Friday, September 19, 2008
How Rossi can clinch the title at Motegi
An easy guide as to how Valentino Rossi can clinch a sixth MotoGP World Championship at Motegi – and what it means for his place in history.
Valentino Rossi is on the brink of taking his sixth MotoGP World Championship, with his first chance of confirming the crown coming next weekend at Twin Ring Motegi. The Fiat Yamaha rider is in a powerful position in at the head of the standings, with an 87 point lead over 2007 titlist Casey Stoner and a further seven point lead over third-placed Dani Pedrosa. Rossi has the situation in his hands, with a podium finish assuring him of the title - even if Stoner records a first Japanese win.
A rostrum for Stoner could effectively be a stay of execution for the Ducati rider, who at best could reduce the gap to 62 points with 75 still up for grabs, if Rossi fails to score a point. A runner-up finish for the Australian would mean that Rossi could afford to finish as low as eighth, whilst rounding off the podium would require Rossi to finish twelfth or better. Stoner taking fourth place would mean that just a point would give the Italian his sixth title.
Pedrosa will only become involved should he win or finish runner up; a Pedrosa win obliges Rossi to finish in the top ten, whilst second place leaves the Yamaha rider in need of a solitary point.
The rider who at Indianapolis beat Giacomo Agostini´s record of victories with his 69th triumph, Rossi will echo his Italian idol this year if he regains the title. Agostini is the only rider to date to have reclaimed the crown after a two year gap.
And the bragging rights that will come with a sixth title? Rossi will have exceeded the total number of premier class titles taken by Mick Doohan, and become the only rider ever to win the World Championship on 500cc, 990cc and 800cc machines.
Latest After the Flag available for download
A new edition of the official MotoGP video podcast, After the Flag, is out now.
Nicky Hayden comments on his performance at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in After the Flag
The eleventh After the Flag edition of the 2008 season provides all the latest news from MotoGP's first ever visit to Indy. There is an interview with 2006 World Champion and Indianapolis podium finisher Nicky Hayden, the 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz reviews the Red Bull Riders Cup race, plus there are all the regular AtF features in this most recent edition of the official MotoGP video podcast
After the Flag is accessible here on motogp.com, as well as through the iTunes platform.
Nicky Hayden comments on his performance at the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix in After the Flag
The eleventh After the Flag edition of the 2008 season provides all the latest news from MotoGP's first ever visit to Indy. There is an interview with 2006 World Champion and Indianapolis podium finisher Nicky Hayden, the 1993 World Champion Kevin Schwantz reviews the Red Bull Riders Cup race, plus there are all the regular AtF features in this most recent edition of the official MotoGP video podcast
After the Flag is accessible here on motogp.com, as well as through the iTunes platform.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Mercedes-Benz Gravity Car new Concept
The Mercedes-Benz “Gravity Car” concept is designed by Jakob Hirzel from the Pforzheim University Of Applied Sciences in Germany. This concept is a gravity racing car without engine, designed for the Xtreme Gravity Series in Irvine, California. Waho!!!
2009 Opel Insignia Hatchback-Cars
Opel will showcase to the public for the first time at the British International Motor Show (July 23 - August 3, 2008) both the four-door notchback and five-door hatchback versions of its new flagship car, the Insignia.
The new Opel Insignia highlights breathtaking design: Both body styles boast a flowing, muscular yet elegant silhouette with a coupé roofline. Designers of the new car deliberately created similar versions to retain the beauty of Opel’s latest mid-sized car. The length of both the notch and hatchback, at 4,830 mm, and the wheelbase of 2,737 mm remain the same.
The Insignia’s fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and driving dynamics benefit from the aerodynamic efficiency that was perfected during more than 650 hours in the wind tunnel. The result: A class-leading drag coefficient of 0.27.
Offering both the notchback and hatchback from the start is particularly important for markets such as the U.K. and France, where 5-door sedans traditionally enjoy a high market share of the mid-size class segment. German and Spanish customers, on the other hand, generally prefer notchback sedans. Prices for the U.K., Ireland, Germany, Austria and Switzerland will be announced July 22 in London and cars will hit German dealerships before the end of the year. Opel expects both models to sell in about equal numbers.
