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Ferraris are fast in Canada, but Vettel is on pole once again

June 12, 2011 at 3:50 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

Formula 1 moves to Canada for its only North American race in the calendar, and yesterday’s qualifying session at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve saw reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel race to his sixth pole position in seven races this year. Hot on the heels of the Red Bull man was the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, who will line up second and third on the grid.

The young German’s 1m13.014s lap was 0.185s faster than Alonso’s best effort and 0.203 faster than Massa’s. This is the best Saturday for the Scuderia so far this season, and their legions of fans will be hoping that it translates to good results later in the race.

Vettel’s teammate Mark Webber is fourth, and Lewis Hamilton will line up alongside Mercedes GP Petronas’ Nico Rosberg on the third row in fifth and sixth respectively. McLaren’s other English champion, Jenson Button, is seventh. The rest of the top ten spots will be filled by Michael Schumacher (8th), Nick Heidfeld (9th) and Vitaly Petrov (10th). Lotus Renault GP would be happy to see two black/gold cars in Q3.

Further down the grid, Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari is the midfielder to join the usual six cars to fall out in Q1. Team Lotus’ Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen should now be able to drive to their usual 19th and 20th spots on the grid blindfolded, as they’ve made it their own. Behind them are the HRTs and Virgins. The latter’s Jerome d’Ambrosio qualified almost half a second off the 107% time, so his race is in the stewards’ hands.

Click here to see the full timing sheet. For those staying up late to watch the race, we wish you good recovery and a decently productive Monday!

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Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 returns to Nurburging, eclipses 2008 lap time with a 7:19.63 blitz

June 10, 2011 at 7:26 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Chevrolet, International News

In June 2008, General Motors took a standard Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 to Nurburgring, where it posted a lap time of 7 minutes, 26.4 seconds, driven by Corvette development engineer Jim Mero.

Three years on, the Corvette has returned to the 20.8 km circuit and recorded a lap time that not just eclipses that from the 2008 run, but enters the books as the sixth fastest for production vehicles – again piloted by Mero, the 2012 ZR1 covered the Nordschleife in 7 minutes, 19.63 seconds.

As was the case with the 2008 run, the 2012 car is a full production model with no performance modifications – the 1,512 kg car continues on with the LS9 supercharged 6.2 litre V8 rated at 638 hp and 819 Nm, mated to a six-speed, close-ratio manual transmission.

The Corvette does gets some upgrades for the 2012 year model, in the form of new, optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup Zero Pressure tires – the competition-oriented tires are optimised for warm, dry conditions to increase cornering and handling capability – as well as a Performance Traction Management (PTM) system, which manages torque delivery for maximum performance. Engineers estimate an 8% gain in maximum lateral acceleration to more than 1.1g, as well as improved braking distance with these in place.

Whatever it is, you can imagine the new lap time set by the Vette isn’t going to cheer up Nissan GT-R owners any, in terms of bragging rights, that is.

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Oh deer, watch out! – Volvo developing system to avoid collision with wild animals

June 10, 2011 at 5:35 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Technology, Volvo

More news on the collision avoidance assistance front, but this time, it has to do with animals – Volvo is developing a system that alerts and automatically brakes for animals on the road.

With thousands of motorists across the globe killed in accidents caused by collisions with wild animals each year, the aim of the project is to develop a safety system that reduces the risk of collisions with said wild animals. The new system is based on technologies from Pedestrian Detection with Full Auto Brake and will be launched on the market in a few years’ time, Volvo says.

The system consists of two parts – a radar sensor and an infra-red camera that can register the traffic situation. The camera monitors the road ahead and if an animal is within range the system alerts the driver with an audible signal. If the driver doesn’t react, the brakes are automatically applied.

As the majority of accidents with animals occur at dusk or after nightfall, it’s essential for the system to function in the dark. The goal, of course, is for the system to function at the normal rural highway speeds, as opposed to the current pedestrian detection system which operates at low speeds, specifically for city usage.

