Monday, January 24, 2011

Mazda Plans Lease Program for Electric 2 in Japan

Mazda is the latest manufacturer to announce plans to build an electric version of an existing gasoline car. The company will develop a prototype electric car based on the Demio (known as the Mazda 2 outside Japan), set to debut in spring 2012.
The car is expected to have a maximum range of 124 miles per [...]


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  3. Porsche Plans Test of Three Electric Boxsters, Panamera Hybrid Due in 2011

Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth

2011 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Cabriolet ? Short Take Road Test

The closest you?ll ever get to a Porsche with cash on the hood.
The press intro for the new 911 Carrera GTS in Palm Springs left some casualties on the battlefield. One car had a hole in its oil sump; another had its lower lip torn off. And a couple of vehicles still hadn?t returned as [...]


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Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick

Panamera Moby Dick by Edo Competition

German tuner dials up power to 750 PS (552 kW) on the twin-turbo V8 while adding refining touches to the interior and an aerodynamic package from Mansory.

Hans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill

2012 Jaguar XK-R facelift spied

Our spy photographers have managed to catch the first pictures of the 2012 Jaguar XK-R. See the images inside

Gene Hartley Masahiro Hasemi Naoki Hattori Paul Hawkins

Speak Your Mind: Title Contention Rule Changes for 2011

Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch

Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Chapman family sides with Group Lotus

Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks

Lariche to stay in F2 for 2011

Belgian driver Benjamin Lariche will return to Formula 2 for a second season in 2011, and hopes to be a contender for race wins. The 23-year-old was a regular points-scorer in his rookie year, when he was 14th in the championship. He ended the season on a high with a front-row start and a season-best sixth place at Valencia, before topping one of the winter test days

Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki

Fernando Alonso: ?It would be great if my rival was Felipe??

Fernando Alonso expects another close fight in 2011, and says that Michael Schumacher and Mercedes will be tougher competition than last year. Alonso is still seeking his third World Championship, having missed out at the final round last year. Logic … Continue reading →

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Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway

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2012 Nissan NV
Nissan NV work trucks - Click above for high-res image gallery

Nissan has kicked off production of its all-new 2012 NV commercial truck. Scheduled to go on sale this spring, the NV will be available in three variants; NV1500, NV2500 HD and NV3500 HD. Two different configurations will also be offered: a standard roof or high roof that offers more interior work and/or cargo space.

Power comes from a choice of familiar six or eight-cylinder engines. The 4.0-liter V6 produces 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque while the 5.6-liter V8 delivers 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of torque. Both engines drive the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission.

Body-on-frame construction should help the NV go a long way in the rugged work truck category. Inside, a few trick features will help further set it apart from competitors like the Ford Transit Connect. The passenger seat folds flat to offer up its backside as a workspace. The large, lockable center console offers plenty of storage and 120V outlets are installed front and rear.

The 2012 Nissan NV starts at an MSRP of $24,950. Once the NV configurator comes online, we (and tradesmen in need of a new ride) should be able to elevate that sticker price significantly.




[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway

Nissan NV commercial truck production gets underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Jan 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez

HRT to undergo image revamp

HRT has announced a plan to create a dynamic new image for the Spanish-owned F1 team by employing the talents of Daniel Simon, the futuristic illustrator and vehicle designer who was responsible for a book called Cosmic Motors, which has made him a sought-after talent in Hollywood circles. He has been involved with Bugatti and [...]

Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte

Solberg says he?s still settling in

Petter Solberg has underlined that he is still far from fully settled in the Peugeot 207 despite currently holding fourth in the Monte Carlo Rally, his debut in both the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and S2000 machinery. The 2003 World Rally champion was sixth after SS1 this morning, but then second-quickest on SS2, moving him up to third overall. Solberg admitted that the dry weather of the opening stages had not been ideal for him

Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan

Mini launches team manager search

Prodrive has begun a worldwide search for the team manager of the Mini World Rally Team - with the successful candidate expected to take up the position with the all-new organisation in April. Prodrive chairman David Richards has taken a fresh approach to filling this vital role and AUTOSPORT has been given unparalleled access to the Banbury-based team as it seeks the right person

Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh

Winning isn't everything, but ...