2008 Audi R8 luxury sports car.2008 Audi R8 sports car. - enlarge
The 2008 Audi R8 quattro sports car (MSRP $109,000 - $118,000) and is the company's first super car designed to compete in the high-end, high-performance luxury collectors car market. The ultra sexy R8 competes with the BMW Z4 M Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Coupe Z06, the Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, and the Porsche 911 GT2. It comes with 420-horsepower, 4.2-liter V8 engine, quattro all-wheel drive system, and two transmissions: the manual, six-speed gearbox or Audi R tronic sequential-shift gearbox.
The Audi R8 quattro coupe (which was based on the Audi Le Mans quattro concept car) is a sports car that was introduced in 2006, after the German automaker announced that it would take its name from the successful Audi R8 race car in 2005. Audi owns Lamborghini, and so there are similarities between the R8 and the Lamborghini Gallardo, sharing similar transmissions, chassis and layout. The Audi R8 was made distinctly different through its interior and exterior styling, price range, and choice of engines.
An Audi R8 model similar to the open-top Porsche Carrera GT is also due to be released in 2008. It is rumored that a more powerful, turbocharged engine that is set to be included in the future Audi RS6 may also be adapted for the R8.
The Audi R8 can be customized with a variety of accessories and optional features. Some basic features offered include leather-upholstered seats, power driver and passenger seats, driver's seat lumbar support, heated front seats, sport steering wheel, power-dependent and speed-sensing steering, adaptive, sport and four-wheel-independent suspension, and front and rear anti-roll bars.
Audi R8 convenience features include a tilt-steering and telescoping steering wheel, auto-dimming rear view mirrors, speed control, power windows, driver vanity mirror, auto-dimming rear view mirror, and HomeLink garage door transmitter. The GPS feature is optional.
Entertainment features in the Audi R8 include an AM/FM/Satellite radio, six-disc CD player with MP3 capability, seven Bang & Olufsen speakers, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.
Some lighting and safety features in the Audi R8 include high-intensity discharge headlights, variably intermittent and rain-sensing wipers, rear window defroster, trip computer, compass, reverse-sensing system (front and rear, with rear camera), tachometer, low tire-pressure warning, outside temperature display, airbags (driver and passenger front, side, and knee), panic alarm, adjustable head restraints and traction control. The Hill Hold feature is optional.
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLK Spy Photos
The Mercedes-Benz SLK is due for a facelift. The revised car will be revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show this September. Auto Express has posted some of the first shots of the car during testing.
Reserve Your Very Own Smart ForTwo for $99 Bucks
DaimlerChrysler has begun taking reservations for the its Smart ForTwo car that will be available in the U.S. in 2008. Buyers can reserve either the hardtop or convertible for $99. The company has set up a reservation page were people can enter their personal information and select the car that they would like. The $99 fee does not guarantee a car. Instead it is meant to help the company figure out where to distribute the car. The money will be applied to the cost of the car if you do actually buy one, if not it is refunded.
The new Mercedes-Benz E-class coming soon
Spies form “Car” magazine managed to catch a glimpse of a prototype during testing. It was undoubtedly the M-B, as the front fascia seems like a mix between the CLS’ swoop headlightings and the consecrated C and S class eyes. Underneath the E-class there’s the new W212 mid-size sedan platform using conventional hydraulic stoppers in favor of electronic breaking used in the past and much disliked by most dealers. Suspension on the other hand is backed-up by a lot of electronics utilizing M-B’s ABC (Action Body Control) system with four link suspension and multi-link rear arrangement. What’s Mercedes without its electronic gizmos? Some of them are the new electronic read-sign reading system or nightvision.
Everything is powered-up by a multitude of gasoline or diesel powered engines, including the 6,2 liter V8 form AMG.
Mercedes GLK - pictures and official specifications
Mercedes puts great hope in the future GLK crossover, and to familiarize the public with the new model they launched the official details and an impressive collection of images.
With this model, Mercedes hopes to cut a big slice of the crossover compact segment, which seems to be really disputed, most of the big league manufacturers preparing a player for this class. But what does this GLK want to be ? If we take our German dictionary and try to figure out what the GLK acronym stands for, we will find that the K comes from “kurz”, which means “short” in Schiller`s language. So, this model is clearly a miniature of the seven seat model of Mercedes, and inherits many features of it`s bigger brother.