The challenge being faced by the engineers is how to ‘teach’ the system to recognise different animals. A development team from Volvo spent time at a safari park digitally logging film sequences of animals and their various behavioral patterns, focusing on moose, red deer and fallow deer. By driving very slowly along a trail where fodder had been laid out to attract the animals, data was recorded and this will be used to evaluate and develop the sensor system.

In the first stage, the system will respond to large animals that risk injuring the driver or passengers in an impact, such as moose, deer and reindeer. There’s good reason for going with the trio – in Sweden alone, more than 47,000 accidents involving wild animals took place in 2010, 7,000 of them with moose.

The company says that the greatest danger is from collisions with a moose, or Eurasian elk, if you prefer. In an impact with an Alces alces, there’s a relatively high risk of personal injury, since it’s common for the animal to end up on or roll across the front of the car and its windscreen.

The project has been under way for just over a year, though a lot of work still remains to be done. Various technologies are currently being evaluated and software is being developed. And while the system “learns” to recognise various animals, development is also under way on the necessary decision-making mechanisms, which is how and when the protective system is activated to respond.

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Ford seeking globally harmonised communications standards for advanced wireless systems

June 10, 2011 at 5:08 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Ford, International News, Technology

Ford is working with automakers and safety leaders globally on a standardised platform for advanced wireless systems that can allow vehicles to “talk” to each other – based on a common communication standard – to reduce crashes and congestion.

Intelligent vehicles potentially could help in preventing 81% of all police-reported light-vehicle target crashes involving unimpaired drivers, according to a US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report.

The company says that global vehicle manufacturers need harmonised standards while the technology is being researched and developed, or the industry could end up with a variety of standards and vehicles that cannot talk to each other from region to region. It adds that failure to develop these globally harmonised standards would delay deployment, decrease reliability and unnecessarily increase costs.

Ford’s researchers are already developing advanced crash avoidance systems that use GPS technologies and advanced Wi-Fi signals, or dedicated short-range communications, on a secured channel allocated by the Federal Communications Commission. The essence is to create intelligent vehicles that communicate with each other in traffic and help drivers avoid or mitigate crashes.

In Germany, the company is collaborating on a wireless research project with other automakers and the government in an effort to address congestion-related traffic safety issues. The Safe and Intelligent Mobility-Test Field Germany research project, which runs through 2012, is a 400-vehicle field test to evaluate feasibility and scalability of wireless systems in the real world.

The Wi-Fi-based radio system allows full-range, 360-degree detection of potentially dangerous situations, such as when a driver’s vision is obstructed. For example, drivers could be alerted if their vehicle is on path to collide with another vehicle at an intersection, when a vehicle ahead stops or slows suddenly or when a traffic pattern changes on a busy highway. The systems could also warn drivers if there is a risk of collision when changing lanes, approaching a stationary or parked vehicle, or if another driver loses control.

Over in the US, meanwhile, it’s contributing two prototype Ford Taurus sedans for a series of clinics slated for later this year. The research will be conducted by a coalition of automakers organised by the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership (CAMP), a joint research group founded by Ford and General Motors which is working to develop inter-operability standards in advance of completing the research phase in 2013.

By reducing crashes, intelligent vehicles could ease traffic delays, which would save drivers both time and fuel costs. Congestion also could be avoided through a network of intelligent vehicles and infrastructure that would process real-time traffic and road information and allow drivers to choose less congested routes.

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Bahrain concedes defeat in 2011 F1 race controversy

June 10, 2011 at 5:07 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

It has been one week since FIA announced the reinstatement of the Bahrain GP, which will take the October 30 slot of the Indian GP, pushing the inaugural race to be the 2011 season finale. But instead of welcoming cheers, the World Motor Sport Council decision attracted plenty of flak from the paddock, human rights groups and commentators alike. You can read their views here and here.

As criticism grew by the day, including an unwilling FOTA and a doubtful Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA has been left with little option but to backtrack and apologise. No such move, yet, but FIA president Jean Todt has asked Bernie to resubmit a calendar, which would likely revert India to October 30, ending the season in Brazil on November 27. The Bahrain GP organiser meanwhile, has all but given up hope.

