powerful previous-generation Passat diesel. The engine will be offered in conjunction with a revised seven-speed DSG gearbox, reengineered to cope with 500Nm of torque, in a range topping four-wheel drive version, capable of returning around 53mpg.

Also confirmed is a plug-in hybrid version using the same modular powertrain as the Golf GTE. Combining a 154bhp 1.4 TSI engine with a 107bhp electric motor, it produces a total of 208bhp and 400Nm of torque, with an electric-only range of 31-miles and a total range of around 620-miles between fill ups. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions should be close to the Golf GTE’s figures of 188mpg and 35g/km.

Other engine options will include a 118bhp 1.6 TDI and a 2.0 TDI with either 148bhp, 188bhp or 237bhp. Petrol choices include a 1.4 TSI with 123bhp or 148bhp (the latter with ACT cylinder shutdown), a 177bhp 1.8 TSI or a 2.0 TSI with 217bhp or 276bhp.

A raft of high-tech options have been introduced, too, including full LED headlights that use an on-board camera to avoid dazzling other cars and illuminate around corners, as well as full-LED taillights as standard. The suite of driver assistance systems includes autonomous braking, emergency assist (which can bring the car safety to a stop if it detects the driver has fallen asleep or stopped controlling the car) and trailer assist to help with tricky parking manoeuvers. A new traffic jam assist function lets you crawl along automatically in a jam, following the car in front, while lane assist gently nudges the steering is you begin to wander between the lines.
A new progressive steering system, which increases the ratio depending on how far you turn the wheel, will be offered as part of a dynamic handling package either in conjunction with a sports chassis or DCC adaptive dampers. With progressive steering it takes 2.1 turns lock to lock, and 2.75 without it. 
Interior technology now includes the latest MIB II infotainment system first seen on the facelifted Polo, with colour touch screen sizes ranging from 5.8 to 8.0-inches, while a new fully-configurable 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, using technology first seen on the new TT, has also been introduced.

Available as a saloon and estate initially, with a rugged Alltrack estate, a four-door coupe CC version and possibly a stylish shooting brake CC expected to follow later in the life-cycle, the new Passat will be available to order shortly after the Paris motor show in October. Prices are expected to start from around £21,000. 

Discover how a Volkswagen is expertly engineered.