If we look at it`s 4,52 meters, the GLK is slightly shorter than the BMW X3 and the future Audi Q5, but longer than the Volkswagen Tiguan. If we want to compare strictly the German quarter of the segment, we have to wait until all of them will hit the streets, but in the manufacturers class, Mercedes is most certainly first, because it has the most diversified offer in the premium crossover group.
Returning to the GLK, the concept that stood at the base of this model was presented at the Detroit Auto Show, and just after that, the GLK was spotted on the set of “Sex and the city” , so the mystery of the series GLK was shattered. What makes us glad is that the series GLK didn`t went to far from the concept`s details, the designers remaining loyal to the original idea, without listening what the financial department had to say.
The guys from Mercedes said about the GLK that it`s ” one of the most road-oriented SUV`s” produced by them, but the G legacy stands up, being the optimum compromise between comfort and stability on the one hand, and all-terrain abilities on the other hand. All of the versions are equipped with 4MATIC all-wheel drive and it distributes the power between the two bridges in 45:55 % proportion. The secret of the off-road skills lies in the specific activated program by the “G” button placed on the central console. With a single press of the button the gas pedal becomes much softer and the off-road mode of the ESP is activated, all of this making it possible to keep control in the conditions of a controlled wheel drift.
The top of range model will be the GLK350, with a 3.5L V6 block, that is developing 272 HP. With a little over two tones weight, the model should be easy enough to go to a 100 km/h speed in about 6.2 seconds. Europeans will be also delighted with the economical diesel engines of 170 HP , 220 CDi and 320 CDi, benefiting of the BlueEfficency technology, and the 231 HP 2.8 L V6 gasoline engine.
This model is completed stylistically by the chromed ornaments and the 20 inch rims. Functionally, this model is equipped with a smart navigation system which saves the route crossed so that the driver can easily find he`s way back. Also, this model comes equipped with a revolutionary tri-zonal intelligent air-conditioning system. The interior will be put under the sign of luxury, being full of noble materials, such as Sienna Pine wood, leather and chrome. Life on board will be sweetened by the panoramic ceiling or the Sirius audio system and the central console display.
The prices without taxes for the German market will be :
* GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICENCY: € 33,900
* GLK 320 CDI 4MATIC: € 38,700
* GLK 280 4MATIC: € 36,600
* GLK 350 4MATIC: € 38,700
With this model, Mercedes hopes to cut a big slice of the crossover compact segment, which seems to be really disputed, most of the big league manufacturers preparing a player for this class. But what does this GLK want to be ? If we take our German dictionary and try to figure out what the GLK acronym stands for, we will find that the K comes from “kurz”, which means “short” in Schiller`s language. So, this model is clearly a miniature of the seven seat model of Mercedes, and inherits many features of it`s bigger brother.
If we look at it`s 4,52 meters, the GLK is slightly shorter than the BMW X3 and the future Audi Q5, but longer than the Volkswagen Tiguan. If we want to compare strictly the German quarter of the segment, we have to wait until all of them will hit the streets, but in the manufacturers class, Mercedes is most certainly first, because it has the most diversified offer in the premium crossover group.
Returning to the GLK, the concept that stood at the base of this model was presented at the Detroit Auto Show, and just after that, the GLK was spotted on the set of “Sex and the city” , so the mystery of the series GLK was shattered. What makes us glad is that the series GLK didn`t went to far from the concept`s details, the designers remaining loyal to the original idea, without listening what the financial department had to say.
The guys from Mercedes said about the GLK that it`s ” one of the most road-oriented SUV`s” produced by them, but the G legacy stands up, being the optimum compromise between comfort and stability on the one hand, and all-terrain abilities on the other hand. All of the versions are equipped with 4MATIC all-wheel drive and it distributes the power between the two bridges in 45:55 % proportion. The secret of the off-road skills lies in the specific activated program by the “G” button placed on the central console. With a single press of the button the gas pedal becomes much softer and the off-road mode of the ESP is activated, all of this making it possible to keep control in the conditions of a controlled wheel drift.
The top of range model will be the GLK350, with a 3.5L V6 block, that is developing 272 HP. With a little over two tones weight, the model should be easy enough to go to a 100 km/h speed in about 6.2 seconds. Europeans will be also delighted with the economical diesel engines of 170 HP , 220 CDi and 320 CDi, benefiting of the BlueEfficency technology, and the 231 HP 2.8 L V6 gasoline engine.
This model is completed stylistically by the chromed ornaments and the 20 inch rims. Functionally, this model is equipped with a smart navigation system which saves the route crossed so that the driver can easily find he`s way back. Also, this model comes equipped with a revolutionary tri-zonal intelligent air-conditioning system. The interior will be put under the sign of luxury, being full of noble materials, such as Sienna Pine wood, leather and chrome. Life on board will be sweetened by the panoramic ceiling or the Sirius audio system and the central console display.
The prices without taxes for the German market will be :
* GLK 220 CDI 4MATIC BlueEFFICENCY: € 33,900
* GLK 320 CDI 4MATIC: € 38,700
* GLK 280 4MATIC: € 36,600
* GLK 350 4MATIC: € 38,700
McLaren F2 super-car
We know already that McLaren is preparing a super-car for 2010, but it`s design was uncertain. Until now.
Given that the pictures have appeared on a “underground” site in Slovenia, it`s not excluded that this are only a few computer drawings made by a McLaren fan. Even so, the give us some ideas about how the future British super-car might look.
Put in motion by a middle-mounted engine, the super-car uses the technical platform originally developed by McLaren and Mercedes as the basis for a replacement of the SLR, but abandoned by the Germans in 2004. Instead, the “power plant” will be a powerful V8, borrowed from AMG. But more details we will find out as time passes. We have time … about 2 years till the end of 2010 …
Mercedes S-Class face-lift - Spy-shots - Uncovered
While BMW has already launched the new vessel admiral and Audi is preparing for a new generation, Mercedes doesn`t waste any time and starts modifying the S-Class. Even if this is a rather recent model.
2009 Renault Laguna Coupe & Megane 5d Scooped in Australia
A local pharmacist Australia called Mark Hope from the village of Yungaburra, in Queensland,2009 Renault Laguna Coupe & Megane 5d Scooped in Australia managed to scoop these pictures when a pair of disguised Renault prototype models stopped by for a coffee break. Turns out that the camouflaged prototypes were indeed the upcoming 2009 Renault Megane 5door hatchback and the 2009 Renault Laguna Coupe, both of which are expected at this year’s Paris Motor Show in September.
The Renault Laguna Coupe was previewed as a concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Show and from what we can tell from the pictures, the production version’s styling seems toned down a bit, but in general, the coupe looks like it retains the concept’s silhouette. The Laguna Coupe will most probably be offered with 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol and diesel engines generating between 140 and 201 Hp along with a top-notch 3.5-liter V6 unit.
Continuing with the 2009 Megane, Renault had given us a sneak peak of the 3door / Coupe variant at the Geneva Show in March (see here). Snapped here in 5door form, the new Megane lets go of the current version’s weirdly styled arse for a more subtle design. However -no thanks to the heavy camouflage, that’s about all we can comment on Renault’s VW Golf adversary.
The Renault Laguna Coupe was previewed as a concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Show and from what we can tell from the pictures, the production version’s styling seems toned down a bit, but in general, the coupe looks like it retains the concept’s silhouette. The Laguna Coupe will most probably be offered with 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol and diesel engines generating between 140 and 201 Hp along with a top-notch 3.5-liter V6 unit.
Continuing with the 2009 Megane, Renault had given us a sneak peak of the 3door / Coupe variant at the Geneva Show in March (see here). Snapped here in 5door form, the new Megane lets go of the current version’s weirdly styled arse for a more subtle design. However -no thanks to the heavy camouflage, that’s about all we can comment on Renault’s VW Golf adversary.
Audi TTS Official Safety Car for 2008 Tourist Trophy Motorcycle Races.
For the first time in more than 100 years, a car sharing the same name as the world’s oldest car races - the TT - will become the official car at the famous Tourist Trophy motorcycle races next month on the Isle of Man.
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