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Is Marlboro advertising on Ferraris although tobacco advertising in F1 is prohibited?

April 30, 2010 at 10:34 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

This is an interesting piece of news. Apparently a group of doctors are demanding an investigation to be carried out regarding a possible Marlboro advertising on Ferrari’s Formula 1 team as part of a sponsorship deal worth US$100 million. The doctors are saying that the ‘bar code’ design on the car and team apparel is a subliminal Marlboro advertising.

Under EU legislation it is an offense to carry out tobacco advertising in sporting events. Marlboro’s parent company Phillip Morris previously signed a sponsorship deal with Ferrari that will go on till 2011. However it was understood that Ferrari will not carry Marlboro’s branding where there was a ban.

Member of the Royal College of Physicians and Director of the tobacco advisory group John Britton said, “The bar code looks like the bottom half of a packet of Marlboro cigarettes.” “I was stunned when I saw it. This is pushing at the limits. If you look at how the bar code has evolved over the last four years, it looks like creeping branding,” he added.

A Ferrari spokesperson then responded by saying, “The bar code is part of the livery of the car, it is not part of a subliminal advertising campaign. US$100 million is not a correct figure; we are not disclosing the figure but it is lower than the figure you mention.”

Ferrari is also the only Formula 1 team which carries a tobacco brand name in its official title. Do you think of the tobacco brand when you see the ‘bar code’ above?

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Pirelli wishes to become Formula 1 tire supplier in 2011

April 30, 2010 at 9:56 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Motorsports

Pirelli has officially revealed its plans to become an official tire supplier for the Formula 1 World Championship starting from next season following Bridgestone’s departure from the sport.

The statement by Pirelli mentioned, “Pirelli communicates its decision to present a technical and commercial offer for supply of tyres to all the teams in the Formula One world championship. The company plans to present the bid to FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) and FOA (Formula One Administration Limited) by 9 May, the date of the next Formula One Gran Prix to be held in Spain.”

It was also reported that both Michelin and Avon are also interested. However it is not certain at this point of time if the FIA will allow more than one tire supplier to be part of Formula 1 like what happened previously with Bridgestone and Michelin. Should there be only one supplier to help maintain fairness? What do you think?

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BMW plans to make DTM comeback in 2012

April 30, 2010 at 9:17 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under BMW, Cars, Motorsports

BMW has officially announced that it plans to return to the DTM (German Touring Car Masters) series in 2012 with the M3 if the requirements by the organizer ITR can be met. In the mean time BMW will make necessary technical preparations as the final verdict will be revealed at the end of the year.

BMW was part of the series in the past and wishes to make a come back as the series has been restructured. “The newly aligned programme offers us many important stages, on which to demonstrate the sporting gene present in BMW vehicles. The planned return to the DTM is an exciting challenge for our team,” said BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen.

“Over the coming months we will be making all the necessary technical preparations that should allow us to be competitive right from the start should we join the series in 2012. Thanks to its great tradition in production car racing, the BMW M3 is predestined to be used as the basic car. In 2011 we will once again be lining up with our BMW M3 GT2, which is contesting its debut season in Europe this year,” he added.

The company also said that it is developing a force-inducted 1.6 litre 4-cylinder engine with direct injection for 2011. This engine will be used in championships that run the Super2000 rules such as the World Touring Car Championship.

If BMW joins DTM it will race alongside its German rivals such as Mercedes-Benz and Audi. DTM started in 1984 and it was temporarily discontinued in 1996 due to high costs. It then made a return in 2000.

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Hyundai launches all new Avante in South Korea!

April 30, 2010 at 8:40 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Hyundai

Just days after launching the brand new Accent in Beijing Hyundai has now unveiled the latest generation Avante or Elantra at the Busan International Motor Show in Korea. Just like other latest offerings from Hyundai the Avante has received the company’s “fluidic sculpture” design language and it looks very good! Definitely much better than the outgoing one.

Among others the new Avante comes with features such as HID headlights, LED taillights along with a TFT LCD information display screen in the instrument panel. It even has heated rear seats.

According to the rather short press release power comes from the company’s latest 1.6 litre Gamma gasoline engine with direct injection. Power output is figured at 138hp while offering 166Nm of torque. This engine also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing and a Variable Induction System.

It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which makes this Hyundai’s first GDI engine that is paired with a 6-speeder on a compact sedan. Continue reading to check out some launch photos. Unfortunately there are no images of the interior at the moment.

There is also a short preview animation of the new Avante.
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Peugeot 3008 in Putrajaya – new Pug launch imminent?

April 30, 2010 at 8:11 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Peugeot, Spyshots

It looks like Peugeot’s 3008 crossover will soon hit the streets of KL, since a unit has already been spotted around Putrajaya by reader Redzallica.

This particular unit has the very same paint that was used by Peugeot in the 3008 launch’s press relase photos – a kind of bronzeish colour.

The 3008 is sort of a cross between a hatch and an SUV. The interior is said to have a sedan-like driving position, and I quite like the design of the cabin, which you can find in a full gallery after the jump. The center dash area features an assist grip much like a hardcore 4WD vehicle, although for now the 3008 is front wheel drive only. However there’s a dial in the interior of the press release car that shows 5 “Grip Control” modes – Standard, Snow, Off Road (Mud/Dirt/Wet Grass), Sand and ESP off.

There is however, an all-wheel drive hybrid version called the 3008 Hybrid4 which uses electric power for the rear wheels said to be coming in the future.

Look after the jump for a full gallery of the 3008.
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BMW becomes world’s most valuable auto brand

April 28, 2010 at 11:53 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under BMW, Cars

BMW is now the world’s most valuable auto brand after the company overtook Toyota in an annual ranking of the world’s top brands called BrandZ Top 100 which is run by market research company Millward Brown. The survey indicated that BMW has a brand value of US$21.8 billion and sits in 25th spot in the overall ranking.

“It is likely that Toyota’s brand has suffered further in recent months, but it is a strong brand and is trying hard to overcome the damage through a major communications campaign,” said director Peter Walshe. “All of our evidence shows that strong brands are much more likely to recover from a crisis.”

According to the survey although BMW is on top its brand value declined by 9% compared to last year. Toyota had it worse with a 27% decline. Third place went to Honda while Mercedes-Benz is in fourth after suffering from an 11% drop. Porsche is in fifth after its brand’s value fell by 31%.

The brands that made up the top three of the list include, you’ve guessed it Google followed by IBM and Apple. Google’s brand value is worth US$114 billion.

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Kimi Raikkonen does not rule out Formula 1 comeback

April 28, 2010 at 10:39 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

2007 Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen has revealed to Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat that he may make a return to Formula 1 after leaving the pinnacle of motorsport this season to spend some time in WRC. He currently races a Citroen C4 for the Red Bull Junior Team and has recently scored his first WRC points at the Rally of Jordan.

“It’s not turned in any direction and I am in no hurry to make decisions. We have to see what is possible, what is the most interesting option and what I enjoy most, when it comes down to it. I will decide at some point later this year,” said the former Ferrari ace.

Rumor has been circulating that Raikkonen may take over Mark Webber’s seat in Red Bull next season since he is already racing for a Red Bull-owned rally squad although this is mere speculation at the moment. Would you like to see the rather quiet Raikkonen make a return in Formula 1? I would!

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Bentley plans to introduce Mulsanne-based Azure convertible

April 28, 2010 at 10:19 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Bentley, Cars

According to Insideline Bentley will introduce a new Azure convertible that will be based on the rather odd-looking Mulsanne. The top-less Azure is expected to be launched next summer and is likely to be a 2-door with a fabric roof.

When we say the word ‘based’ we also mean that the Azure will carry the Mulsanne’s front end as well and I am not sure if thats the right thing to do. Motivation is expected to come from a 6.75 litre V8 with twin turbos that is capable of producing 505hp and a massive 1020Nm of torque.

The first ever Bentley Azure was launched back in 1995 and the four seater convertible was based on the Continental. Pictured above is the 2009 Bentley Azure T.

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Facelifted Volvo C30 makes its way into Malaysia

April 28, 2010 at 8:10 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Local News, Volvo

Volvo Car Malaysia has just launched the refreshed C30 for the local market. There are two models to choose from including the C30 2.0 and the top-of-the-line C30 T5 R-Design. The most noticeable difference is the restyled dynamic-looking front end that is also evident on other new Volvo’s such as the S60.

At the rear Volvo has replaced the black plastic panels with body colour in either the same or in contrasting colour. There are also two new wheel designs while the T5 R-Design variant gets dual chrome exhaust tailpipes. Volvo has also added a new Orange Flame Metallic body colour.

Improvements in the interior is mostly made up by a new ultra-thin centre stack that is finished in a new Oyster Burst Deco inspired by the surface texture of the classic Swedish Hagstrom guitar. There is also a new accessory styling kit that comprises of a fog lamp decor, a front skit-plate, side scuff plates with engraved C30 logo as well as a rear skid plate with an aluminum look.

The base 2.0 model is able to crank out 145hp and 185Nm of torque while the T5 R-Design features a 5-cylinder 2.5 litre engine that makes 230hp and a heathy 320Nm of torque. The former comes fitted with a 6-speed Powershift dual clutch transmission while the latter uses a 5-speed Geartronic.

True to Volvo’s nature the C30 also comes with a list of safety features. There is the Blind Spot Information system that alerts the driver if there is a vehicle in the Volvo’s blind spot, Dynamics Stablity Traction Control which is pretty much an electronic stability program, Active Dual-Xenon Bending lights that change the direction of the lights depending on steering angle and Adaptive Brake Lights which will flash all three brake lights (up to five flashes per second) if it detects a “panic braking” situation.

Pricing wise the C30 2.0 can be yours for RM215,000 (OTR without insurance) while the more powerful C30 T5 R-Design carries an RM259,000 (OTR without insurance) price tag.

Continue reading to check out more images of the Volvo C30.
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Lexus’ latest hybrid concept is a bicycle!

April 28, 2010 at 4:53 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Lexus

Carbon fibre construction, eight-speed transmission and hybrid power presented in L-finesse design. Sounds like the latest F model from Lexus but the above description is actually for the company’s Lexus Hybrid Bicycle. It was unveiled at last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, but I do not remember seeing it there – must be that limelight grabbing LFA’s fault!

Lexus, which is the premium segment’s hybrid champion, has applied the same thinking, fundamental engineering and design values of the brand here, but on two wheels rather than four. The Hybrid Bicycle adopts similar principles as its car siblings, with the pedal power of the rider boosted by assistance to the front wheel from a 240W electric motor, via a 25.9V lithium-ion battery. Like the cars, there’s a choice of Eco or Power modes plus brake energy regeneration!

Power goes two all wheels via an electric eight-speed Shimano internal gear system, the same number of ratios as the Lexus LS 600h at the other end of the hybrid range. This bike’s light too, being crafted from carbon fibre.

Lexus is the title sponsor of the Great British Bike Ride, a four-day charity fun ride that will see hundreds of cyclists following a course from Land’s End to the home of English rugby at Twickenham, and has brought one of only two Lexus Hybrid Bicycles in existence to the UK for show. No plans for production, though. More pics after the jump.
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