“Whilst Bahrain would have been delighted to see the grand prix progress on October 30th in-line with the World Motor Sport Council’s decision, it has been made clear that this fixture cannot progress and we fully respect that decision,” Bahrain International Circuit chairman Zayed R Alzayani said in a statement.

“Bahrain has always sought to play a positive role in the continued development of Formula 1, from pioneering F1 racing in the Middle East, to helping other countries in facilitating their own races in new territories, as well as providing our own unique experience and universal welcome to grand prix supporters.

“Bahrain has absolutely no desire to see a race which would further extend the calendar season [and] detract from the enjoyment of F1 for either drivers, teams or supporters. We want our role in Formula 1 to continue to be as positive and constructive as it has always been, therefore, in the best interest of the sport, we will not pursue the rescheduling of a race this season,” he added.

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Nissan Grand Livina facelift launched in Malaysia

June 10, 2011 at 12:50 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Nissan

The Nissan Grand Livina has been a huge success for Tan Chong. Since its introduction here in December 2007, the three-row seven seater MPV has found over 43,300 new homes. It also marked the beginning of the decline of the Toyota Avanza, the car that started the affordable MPV market here. The Livina has been around for more than three years now in its original form, and it’s time for a minor change facelift.

Visually, the facelifted Grand Livina is distinguished by its new-look front grille. Like before, the 1.6L model gets a “smoke-plated” design while the 1.8L is given a full chrome grille. Nothing else is changed other than the adoption of LED side indicators on the wing mirrors.


New black dashboard compared to the old one. Instrument faces are new as well

Inside, the ambience is vastly different, as the cabin is now finished in black instead of beige. This might not help the impression of space and airiness, but some might like the “sportier feel”. The three-pod instruments are now white faced from the previous black, although the studio pic above shows a nice grey “watch dial style” face. It’s the lighting and angle, perhaps.

The top spec 1.8L also comes with a head unit that has AUX input. The wood trim shown is also only for the 1.8; the 1.6 gets silver trim, but none on the steering wheel. If you fancy the brown leather shown here, it’s a RM2,000 option. Otherwise, it’s black fabric for both the 1.6 and 1.8.

There’s no change under the skin. The Grand Livina is powered by the all-aluminium HR16DE 1.6 litre (105 PS at 5,200 rpm, 150 Nm at 4,400 rpm) and MR18DE 1.8 litre with CVTC (126 PS at 5,200 rpm, 174 Nm at 4,800 rpm). The gearbox is a four-speed auto, with a five-speed manual option for the 1.6L.

The on-the-road price inclusive of insurance is RM86,800 for the 1.6 MT, RM89,800 for the 1.6 AT and RM98,800 for the 1.8 AT. Hi res pics after the jump.

[Read more...]

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Subaru WRX STI sets new Isle of Man road-car lap record

June 10, 2011 at 12:07 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, International News, Subaru

A production-spec Subaru WRX STI sedan has broken the Isle of Man TT’s road-car lap record, which is more than two decades old. The WRX STI, driven by former British Rally Champion Mark Higgins, posted a lap time of 19 minutes and 56.7 seconds over the 60.8 km long course, translating to an average speed of 181 kph. The top speed achieved during the lap was 260 kph.

The lap time set by Higgins is more than two minutes quicker than the previous record, which was set by the late Tony Pond 21 years ago, on June 6, 1990, behind the wheel of an Rover 827 Vitesse. Pond was the first to break the average 160 kph barrier in a road car, and his lap record has stood ever since. The TT event organisers gave Higgins just one lap to conduct his record attempt in the car, and there was no opportunity to carry out high speed practice runs.

The record-breaking WRX STI was a standard Subaru production car with a 300 PS engine, unmodified brake callipers and road-legal Pirelli P Zero Trofeo tyres, with the springs and dampers adjusted to tackle the various bumps and jumps at high speed along the course.

With little or no crash barriers around most of the TT road circuit, the WRX STI was fitted with some essential safety enhancements, including an MSA-specification T45 integrated roll cage, TRS race harnesses and a Lifeline extinguisher system. To help forewarn spectators – who were out in force cheering the attempt on – of the presence of the oncoming car, the Subaru team also fitted the WRX STI with a high-decibel exhaust.

The outright lap record for the TT course was set in 2009 by John McGuinness on a Honda CBR1000RR ‘Fireblade’ motorcycle, with a time of 17 minutes and 12.3 seconds, equivalent to an average speed of 210 kph.

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Toyota adds two new members to its crash dummy family

June 10, 2011 at 11:42 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Toyota

Car crash survivors have more to thank than luck, as carmakers put in a lot of effort in crash simulation and analysis. Toyota has added two new members to its family of digital crash test dummies. Known as THUMS (Total Human Model for Safety) these virtual humans provide much more detailed crash test results than physical crash-test dummies.

TMC began developing THUMS in 1997 and Version 1 was completed and commercially launched in 2000. The company is now using Version 4, completed and released in 2010 with detailed modeling of internal organs. V4 contains about 14 times more information than the previous version.

The THUMS – seen during a visit to Toyota’s technical centre in Higashi Fuji last year – allows detailed analysis of bone fractures, severed ligaments and more by simulating the characteristics of the human body, ranging from the shape of the body to its skeletal structure and skin, which is why it’s good to have more than one digital fellow.

The new family members are a 153 cm tall female (petite girl) and a 189 cm male (big guy). They will join the existing 179 cm average-build adult male in THUMS. All three models come in two types – a vehicle occupant and pedestrian – bringing the total number of models to six.

An elderly person and a child is in the works. With these, it is now possible to take into account different body sizes when analysing internal injuries from car accidents.

This latest software upgrade is the result of a cooperation between Toyota Central R&D Labs, universities and other external research institutes to make detailed measurements of the human body’s internal structure using a CT (computed tomography) scanner.

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600 PS, 320 km/h Skoda Octavia going landspeed racing!

June 10, 2011 at 10:37 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Motorsports, Skoda

This could be a decent April Fool’s joke, just that it’s real. Skoda is developing a car that will break the 320 km/h barrier in the famous Bonneville Speed Week in August. Held at the Bonneville Salt Flats 145 km west of Salt Lake City in north-western Utah, it has been the spiritual home to high-speed racing for almost a century.

This project is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Skoda’s vRS performance flagship badge, and the car used is a one-off modified Octavia vRS saloon. The brand’s UK technical team at Milton Keynes has been working in secret on the racer for several months now, with the assistance of performance software and tuning outfit REVO Technik.

The factory-fresh production Octavia vRS has been given improved aerodynamics and performance. For one, the car sits almost 80 mm lower and a has a new sub-frame which houses an intercooler. The engine is a standard 2.0-litre TSI petrol unit but the standard turbo has been ditched for a more advanced unit from Garrett. Now generating up to 600 PS, and producing 26-28 PSI of boost pressure, it drinks high-octane race fuel (with water methanol mix) instead of regular unleaded.

The Octavia has to follow Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) safety regulations to take part, which means a reinforced roll cage, parachute, fire extinguishers and window cage.

The vRS is entered into the ‘2.0-litre production car’ category and will race over a nine-mile (14.5 km) straight, which includes a timed mile in the middle. Performance through that section determines the class winner.

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Quick – RSVP for the PETRONAS PRIMAX 95 XTRA Race Appreciation Party now!

June 9, 2011 at 10:24 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars

Hey guys, thanks to your support, we’ve won the PETRONAS PRIMAX 95 XTRA Race against Juliana Evans and hitz.fm’s DJ Ean. RSVP for the PETRONAS PRIMAX 95 XTRA Race Appreciation Party is open now.

Be among the first 40 fans to RSVP and you’ll have the chance to come to the party with a friend. Head onto to this link to RSVP.

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