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FIA: No new teams for 2011 Formula 1 season

September 9, 2010 at 3:30 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Motorsports

Looks like there won’t be a 13th team on next year’s F1 grid after all. This is after the sport’s governing body announced that none of the parties bidding for the slot vacated by USF1 have met its requirements.

“Following the press release of 19 March 2010 calling for expressions of interest to participate in the 2011 and 2012 seasons of the FIA Formula One World Championship, a number of interested parties expressed their interest. It was considered that none of the candidates met the requirements to be granted an entry into the championship. Consequently, the allocation of the 13th team will not be granted,” the FIA World Motor Sport Council statement read.

Since March, there were a number of interested parties. Some withdrew halfway (GP2 regulars ART and US based Cypher Group) to leave Epsilon Euskadi and Villeneuve Racing in the chase. The former was rejected a year ago while the latter is a partnership between 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve and Italian ex-GP2 team Durango.

They haven’t fully given up though; Villeneuve is reported to be considering purchasing an existing team. “Of course it’s disappointing, but we just shift the focus now and turn our attention to alternatives,” he said.

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Ferrari escapes further punishment over team orders row

September 9, 2010 at 3:01 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Ferrari, Formula 1, Motorsports

Ferrari has escaped further punishment over the “team orders” incident at the German GP, where race leader Massa was ordered to let Alonso pass him to win the race. The FIA’s World Motor Sport Council met in Paris yesterday and announced that the $100,000 fine dished out to the Italian team would be upheld. No further sanctions would be imposed, although Ferrari will need to bear legal costs.

An FIA statement read: “On 25 July 2010, at the Grand Prix of Germany, the stewards of the meeting found an infringement by the Scuderia Ferrari to the prohibition of team orders interfering with a race result and then decided to impose a fine of $100,000 and to forward the dossier to the World Motor Sport Council for further consideration.

“The Judging Body of the World Motor Sport Council held an extraordinary hearing in Paris on September 8, 2010 to examine this matter. After an in depth analysis of all reports, statements and documents submitted, the judging body has decided to confirm the stewards’ decision of a $100,000 fine for infringing article 39.1 of the sporting regulations and to impose the payment of the costs incurred by the FIA.”

It also looks like the FIA wants to allow some degree of team orders in the future after the governing body announced that a review of the ban is on the way. “The judging body has also acknowledged that article 39.1 of the sporting regulations should be reviewed and has decided to refer this question to the Formula 1 Sporting Working Group,” the statement said.

F1 fans, is this the way to go?

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Lexus Malaysia reaches 1,000-unit sales milestone

September 9, 2010 at 1:11 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Lexus, Local News

UMW Toyota Motor’s Lexus Malaysia division recently reached the milestone of 1,000 units sold since the premium brand was officially launched here at the end of 2006. The 1,000th unit was a Lexus RX 350.

“This is a big achievement for the Lexus brand as it has only been around in the country for just 3 years and operating from only one showroom up till early of this year. It also shows that Lexus vehicles have been well accepted by our Malaysian customers and more importantly they have accepted a true Lexus Experience,” said Kuah Kock Heng, President of Lexus Malaysia.

“With the opening of Lexus 3S Centre in Penang earlier this year and at a later stage in Johor, we can achieve our sales target, hence grow our market share in the premium market segment. In the next few months, Lexus Malaysia will continue to enhance further our product line up,” Kuah added. The company plans to sell 400 cars this year, with 70% of the target already met as of now.

Sounds like a new model is coming soon. IS-F anyone? :)

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Stick to the law, JPJ is watching via army of MMS snipers!

September 9, 2010 at 11:26 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News

While we use our camera phones to bring you spyshots, many have been using them to catch traffic offenders in action. Bernama reports that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has received 26,880 picture-attached complaints via MMS from the public. The department’s director-general, Datuk Solah Mat Hassan, said of that total received between January and August this year, 16,349 were solved, 4,659 cases blacklisted and 5,872 others were under investigation.

The popular MMS complaints were for beating the red lights (7,890 cases), overtaking on double lines (2,012), cutting queues (3,190) and using mobile phones while driving (850), besides motorcyclists not wearing helmets (5,597), Datuk Solah revealed, adding that JPJ will not set up road blocks for this Raya season, and will instead rely on MMS complaints from the public.