Jim Hall Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Another deal of some significance

It has been announced that Qatar Holding LLC, the investment arm of the Arab country’s sovereign wealth fund, has confirmed that it will be participating in a $7 billion capital increase in Porsche to help the car company reduce its debt load. Shareholders who provide money for this will increase their stake in the business [...]

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WTCC: SUNRED hopes it can keep Tarquini

SUNRED hopes it can keep Tarquini By Matt Beer Saturday, January 22nd 2011, 13:42 GMT SUNRED intends to field six SEATs in the World Touring Car Championship again this year, and is optimistic that it can keep hold of former champion Gabriele Tarquini plus long-time works driver Tiago Monteiro. The team now represents SEAT on a non-works basis in the WTCC after the factory operation was canned at the end of 2009. It fielded Tarquini, Tom Coronel, Monteiro and Jordi Gene, plus rookies Michel Nykjaer and Fredy Barth last year, and has already re-signed the latter pair and recruited SEAT Eurocup graduates Pepe Oriola and Aleksei Dudukalo for 2011 Related posts:
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  2. WTCC: Spanish teenager joins SUNRED for ‘11 Spanish teenager joins SUNRED for '11 By Pablo Elizalde Friday,...
  3. WTCC: Tarquini targets title defence in ‘10 Tarquini targets title defence in '10 By Steven English Friday,...
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Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick

A Brief History of Ferrari Shooting Brakes

MINI WRC Team announce new driver Dani Sordo

MINI WRC Team Banbury/Munich, 05.01.2011. Spanish driver Daniel ?Dani? Sordo will strengthen the new MINI WRC Team in the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship. He will team up with Kris Meeke (GB) when MINI makes its return to rallying with...

Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin

Hamlin tops day two at Daytona

Denny Hamlin was fastest in Friday's rain-affected NASCAR practice session at Daytona, where most teams continued to focus on single-car testing, avoiding running in the draft. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, runner-up in the 2010 Sprint Cup series, was one of only 12 drivers who attempted running in the draft, although most of his slipstream mileage came in a two-car breakaway with his team-mates Kyle Busch and Joey Logano. Hamlin set a fastest lap of 45.716 seconds at an average speed of 196.868 mph, which improved on Thursday's top speeds set by the Michael Waltrip Racing duo of David Reutimann and Martin Truex Jr

Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte

IRC: Bouffier clinches Monte Carlo victory

Bouffier clinches Monte Carlo victory By Matt Beer Friday, January 21st 2011, 23:41 GMT Bryan Bouffier clinched by far the biggest win of his career by cruising to victory in the Monte Carlo Rally. Prior to this year's Monte, Bouffier had never even scored an Intercontinental Rally Challenge point, having been quick but luckless on his previous appearances. But the reigning French champion took control of the Monte with an inspired tyre choice and perfect drive on the rally's only two snow-hit stages - which turned the leaderboard inside out Related posts:
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  2. IRC: Bouffier extends Monte Carlo lead Bouffier extends Monte Carlo lead By Matt Beer Friday, January...
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Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks

Five ways to improve F1


Emerson Fittipaldi in his heyday © Sutton Images
In an interview in the Times, former world champion Emerson Fittipaldi?s outlined his five-point plan to enhance Formula One. Cut costs ?They spend a fortune in wind-tunnel testing alone. Reduce costs and the slowest teams would catch up and make it more even.? Limit downforce ?They need to reduce enormously the downforce in the cars, the only way to bring back overtaking. We need more mechanical grip so that you have longer braking areas, can set up the car coming out of a corner, get in the slipstream and then overtake.? Close the pitlane ?When the safety car goes out they should close the pitlane. Now it?s just a lottery.? Lift ban on team orders ?It is a very stupid rule. It?s why they are called teams, it?s why they have two cars. If a driver is leading in the championship, everything has to go in his favour. What is wrong with that? It?s so easy for teams to camouflage their orders anyway. All they need to do is tell one guy on the radio he has a problem with his brakes. They can bend the rules very easily. In the old days they would even swap cars, so why do we have this ban now?? Retain traditional grands prix ?These places are the soul of racing. The Americas are under-represented. We have Canada back, but there is no USA, no Argentina, no Mexico. We need to stay in the heartlands.?

Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart