Filed under: Formula One Sebastian Vettel has hinted he might be willing to give up a race victory to help his team perform a perfect score in 2011. Red Bull and the 24-year-old German have already secured the constructors’ and drivers’ world championships, but Mark Webber currently lies in only fourth place behind Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button with three races left to run. Webber has failed to win a single race in 2011 compared with Vettel’s ten so far, so the Australian might need some help to curb the 13-point gap to second place. “With three races left, we hope for the best results possible for ourselves but also for the team,” Vettel is quoted by the AFP news agency. Agreed team boss Christian Horner: “He (Webber) has had a very strong year and we want to get him second in the drivers’ championship. “That’s our remaining target for the remainder of the year — to get him a race win and finish the season in style.” When asked if that might involve him giving up a win so that Webber can reach the top step of the podium, Vettel answered: “Yeah, definitely.”   View original here: Vettel could give up win to help Webber See the original post here:  Vettel could give up win to help Webber

Filed under: Formula One Dan Wheldon’s death could have sped up efforts to end the long era of open-cockpit racing. F1’s governing body earlier this year, in response to the F1 and F2 incidents in 2009 involving Felipe Massa and Henry Surtees, tested screens and fighter jet-style canopies for possible use in the future. Now, days after Briton Wheldon was killed when his Indycar overturned and struck catch-fencing in Las Vegas, former FIA president Max Mosley said of the canopy idea: “I think it could work. “You’re always in danger, in an open cockpit, of objects striking the driver. It (the canopy) might also help if it’s reinforced with another roll bar, in things like the Dan Wheldon accident,” he told CNN. “But that’s something that needs careful investigation.” Mosley admitted that an unwanted side-effect of a cockpit canopy would be its aerodynamic effect. “One of the troubles is that it would probably make the car quicker, which is just what we don’t want. But there are other means of slowing them down,” he said. Yet more problems are that dirty canopies will affect driver visibility, while in severe accidents the cover might prevent marshals and doctors from extricating injured drivers. “All of that will be looked at by a technical working group if it turns out the thing would protect the driver better,” insisted Mosley. “What I do know is we’ve got some very clever people, looking full-time at these problems.”   Original post: Mosley: Cockpit canopy might have saved Wheldon Go here to read the rest:  Mosley: Cockpit canopy might have saved Wheldon

Filed under: Formula One Dan Wheldon’s death could have sped up efforts to end the long era of open-cockpit racing. F1’s governing body earlier this year, in response to the F1 and F2 incidents in 2009 involving Felipe Massa and Henry Surtees, tested screens and fighter jet-style canopies for possible use in the future. Now, days after Briton Wheldon was killed when his Indycar overturned and struck catch-fencing in Las Vegas, former FIA president Max Mosley said of the canopy idea: “I think it could work. “You’re always in danger, in an open cockpit, of objects striking the driver. It (the canopy) might also help if it’s reinforced with another roll bar, in things like the Dan Wheldon accident,” he told CNN. “But that’s something that needs careful investigation.” Mosley admitted that an unwanted side-effect of a cockpit canopy would be its aerodynamic effect. “One of the troubles is that it would probably make the car quicker, which is just what we don’t want. But there are other means of slowing them down,” he said. Yet more problems are that dirty canopies will affect driver visibility, while in severe accidents the cover might prevent marshals and doctors from extricating injured drivers. “All of that will be looked at by a technical working group if it turns out the thing would protect the driver better,” insisted Mosley. “What I do know is we’ve got some very clever people, looking full-time at these problems.”   Original post: Mosley: Cockpit canopy might have saved Wheldon Go here to read the rest:  Mosley: Cockpit canopy might have saved Wheldon

Vintage race cars, pre-war models, one-off custom cars. Any one of these cars would fetch a commanding price if it were to find itself at an auction. But for the technicians at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, finding themselves in the middle of this rich automotive history is all in a day’s work.  Entering the shop as rusting hulks, these cars each have a story to tell and the people in the Center are justifiably proud when what was once a heap of rusty metal components is turned into a concours-quality masterpiece. As you will see, what these master craftsmen strive for is perfection in all aspects of a restoration. Whether it is in the exact tolerances of the mechanical parts, or the authenticity of the look or even in the way it’s put together. Because of this goal towards authenticity, the cars that come out of the shop don’t look restored but are instead presented as timeless pieces of automotive history. Read the original post:  Mercedes-Benz Classic Center

Vintage race cars, pre-war models, one-off custom cars. Any one of these cars would fetch a commanding price if it were to find itself at an auction. But for the technicians at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center, finding themselves in the middle of this rich automotive history is all in a day’s work.  Entering the shop as rusting hulks, these cars each have a story to tell and the people in the Center are justifiably proud when what was once a heap of rusty metal components is turned into a concours-quality masterpiece. As you will see, what these master craftsmen strive for is perfection in all aspects of a restoration. Whether it is in the exact tolerances of the mechanical parts, or the authenticity of the look or even in the way it’s put together. Because of this goal towards authenticity, the cars that come out of the shop don’t look restored but are instead presented as timeless pieces of automotive history. More here: Mercedes-Benz Classic Center

BRABUS offers up to 520 hp / 382 kW of power, a peak torque of 820 Nm (604 lb-ft), a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) Read more here: Mercedes-Benz CL500 and S500 by BRABUS

BRABUS offers up to 520 hp / 382 kW of power, a peak torque of 820 Nm (604 lb-ft), a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) More: Mercedes-Benz CL500 and S500 by BRABUS

The speed on the Mercedes C63 AMG Estate by Kicherer is 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph View original post here: Mercedes-Benz C63 T AMG Supersport by Kicherer

The speed on the Mercedes C63 AMG Estate by Kicherer is 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph See the rest here:  Mercedes-Benz C63 T AMG Supersport by Kicherer

While Tesla has been wowing the press and early buyers with the Model S Beta, Fisker has started production on its much-delayed Karma sedan. The Karma has seen numerous delays since its introduction, as well as an increase in price. It was supposed to debut before the Volt, but you see how that worked out…..anyway, we digress. Today the company has announced an official mileage certification from the Environmental Protection Agency. This is an important milestone because it means that Fisker can start selling vehicles. We thought Fisker delivered some before, and it turns out those aren’t actual sales, they have been referred to as demonstration vehicles. This was able to be done since in late July one was delivered to a Fisker board member. While the EPA news is an important milestone, it is also a disappointment as well. The Karma’s certification is for just 52 MPGe. That figure is down significantly on the 100 MPGe number Fisker originally projected for the Karma. The low figure is down to the fact that the EPA’s testing netted an electric range of just 32 miles. Fisker says that it thinks customers will see better figures in real life driving. In fact, Fisker projects that if a Karma driver has a daily commute of 40 miles on average, they would use only 9 gallons of gas per month. When the battery runs out though, the Karma’s figures take a huge hit – returning only 20 mpg from its 2.0-liter Ecotec four-cylinder. Ouch. The Chevrolet Volt fares much better in this regard. News about the Karma’s rating will no doubt bolster critics of the Department of Energy’s $528.7 million loan to Fisker for development of the Karma and the forthcoming Project NINA. We doubt it will matter to most people buying the Karma though; they want something cool and trendy and the Karma is it. The Karma is no doubt “greener” than other sedans in its price range as well, so for some it will have a powerful allure. Fisker says production of the $97,000 sedan is ramping up and deliveries are scheduled to accelerate throughout the rest of the year. Related posts: Surfs Up: Fisker Debuts Surf Shooting Brake at Frankfurt Detroit 2009: Production Fisker Karma is revealed, jaws begin dropping Fisker Shows Off Aluminum Space Frame...

Filed under: First Drive The only way is up! Or that’s what Volkswagen is hoping city car buyers will say, when they consider the new car against rivals such as the Fiat 500 and Hyundai i10. Originally shown as a concept in 2007, the up! is definitely a car of its time, with Volkswagen predicting sales of small cars like this one increasing by 20 per cent over the next five years, as people embrace small cars that can carry four people and are fun to drive. So, with sales of this new dinky motor beginning in spring 2012, does it live up to its impressive billing of being a “concentrated Volkswagen?” I headed to Rome for the International launch to find out. After the forgettable Fox, the new baby Volkswagen gets off to a great start with the crisp exterior styling. The work of both Walter de Silva and Klaus Bischoff, it remains faithful to the concept with its big wheels (14-inch even on the entry-level Take up! version) which are moved to the four corners of the car, the big wheelarches, the short overhangs and the lower than you’d expect roof height. For me, the neatest parts of the up!’s design are the strong, 3D graphic round the side windows which are steeply upswept at the back and the glass rear tailgate, which Volkswagen claim is inspired by modern flat-screen TVs. The up! is also one of the few cars to have a face, which I think adds to its cheekyness. With the circular elements of the headlights looking like eyes, the Volkswagen badge the nose and the grill bumper treatment almost looking like a smiley face. Move inside and despite the up!’s compact dimensions, the interior is suprisingly spacious with a big car feel. Quality is up to usual Volkswagen standards and the simple dashboard design is elegant. I tried three different versions of the up! and the gloss white and black dashboard trim of the special edition up! black and up! white give a different classier feel to the car. Though the standard cream finish of the Move up! was the most simple and honest. Some of the instruments, such as the rev counter might be smaller than the Volkswagen norm, but they are beautifully detailed and easy to read. The switchgear placement is also sound. I’m over 6ft tall and found it easy to get a decent driving position;...

Filed under: First Drive The only way is up! Or that’s what Volkswagen is hoping city car buyers will say, when they consider the new car against rivals such as the Fiat 500 and Hyundai i10. Originally shown as a concept in 2007, the up! is definitely a car of its time, with Volkswagen predicting sales of small cars like this one increasing by 20 per cent over the next five years, as people embrace small cars that can carry four people and are fun to drive. So, with sales of this new dinky motor beginning in spring 2012, does it live up to its impressive billing of being a “concentrated Volkswagen?” I headed to Rome for the International launch to find out. After the forgettable Fox, the new baby Volkswagen gets off to a great start with the crisp exterior styling. The work of both Walter de Silva and Klaus Bischoff, it remains faithful to the concept with its big wheels (14-inch even on the entry-level Take up! version) which are moved to the four corners of the car, the big wheelarches, the short overhangs and the lower than you’d expect roof height. For me, the neatest parts of the up!’s design are the strong, 3D graphic round the side windows which are steeply upswept at the back and the glass rear tailgate, which Volkswagen claim is inspired by modern flat-screen TVs. The up! is also one of the few cars to have a face, which I think adds to its cheekyness. With the circular elements of the headlights looking like eyes, the Volkswagen badge the nose and the grill bumper treatment almost looking like a smiley face. Move inside and despite the up!’s compact dimensions, the interior is suprisingly spacious with a big car feel. Quality is up to usual Volkswagen standards and the simple dashboard design is elegant. I tried three different versions of the up! and the gloss white and black dashboard trim of the special edition up! black and up! white give a different classier feel to the car. Though the standard cream finish of the Move up! was the most simple and honest. Some of the instruments, such as the rev counter might be smaller than the Volkswagen norm, but they are beautifully detailed and easy to read. The switchgear placement is also sound. I’m over 6ft tall and found it easy to get a decent driving position;...

French Fried: Twenty years after French carmakers left America, we try to give a smelly old Citroën back to France. Steel yourself, dear reader, for a bombshell: You cannot buy a new French car in America. You haven’t been able to for 20 years, since 1991, when Peugeot ejected from the United States following a long and nasty sales slump. Keep Reading: Retour à L’Envoyeur: Driving a Citroën CX from New York to France – Feature Go here to see the original: Retour à L’Envoyeur: Driving a Citroën CX from New York to France View post: Retour à L’Envoyeur: Driving a Citroën CX from New York to France

Hit play for an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note, and then share your guesses or get a few hints from other visitors in the comments below. Be sure to check back onFriday for the answer! Read more: Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 109 Read the original: Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 109

The Fisker Karma has finally gone on sale after receiving EPA certification along with final fuel economy estimates. The Karma is a luxury plug-in hybrid sedan that sells for $97,000. Like the Chevrolet Volt , it runs initially on electric power alone, stored in a 23-kWh battery pack. Once the battery is discharged, a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine starts and acts as a generator to provide electricity to power the car. It does not drive the wheels directly. The engine is a 260-hp GM-supplied unit that last saw service in the Chevrolet Cobalt SS. According to the official EPA certification, the Karma has an all-electric range of 32 miles and gets the electric equivalent of 52 mpg. Once the gas engine starts, the car is rated at 20 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Fisker had already delivered a handful of cars to customers, but without certification, they remained registered to the company. Now that the Karma has received its official mileage ratings and emissions certification, Fisker’s 88 dealers can begin retail sales. Related: Plug-in hybrid Fisker Karma Surf adds a wagon model Tesla Motors releases production Model S photos, Fisker updates Karma release Here is the original:  52-MPGe Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid ready for the streets