When asked by reporters whether public complaints via MMS is legal, he said the matter had been discussed in great detail. “This is because each complaint should be attached with sufficient and clear information like picture, time and place the offence was allegedly committed before any action can be taken. We will also call the alleged traffic offender to our nearest office for questioning,” he said.

This effectively means that JPJ has a huge army of MMS snipers patrolling the roads on their behalf! What do you think about this development? Anyone here been hauled up for questioning or were issued summonsed based on MMS before?

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Production of BMW M6 and its mighty 5.0-litre V10 ends

September 9, 2010 at 10:44 am By Danny Tan Filed Under BMW, Cars, International News

It’s the end of the road for the current BMW M6 as Munich has announced the end of production of the M6 Coupé and Convertible. In total 14,152 examples were built since 2005 – 9,087 Coupés and 5,065 units of the Convertible. This comes after M division announced the death of the E60 M5 in July.

Along with the departure of these two performance greats, BMW will also cease production of the high revving V10 engine that powers them. This 507 hp 5.0-litre powerplant featured electronically-controlled individual throttle valves, an ionic current control system and lateral force-controlled oil supply – all directly derived from motor racing.

Unsurprisingly, America was the number one market for both M6 variants, followed by Germany and Great Britain/Ireland. Sales of the BMW M5 followed a similar pattern – US, Germany, Great Britain and Ireland. The E60 M5 recorded global sales of over 20,000 cars in under five years, including 1,009 units of the wagon bodied M5 Touring.

Sad news, but it does pave the way for the arrival of the F10 M5 and an M6 based on the upcoming new 6-Series.

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Mitsubishi Pajero launch confirmed, open for booking now

September 8, 2010 at 4:48 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Local News, Mitsubishi

Readers of this blog would already know that the Mitsubishi Pajero is coming back to Malaysia, and Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia (MMM) has confirmed that the launch is set for the end of this month. Order books are open as we type.

As revealed in our test drive report, Malaysia will get the highest spec Pajero available with a 3.8-litre V6 MIVEC engine paired to a five-speed automatic with manual mode. The seven seater will feature a 12-speaker, 5.1 channel Rockford Fosgate sound system and all the off-road hardware you’ll ever need, among other kit.

“We at Mitsubishi Motors Malaysia are excited at the prospect of the Pajero returning to this market. It hasn’t been officially available for a long time, but many Malaysians still recognize and have high regard for the Pajero name, which is truly legendary. Today’s Pajero is a complete package blending robustness and go-anywhere ability with luxury and comfort, and it’s a great addition to Mitsubishi range of cars here in Malaysia,” said Tetsuya Oda, the new CEO of MMM.

Click here to see and read more about the Pajero.

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JDM Honda Inspire facelifted, our Accord to follow?

September 8, 2010 at 3:47 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Honda, International News

The Accord is still a global name, but it has stopped being a true global car since the sixth-generation model. Since then, Honda created an Accord for each major type of market: Japan, Europe and North America. Japan and Europe started sharing a more compact version of the Accord since the seventh generation, while the US Accord joined the size race. And since bigger is better in our part of the world, ASEAN got the North American body.

In Japan, the Accord as we know it is called the Inspire, and it has just received a mid life facelift. Our Accord was launched back in April 2008, so it will be three years old next year. Could be time for a facelift, so let’s look at the refreshed Inspire to see what we can expect.

It’s a mild rework similar to the facelifted US Accord, and the changes are most obvious up front. The latest Inspire gets a new grille with a rounder bottom half compared to the current car, and the look is consistent with Honda’s recent products like the RB3 Odyssey. The bumper is also new, and there’s more sculpture work on it. The new grille combines with the strong chin to create a narrower and more prominent “U” shape. At the back, the bumper is reprofiled and there are chrome strips flanking the number plate.

The cabin looks pretty much the same, but this 3.5 V6 Inspire has a full colour sat nav system that uses the main central display, so the climate and audio info are shown on a separate strip just above the air con vents. I’ve always thought that the vast screen is rather “wasted” in our Accord, as it shows very basic information. The centre console is still a button fest on the Inspire, but the layout is slightly different. All these should not make it here as it’s unlikely that our Accord will include built in sat nav as standard.

Images taken from Honda’s Japanese website are after the jump.
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Opel GTC Paris Concept previews three-door Astra hatch

September 8, 2010 at 1:17 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, International News, Opel, Vauxhall

This is the Opel GTC Paris Concept that will be unwrapped at the Paris Motor Show next month. Much more than just a show car, it previews the three-door hatchback version and the VXR performance flagship of the current Opel/Vauxhall Astra, which made its debut last year as a five-door hatch. A wagon version called Sport Tourer surfaced in June.

This rakish three-door measures 4.46 metres long (slightly longer than the five-door) and the lines on its body is “similar to tendons in a sprinter”. We can see the “Opel signature blade”, a fine crease along the rocker panel, in the same direction as on the Insignia, where this cue first appeared. The five-door hatch and Sport Tourer have theirs in a different direction – back to front.

There’s also another prominent line that shoots from the door handles to the rear of the car; this gives the GTC broad shoulders and wider impression. Opel says that the brushed aluminium upper outline of the glasshouse guides eyes to the integrated spoiler. Of course they had to include LED running lights, and those on the GTC have “wing” motifs.

The concept is realistically powered by a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbo engine with direct injection. As with most new cars in Europe, there’s start/stop tech and a six-speed manual gearbox. Autocar UK says that the production car will debut late next year alongside a VXR range topper, which could have up to 300 bhp and an electronic limited-slip differential – the latter already on the GTC concept.

The GTC and the three-door Renault Megane are examples of carmakers putting in a lot of effort on differentiating their three-door “Sport” models from the regular five-door hatch, instead of just chopping off two doors. More pics after the jump.
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Chip Foose’s latest design: Oakley Three Palms shoes!

September 8, 2010 at 11:56 am By Danny Tan Filed Under International News

Do you watch Overhaulin’ on TV? My favourite part of the show is when Chip Foose comes up with the main concept of the episode’s car. While all of us can have a great picture in our minds, transferring that image onto paper is a different thing altogether. Foose’s renderings are nothing short of amazing, and the speed and ease he takes is equally impressive.

While there’s little chance for us to get Overhauled by the man himself, his latest creation is more accessible. Foose has teamed with Oakley to pen a shoe called Oakley Three Palms. The O brand released their latest footwear at the NHRA’s U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, where Foose is the grand marshal.

Oakley says that Three Palms is “a design that crystallizes the So Cal attitude of car culture, action sports and the greed for speed”. The exterior combines full-grain leather and polyurethane coated leather while the “suspension” is made up of performance Ortholite dual-density insole with leather lining, Comfortzorb cushioning beneath insole and polyurethane heel component with Red Code technology.

The $100 shoe has double stripes on the sole that pays homage to the open highway. And like Foose’s custom cars, Three Palms has a horizontal two-tone scheme that gives the effect of hovering. Contrast stitch lines and the Three Palms logo on the footbed make it stand out further. We’re tempted!

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Lotus wants Renault engines, Cosworth contract in the way

September 8, 2010 at 11:12 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Formula 1, Lotus, Motorsports

The word linking Lotus Racing and Renault engines for next season isn’t new, but Autosport now reports that a deal has been agreed in principle between the two parties, which could see the Malaysian owned team use the same Renault customer engines as Red Bull. Lotus and Renault last worked together in 1986.

While Lotus is close to finalising the deal on this end, a major hurdle remains. It all hinges on whether Lotus can end its contract with Cosworth two years earlier than stated. When it entered F1, Lotus signed a fixed three-year contract with Cosworth that is believed to have no break clause, unless the Northampton-based engine maker was willing to exit the marriage. Nothing a handsome financial settlement can’t do, right?

How did this come about? It is said that Lotus originally sought out a new supplier of gearboxes and transmissions for next year (one of the major reliability issues so far) and Renault, who are willing to supply Lotus with that, upsold their engine to the rookie team. It’s a bit like when you order your fast food lunch, and they somehow convince you to take a large set plus dessert, when all you wanted was a regular meal.

However, both Lotus and Cosworth have denied any change in relationship. “As with the other new teams, Lotus has a fixed term three-year contract with Cosworth and we are very pleased it is happy with our engines and the job we have done for it during its first season in Formula 1,” Cosworth GM of F1 operations Mark Gallagher said.

When pressed, Lotus tech chief Mike Gascoyne said: “We’ve got a contract with Cosworth and there is no further comment to make.”

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