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Ferrari changes reference of 2011 F1 car to F150th Italia

February 11, 2011 at 11:05 am By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ferrari, Ford, International News

Seems that sometimes, if you make your point clearly everything can be resolved, and quickly at that. Helps somewhat if you go to court too. The Ford-Ferrari issue over the F150 nameplate looks to have been settled.

Ford had filed a lawsuit against Ferrari about the latter’s F150′s moniker for its 2011 Formula 1 car, stating that it was simply too close for comfort to its F-150 pickup, which is one of the best-selling vehicles in the US.

Reports have it that, faced with the lawsuit, Ferrari has backed down and announced that the racecar will now be called the F150th Italia, a name it says has been the official designation of the car all along. As of now, it will use the full description for the vehicle.

The Prancing Horse boys don’t really know why Ford is getting so hot under the collar over the name given to its racecar.

“Ferrari believes its own contender in the upcoming F1 Championship cannot be confused with any other types of commercially available vehicle whatsoever, nor can it give the impression that there is a link to another brand of road-going vehicle. Therefore it is very difficult to understand Ford’s viewpoint on the matter,” the company said in a statement.

Ford’s response was to say it never thought anyone would confuse its muscular truck with a F1 racecar, but the motive behind the action was about protecting the brand from being diluted. Think F-150 in any form, hyphen or not, think a particular truck and nothing else, not even a flash drive, that’s what the blue oval wants to retain.

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Volkswagen Golf24 with 440 PS 2.5L turbo inline-5 to compete in Nurburgring 24 hour race

February 11, 2011 at 2:43 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Volkswagen

This is the new Volkswagen Golf24, which Volkswagen will be racing in the Nürburgring 24-hour race in 2011, and it’s much more than just a hardcore tuned up Golf R. No, the Golf24 gains one cylinder over whatever’s been available in the Mk6 series of Volkswagen Golf so far (except for the US Golf of course).

It’t not as hardcore as mounting a W12 engine in the rear like the Golf GTI W12 650 Concept, but the engine bay of the Golf24 has been equipped with a 2.5 litre inline-5 turbo engine, probably a similar unit to the one found in the Audi TT-RS. In race tune, it makes a massive 440 PS and 540Nm of torque, putting all that power to all four wheels via permanent four wheel drive and a sequential 6-speed paddle shift box.

The Golf24 will hit the 25km racetrack in June this year, but it has already being tested since late last year, with the most recent test conducted in Italy at the Vallelunga circuit. If you have a VW Golf and you’ve stretched your 4-pot to the maximum it can take already, perhaps this is an idea for an engine transplant? ;)

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Renault Captur – new design direction in crossover form

February 11, 2011 at 1:51 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Renault

The Renault DeZir was my favourite concept from Paris 2010, the stand where I stood by the longest to admire. That lovely lady in red had the right proportions, the right curves and the right jewelry, and is a good first look at Renault’s fresh design direction by Laurens van den Acker. This man loves flowing lines – he came up with Mazda’s Nagare design before joining Renault.

Here’s the Renault Captur concept that will be shown at Geneva 2011, the second concept to show Renault’s design strategy. If DeZir was about “falling in love”, this is the next stage of “two people exploring the world around them”. The French are very romantic, aren’t they?

“Captur is a fun and sporty crossover, ideal for a young couple about to discover the world”, explains Van den Acker. “It takes as its basis the fundamental design language introduced on the DeZir concept car but adds a more technical dimension – more functional but still highly sensuous,” adds Axel Breun, director of concept cars.

Captur adopts the new frontal identity first presented by DeZir. The centrepiece is a large Renault logo set against a dark surface to stand out. “In designing Captur, I began with the image of a sprinter on the starting blocks, his muscles tensed, and the energy unleashed when the starting pistol is fired,” exterior designer, Julio Lozano explains. The design also references things such as helmets, gloves and other sports protective gear.

The Captur is powered by an Energy dCi 160 twin-turbo engine with 160 hp and 380 Nm from just 1.6 litres. Peak torque is available from just 1,750rpm. Paired with a dual clutch EDC gearbox, CO2 emission is less than 99g per km. 0-100 km/h is done in 8 seconds and top speed is 210 km/h. The RX2 system improves traction at low speeds. Should one of the two driven wheels lose traction, this new mechanical self-locking differential transfers all or part of the engine’s torque to the wheel with the most grip.

Gallery after the jump.
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BMW X6 to be available as a 5-seater from April 2011

February 11, 2011 at 1:28 am By Paul Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

BMW has updated the BMW X6 with the option of having a proper flat 3 seater bench in the rear instead of two individual seats, just like how the Passat CC started off as a strict 4-seater model and then gained a 5-seater version later. The new rear bench will only be available to order from April 2011 onwards, and we don’t know if BMW Malaysia will offer it from then on.

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Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package to debut in Geneva

February 11, 2011 at 12:01 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Lexus

The Lexus LFA is highly exclusive, but this one ups the ante. Lexus will give the LFA Nürburgring Package its public debut at the upcoming Geneva show. This bespoke and more track-focused version of the supercar will only make its way to the garages of 50 buyers out of the 500 LFAs that are being built.

In a nutshell, the Nürburgring Package adds on aerodynamic features and technical revisions to improve handling and downforce. In this guise, the LFA’s 4.8-litre V10 also gets an extra 10 bhp to make 562 bhp and gear shifts by the six-speed sequential transmission is made faster. The wheels and tyres are also specific.

At Geneva, Lexus will also be presenting the CT 200h to European customers ahead of its market launch. Described as the first and only full hybrid model in the luxury hatchback segment, Europe-wide enquiries about the new car are 40% higher than expected. The same car is coming to Malaysia very soon as well, and with an attractive price of RM168,000 OTR interest should similarly encouraging. Click here to read about the CT 200h.

Images of the LFA Nürburgring Package after the jump.
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The Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition – lots more plush, and exclusively so

February 10, 2011 at 5:57 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Land Rover


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Another debutant heading to Geneva will be the Range Rover Autobiography Ultimate Edition, an exclusive hand-finished version built specifically to customer order only, and offering a lot more in the way of plush. Only 500 are to be built for global sale.

First on the list is a handcrafted luxury interior, using specially selected soft feel natural leathers, with high-end semi-aniline leather for the seats and Oxford leather on the door casings, dashboard top and steering wheel.


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At the back, things go the first-class route. Two stand-alone electric rear seats enhance space and comfort for the rear passengers, making the Ultimate Edition the definitive chauffeur vehicle.

There’s a rear console extension, including a machined aluminium laptop table and drinks chiller, and two Apple iPads as standard (the first car to do so), which takes the Range Rover rear seat experience to new levels of luxury. The luxury theme extends to the rear load space, with a super yacht inspired teak floor with metal and leather detailing.


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Available in both 4.4 litre LR-TDV8 diesel and LR-V8 5.0 litre supercharged form, the Autobiography Ultimate Edition will come in two new exterior colours, Roussillon Red or Otago Stone, with body coloured door handles, dark atlas radiator grille and side vents part of the finish, though Santorini Black will be available as an exterior choice in some markets.

Rounding things off in the package are new 20-inch multi-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels and unique tailgate badging. If you so choose, you can opt for an Exterior Design Pack and deployable side steps.

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Hyundai Veloster to compete in US rallycross and X Games

February 10, 2011 at 4:40 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Hyundai, Koreans, Motorsports

The Hyundai Veloster that made its world debut last month at Detroit has earned its racing stripes, and is now part of Hyundai Motor America’s motorsports program. Famous racer Rhys Millen fabricated and will race the first 500-horsepower AWD Hyundai Veloster in the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship.

Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) and Hyundai are also making a second rally Veloster that will be shared between rally champion Marcus Dodd and world record freestyle motorbike rider Robbie Maddison. Millen and Maddison will drive the Hyundai Veloster rally cars at Summer X Games. A third Veloster will be constructed to compete in the 2WD class of the U.S. Rallycross Championship, to be piloted by celebrity drivers.

“The all-new 2012 Veloster is a playful, fun to drive car and thanks to Rhys and his team we’re excited to introduce it to racing fans ahead of its launch this summer. I teamed up with Rhys’ father, Rod, nearly twenty years ago for Hyundai’s original Pikes Peak rally program, so it is great to be back in the sport again with his son inspiring a new generation,” said Mike O’Brien, VP of Product and Corporate Planning at Hyundai Motor America.

The production Veloster was stripped bare and the chassis spent five days in an alkali bath to remove all rubber and adhesives. The chassis was also stitch welded for added structural rigidity. RMR then replicated the body panels out of carbon/Kevlar. The hood, doors, quarter panels, front fascia and rear fascia are all built out of carbon/Kevlar, which is 75% lighter than standard sheet metal. A custom RMR rear wing adds downforce and hood vents help dissipate heat.

The engine is a four-cylinder turbocharged unit with 500 hp, mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox by Xtrac, which also supplies the AWD transfer case and front/rear differentials. Rallycross involves lots of jumping, so a Proflex jumbo coil over suspension is fitted along with 14-inch brake rotors and six-piston calipers from Alcon. 18-inch HRE wheels and 245/40 Hankook Racing tyres complete the package.

Gallery with action shots is after the jump. Click here to view the post, gallery and a video of the road going Veloster.
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Nissan returns to the Le Mans game, as engine provider

February 10, 2011 at 3:19 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under International News, Motorsports, Nissan

Nissan has announced that it has entered into an exclusive two-year official partnership with Signature Racing to provide the latter its Nismo-tuned VK45V8 engines for Signature’s racecar competing in the LMP2 class of the new Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC).

It heralds the brand’s return to racing under the Le Mans banner, brought about by Nissan’s desire to promote its engines to a much larger global audience.

The team, which will be known as Signatech Nissan, is aiming high for the inaugural season, looking to both finish at Le Mans 24 Hours and secure a podium place at the end of the year-long global championships.

Although the official race car livery and full driver line-up for the new season will be announced over the coming weeks, F3 star Franck Mailleux has been confirmed for the ILMC and the Le Mans 24 Hours. The ILMC season gets underway on March 19 at Sebring in the US.

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Ford takes Ferrari to court over the use of F150 name

February 10, 2011 at 2:30 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ferrari, Ford, International News

What’s in a name? Well, a lot, it seems, and if you thought the Lotus versus Lotus do has been the height of it this season, in comes another one to join the fray.

According to reports, Ford has filed a lawsuit in the US District Court in Detroit against Ferrari and its US sales arm over what it says is a violation of its trademarked F-150 name.

The Italian company seems to have stepped on Ford’s toes in naming its new Formula 1 car the F150, and the US automaker said the chosen name is too close to that of its pickup, hyphen or no hyphen. The blue oval has been using the F-150 moniker on its pickups since 1975, and trademarked it in 1995.

Ford is looking to block Ferrari from using the F150 name in the US, and this would include the importation, manufacturing or selling of any F150 products in the US.

The lawsuit also states that Ford wants Ferrari to surrender any profits earned in the US through the use of the F150 name. Elsewhere, in relation to the website Ferrari created for its racecar (www.ferrarif150.com), Ford is seeking US$100,000 in damages under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act, which prevents the creation of website domain names that can confuse users about products available.

Ford said in its suit that Ferrari is utilising the F150 moniker “in order to capitalise on and profit from the substantial goodwill that Ford has developed in the F-150 trademark, and in order to trade off of Ford’s famous and winning trademark.”

Earlier, Ferrari announced that its 2011 Formula 1 race car would be called the F150, named in reference to the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.

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Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 – supercharged V8, 550 hp

February 10, 2011 at 12:40 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News

Chevrolet has unveiled its highest-performing Camaro at the Chicago Auto Show, and it’s all brutish with the ZL1, which is due to enter the market in early 2012.

The ZL1 gets its moniker from the all-aluminum racing engine of the same name, which was developed in the late 1960s and installed into a handful of regular-production 1969 Camaros. Only 69 were built with the engine, but they’ve achieved mythical status among enthusiasts.

This one, of course, gets a more modern mill in the form of a LSA 6.2 litre supercharged V8 engine, which produces an estimated 550 hp and 677 Nm. Components include a sixth-generation Eaton supercharger with four-lobe rotors, premium heat-resistant aluminium-alloy cylinder heads and high-strength hypereutectic pistons.

The block is mated to a Tremec TR-6060 six-speed manual, in this case the MG9 version, which has a higher torque capacity. Features include a dual-mass flywheel, twin-disc clutch and a new, shorter-throw shifter.

To differentiate the ZL1 from the rest of the Camaro range, the car gets a number of reworked exterior elements. The front features a redesigned fascia – replete with a front splitter and new vertical fog lamps – and an aluminium hood with air extractors and a raised, carbon fibre insert, which helps reduce the bonnet’s mass.

High-intensity discharge headlamps and fog lamps are standard, and at the rear, items include a diffuser and spoiler. The car wears new-design, 20-inch forged aluminium wheels, wrapped with Goodyear Supercar F2 tyres developed specifically for the ZL1.

There’s a specifically-tuned dual-mode exhaust system, first used on the Corvette, which offers a sound level and character in response to engine rpm. The car wears a Brembo braking system, with six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers.

Elsewhere, the car gets a Magnetic Ride Control suspension, with a choice of driver selectable modes, and the rear stabiliser bar’s drop links have been repositioned outboard of the control arms to offer more effective body roll control.

Inside, the ZL1′s leather seats feature microfibre suede inserts, and other enhancements include a redesigned steering wheel, alloy pedals, a HUD and a “four-pack” auxiliary gauge system featuring a boost readout.

Gallery after the jump.
[Read more...]

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