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Ickx Ferrari set for Masters Racing Series debut

post from Classic cars, Vintage Racing, Classic Rally on 16 May 2008 01:59:37 PM. © Classic cars, Vintage Racing, Classic Rally

One of the most significant cars to return to racing in 2008, an ex-Jacky Ickx Ferrari 312B2, will make its debut in the Grand Prix Masters races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit next weekend (25/26 May).

The Ferrari 312B2 that won the 1972 German Grand Prix in the hands of Ickx has not been raced since the 1970s, but is now due to return to racing in the skilled hands of James Hanson and is due on the grid at Brands after a long rebuild.

After spending most of its life in private collections, the car was demonstrated by Ickx at the Monaco Historic Grand Prix in 2006, but has not raced for well over three decades. Ickx's 1972 victory at the Nurburgring was his last Grand Prix victory as the 312B2 struggled to compete with the Lotus 72 and Tyrrells.

Now owned by James Hanson, the 1971 3-litre flat 12-engined Ferrari has been painstakingly rebuilt over the last 18 months. It was shown in public at Race Retro in March 2007 when it took pride of place on the Masters stand and is now ready to race once more.

"It came as a runner, and it is very original," said Hanson. "But it needed some work before it could be raced again. It will be brilliant to race it and the car should create a lot of interest," he said.

Subject to its progress at Brands Hatch during the Masters Racing Festival, it is hoped that the Ferrari will contest other Grand Prix Masters races this summer.

Source: Masters Racing Series

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http://www.classicrallies.com/blog/index.php?/archives/1315-Ickx-Ferrari-set-for-
Masters-Racing-Series-debut.html

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Lock Up Your Pink Slips: Dodge Greenlights Drag
Race Challenger

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 May 2008 01:06:33 PM. © The Truth About Cars

I'm the first to admit, I'm not the biggest fan of drag racing. Yes, I intellectually understand how powerful, nifty and skilled everyone involved in the sport is. But I'm just not a fan. However -- and a big however -- I do love the technology that goes into and comes out of drag racing. More power, stronger components and lighter weight. Guess what? Chrysler is about to make all my dreams come true. Motor Authority is describing the Challenger drag racing kit as a throwback to the Hemi Dart and Barracuda packages of decades gone by. Specifically, what do you get? A lighter chassis. This is the big one, as the Challenger SRT-8 weighs more than a 1970 New Yorker. No, really. Internet speculation is claiming the chassis will be 800 pounds less fat. Which is (or isn't) huge. Draggers will also get lots of engine choices (duh), the possibility of a manual transmission, better brakes, seats, cooling, a working hood scoop and a lift off composite hood. The drag racing package is aimed at both pros and amateurs, is currently being vetted by the NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) to sanction the kit for competition use. I can smell the top fuel now. And the pomade.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/lock-up-your-pink-slips-dodge-greenlights-drag-r
ace-challenger/

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I Want My Tesla Roadster!

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 May 2008 01:06:33 PM. © The Truth About Cars

Not, obviously, for same reasons you do. You, or someone like you, want a battery-powered Tesla Roadster because it’s a way cool concept boasting bleeding edge technology. Or maybe you just like sexy sports cars. Or perhaps you’d like to bask in the glory of the world’s best eco auto bragging rights (i.e. get laid). As a free marketeer, I’m good with any of these motivations. As a Porsche Boxster S owner, I’m not bothered (I’ve already found my dream date). But as the publisher of this website, I want a Tesla Roadster BAD. I want to reveal the truth about the EV-- whatever that may be.

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/i-want-my-tesla-roadster/

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But the reality was that we couldnt actually
achieve global integration because it was at odds with the image of our brands

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 May 2008 01:06:33 PM. © The Truth About Cars

No, we're not talking about Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson's impending breakup. We're quoting directly from the mustachioed horse's mouth. The headline my friends, is none other than Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche (Dr. Z to you and me) discussing why the 1998 "merger of equals" between Mercedes-Benz and Chrysler failed so miserably. To refresh your memory (in case your life is filled with more interesting activities than watching the disintegration of poorly planned global corporations)... Daimler sold Chrysler for billions and billions less than they paid for it to a hedge fund last year. Our favorite David Cross-lookalike CEO was speaking to gathered business leaders at a symposium about "Global Capitalism, Local Values" trying to explain exactly went so badly. He points to the level of cooperation between MB and Chrysler as being "less" than he would have liked. Dr. Z goes on to say that Daimler learned a valuable lesson. "It's fair to say that we overestimated the potential of passing leading-edge technology from Mercedes-Benz to Chrysler. Unlike premium brand customers, American volume brand customers are far too price-sensitive to absorb its cost." To which TTAC says, "Duh!" And of course, know thy brand.

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/but-the-reality-was-that-we-couldnt-actually-ach
ieve-global-integration-because-it-was-at-odds-with-the-image-of-our-brands/

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TTAC Photochop: Mercedes-Benz CLE

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 May 2008 11:06:36 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Can you imagine side windows smaller than the peepholes mounted on the MB CLS? Well, even if you can't, the car-creative guys from Stuttgart can. And they will feature them on a smaller four-door coupe based on the C-Class. Supposed to be called CLE, the niche opener will fill the gap (did you notice one?) between the C's and the E's while offering a sexy alternative to the BMW 3 Series & Co. I tried to address the side peephole problem by cutting the front windows lower at their extremities similar to those featured on the F700 Concept. This way only the rear passengers will get claustrophobic. Web rumors are that the car will use "suicide" rear doors and I went for that. It is unprecedented in the class (the Mazda RX-8 is a 2+2), looks cools and eases access. High-tech headlights and just a touch of chrome (we know it has to have a few shiny bits to be considered an MB) complete the picture. Could this be the Jaguar X-Type everyone's been expecting? Wait and see!

