Filed under: Formula One Mark Webber has this week enjoyed a high-risk ride on the back of a grand prix motorcycle. The Australian, who recently sat out part of his own outdoor adventure challenge in Tasmania ostensibly due to Red Bull’s fear of injury, rode at the rear of a Ducati 2-Up machine at Queensland Raceway. At the controls was his countryman Troy Bayliss, a former MotoGP rider and triple Superbike world champion. “Some things need doing,” wrote Webber on Twitter as he published a photo of himself and Bayless mid-wheelie. Bayliss replied: “You (Webber) were a top pillion and ripped it up solo as well.” During the 2008/2009 pre-season, Webber badly broke his right leg in a mountain biking descent. He said earlier this month: “I’m not going to wrap myself in cotton wool. “Formula one rules my life for most of the year, but I am going to go away, train and have fun doing it and nobody is going to stop me.”   Here is the original: Webber enjoys wheelie on grand prix motorbike Go here to see the original:  Webber enjoys wheelie on grand prix motorbike

Filed under: Formula One Fernando Alonso has named Mercedes as a dark horse for the 2012 season. Together at the German marque’s new works team since 2010, Michael Schumacher’s return to F1 has been the subject of much criticism while it has been said teammate Nico Rosberg could go his entire career without a win. But Alonso, the lead driver at Ferrari, insists he does not underestimate the German duo, or the Ross Brawn-led Mercedes team, even though they were soundly beaten by Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari in 2011. “In formula one, the car is always the most important (element),” the Spaniard is quoted by EFE news agency. “We know that Mercedes didn’t have a great year but we have to respect them. With a car capable of winning races, Rosberg and Michael are among the favourites,” said Alonso. In fact, when contemplating the field of 2012, 30-year-old Alonso insists Schumacher – 43 next month – remains the reference for his rivals. “I say (it’s) Schumacher, because we all respect a driver who has been champion seven times. “He has always been very fast and there is nothing left for him to prove,” he added.   See the original post: Alonso says Mercedes among favourites for 2012 More:  Alonso says Mercedes among favourites for 2012

Go big or go home – that is Lotus Chief Executive Officer Dany Bahar’s vision for the future of the company. Lotus has carved a niche out for itself selling lightweight, mid-engined sports cars like the Elise and Exige. Unfortunately, according to industry observers that niche isn’t a profitable one – Lotus has lost money for 15 years. Bob Lutz, who is an adviser to Lotus, recently said that this new business plan is the only hope for the brand’s long-term survival. What most don’t know about Lotus is that while it is a British brand, it is owned by Proton, which is in turned owned by the Mayalasian government. That backing has enabled Lotus to survive thus far, while that wouldn’t be the case if the company was independent. Now you get more of an idea why they brought in Bahar to shake things up and turn a profit. The drumbeat from investment advisory firms is that Proton should sell Lotus. Proton denies any interest in doing so, and they say they are moving ahead with a business plan that aims to reach profitability by 2014. Dany Bahar is confident Lotus will achieve that goal. Lotus needs to have a wide product lineup and be making money in order to be attractive to a potential buyer. Its value at this stage is probably quite low. Speaking with Bloomberg , Bahar said: “The only thing we can do is show the current owners, or the new owners, that we are absolutely in line with the business plan that we have presented….without the funding support and the guarantees given by the Proton group, we would not survive, end of story.” No doubt, the lineup Lotus has presented requires a lot of money to be invested. At least so far, Proton appears to be going along with it. If everything goes well though, we wouldn’t be surprised to see them looking to offload Lotus at the height of its market value. Related posts: Lotus Plotting Return to Racing, In-House Powertrain Development Lotus Mulling In-House V-6, V-8 Engines Lotus Hires Murray (to advise) Automoblog.net – A Car Blog for Auto Enthusiasts Go here to see the original:  Under Pressure, Lotus Looks To 2014

No matter what brand of vehicle you have, chances are it is—or will be—affected by some sort of recall. Recalls, while a necessity for safety, mean lost time and money for both the automaker and the customer. And the good news is that there were fewer this past year. According to a WardsAuto analysis of data from the federal… The rest is here:  Total Recall: Automakers Issue Fewer Safety Fixes In 2011

1. Wall Street’s volatility index was sent soaring today on news that Mercedes-Benz would change the name of its Smart car division to “Smarting.” “We decided to do it in honor of  Roger Penske,” said Daimler Chairman Dieter Zetsche. “Last time I saw the guy, wow, his face was still red.” Keep Reading: John Phillips: 10Best Car-Related Traumas that Wall Street Missed Last Year Here is the original post: John Phillips: 10Best Car-Related Traumas that Wall Street Missed Last Year Read more:  John Phillips: 10Best Car-Related Traumas that Wall Street Missed Last Year