[For more Avarvarii photochopistry, click h ere]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ttac-photochop-mercedes-benz-cle/

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YAFC (yet another flying car): Terrafugia
Transition

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 May 2008 10:06:44 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Not content to make money the old fashioned way, a team of MIT grads has been hard at work for the past couple of years working on a two passenger ~~flying car~~ drivable airplane. Terrafugia's Transition recently took a drubbing on Slashdot for even attempting to reconcile the oftentimes contradictory goals of aviation vs. automotive engineering. The CEO was kind enough to respond to his detractors here, stressing ad nauseum that future Darwin Awards will be strictly limited to licensed pilots. Eons ago (in TTAC time), Jonny Lieberman pointed out the limitations of carbon fiber in car construction. And we could go on forever about the bicycle tire-sized contact patches, side-wind gusts from an oncoming train of curious SUV drivers, lack of suspension travel, and the challenge of manually parallel parking the damn thing (oh, and downforce? what's that?!). At least the Terrafugia Transition sounds a lot better than the Flying Pinto which killed its inventors during its maiden flight. Good luck, guys, I'm looking forward to the resulting Hollywood treatment.

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/yafc-yet-another-flying-car-terrafugia-transitio
n/

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UK: 20mph Urban Speed Limit

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 May 2008 10:06:44 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Did you know that sprinter Michael Duane Johnson could run 27 miles per hour? Obviously, he can only maintain that pace long enough to catch a bus or win an Olympic medal, and he'd have a hard time doing it whilst talking on the cell carrying a child in one of those humongous child seats. But the point remains: 20mph is a very, very slow for a car. And the question persists: is 20mph safer than say, 25mph? Or 30mph? In absolute terms, if we're talking about car - pedestrian contact, ipso facto. The faster the car at the moment of impact, the more potential lethal energy involved. But driving safety's a slippery customer, where the primary variables are the driver's level of attentiveness, personal reaction times and a wide variety of road conditions. So, will the UK's decision to lower speed limits in town centers to 20mph help the Government reduce road deaths from 3,000 to 2,000 a year? To make that analysis, you'd have to know how many of those fatalities involved pedestrians in town centers, what speed the contact occurred, if a reduced speed would have prevented the fatality, and what other, perhaps more crucial variables were in play. From a public policy standpoint, you'd have to also analyze the expense of changing the signs and time lost vs. any other, perhaps more effective measures. But two things are for sure: that's a debate the UK isn't having, and no other measure would collect so much-- if any-- revenue for the government. And remember: it's all for the children.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/uk-20mph-urban-speed-limit/

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GM Announces New Line Of Ecotec Engines

Green Car Congress reports that GM will offer two new engines in 2009, based on its global Ecotec four-cylinder architecture. The 1.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged four-banger and 1.6-liter Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged four-cylinder will debut in "Europe and other regions." The uro 5 compliant 1.4-liter four will offer between 120 and 140 hp and eight percent better fuel consumption than a higher displacement naturally-aspirated engine with similar output. Direct injection and independently-variable camshafts account for much of the improved efficiency, and provide a platform onto which GM's HCCI technology can be transferred. The 1.6-liter CNG mill should pump out about 150 hp and 155 lb/ft of torque. This announcement cements the trend towards smaller engines with forced induction, as championed by Ford's forthcoming Ecoboost line of turbocharged mills. Although we're not holding our breath to see GM launch a sub-two liter engine in the U.S., the 1.4-liter engine would likely make the Cobalt or the Aveo a force to be reckoned with-- at least in terms of fuel economy.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-announces-new-line-of-ecotec-engines/

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CAW reaches tentative deal with GM/Chrysler

CTVNews reports that the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) has reached deals with both GM and Chrysler for its Ontario members. The agreements mirror those that the CAW obtained from Ford. According to the official story: "Workers will see their wages frozen for three years in exchange for improvements in other areas." "Other areas?" Such as not getting fired in the first place? The crux of the deal: Buzz Hargrove successfully delayed the inevitable. GM-Oshawa's planned shift reduction is put off until 2009, and Chrysler's Etobicoke plant, on death row for over a decade, will have its life extended to 2011. Hargrove is spinning the wage freeze as a victory, noting that he's "done the very best to protect as many jobs as we could and protect and support people who won't have a job"-- despite failing to secuire long-term plans for either of the two plants. We now return you to our regular discussion of American Axle's ongoing strike.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/caw-reaches-tentative-deal-with-gmchrysler/

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VW Boss Disses U.S. Market, Dithers on Product
Strategy

VW's announced a new North American factory and whittled down the short list of locations in Alabama, Tennessee and (yeah right) Michigan. Volkswagen has only one problem with its U.S. market strategy, which calls for sales of 1m units per year: "we need models for the US market." Yes there is that. In an interview with Auto Motor und Sport, VW works council boss Bernd Osterloh says that picking the right models for the American market is a far more important (undecided?) issue than the American factory's location (yes way). That said, Osterloh claims the decision is not urgent; VW's Mexican facilities can begin production of the new, as-yet-undecided American models before the new factory is online. Osterloh calls the U.S. market a herausforderung (loosely translated as a pain in the ass) for the entire industry. Apparently VW doesn't even have a coherent diesel strategy for their deeply respected American consumers. For a German firm, that's saying a lot. Machts schnell burschen!

Read The Full Article:
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/vw-boss-disses-us-market-dithers-on-product-stra
tegy/