The next BMW M3, due in about two years as a 2014 model, will probably be propelled by an inline-six delivering more power than today’s 414-hp, 4.0-liter V-8. To overcome the loss of two cylinders and a liter or so of displacement, BMW will surely exploit turbocharging—as it has done throughout its lineup—to boost mileage without forfeiting performance. Keep Reading: Beltless Blower: Electrifying the Supercharger – Tech Dept. See the original post here: Tech Dept.: The Electric Future of Supercharging Continued here: Tech Dept.: The Electric Future of Supercharging

Presenting the Vorsteiner VMS series program specifically designed & manufactured for F10 5 series. The VMS package consists of a lightweight pre-preg carbon fiber aerodynamic package for vehicles equipped with the factory M Tech aero package. The Vorsteiner VMS carbon package includes an add-on front spoiler, rear diffuser and a deck lid spoiler element to complete the aero package. To further complement the new sporty character of this new sports sedan we have developed a finely tuned cat back exhaust system as well as a collection of 20 and 21 inch forged wheels. The VMS Front Spoiler The newly designed VMS front spoiler has been specifically designed to fit F10 5 series vehicles with the optional M Tech package. The front spoiler not only creates a purposeful and functional balance to the front end but is also unmistakably beautiful and precise. The VMS Rear Spoiler The VMS rear add on carbon deck lid spoiler balances the additional down force created from the new front end and also elegantly extends the tail of the factory boot lid to distinguish the vehicle from other standard production cars. The VMS rear deck lid spoiler is compatible with all standard F10 5 series with our signature pre-preg autoclave construction and automotive clear lacquer finishing. The VMS Rear Diffuser The VMS high temperature resistant carbon pre-preg rear diffuser replaces the factory plastic unit and precisely clips into all the original rear bumper mounting point with ease. The design of this rear diffuser draws roots from our GTS-V track line with its signature upper splitter elements with it sporty centrally located aero fins that frames our new quad sports exhaust system. Forged Wheels your built specially for your F10 5 Series. 20 inch forging sizes: • Fronts: 20×9.5J • Rear 20×10.5J 21 inch forging sizes: • Fronts: 21×9.5J • Rear 21x11J Vorsteiner F10 Sports Exhaust Product Details: + Full cat back performance system + Factory bolt-on fitment with no modifications required + Dyno Tested Peformance Gains of 12HP and 2lb/ft Torque + Sporty Formula 1 car tone with deeper tone + Vorsteiner Laser etched Logo on Dual Walled Tips with adjustable settings (*Dyno results may vary between each vehicle & individual test results) [Source: Vorsteiner ]...

Yesterday we learned about the high cost of expectations : a few seconds of launch control confusion left a thousand-horsepower Bugatti Veyron flatfooted against a pedestrian-by-comparison Nissan GT-R. But on the second run, payback was swift and sweet. More » Read the original post: Bugatti Veyron gets dragstrip revenge on Nissan GT-R [Video] Originally posted here: Bugatti Veyron gets dragstrip revenge on Nissan GT-R [Video]

Just so we’re clear, New York City is not extreme coupon heaven. Its status as one of the most expensive cities is further justified in the year that’s passed since 2010′s post-Christmas blizzard. The city paid about $1 million per foot of snow. Specifically, 1,196 claims were filed against the Big Apple for the way it handled–or didn’t… More here: New York City Pays Nearly $2M For Burial–Of Chevy Avalanche

How do you develop a nation’s motorsports culture? Let a bunch of promising drivers race each other in Radical SR3s. How do you promote such a backwater series? Let a bunch of old F1 drivers race with them — for a total assload of cash. More » See original here: New Indian racing series puts F1 drivers in Radicals [Motorsports] View post:  New Indian racing series puts F1 drivers in Radicals [Motorsports]

If you own a car like the Bugatti Veyron in south Florida, there aren’t many places where you can mat the go-pedal, at least for long. One of the better options is Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), which used to be called Moroso Motorsport Park. Aside from the fact that the track is in the middle of nowhere, and has absolutely no elevation change (like every other track in Florida), it isn’t a bad facility. Its drag strip is often open to the public, and its road course can be run with an instructor or during high-performance driving events. Drag Times was at PBIR last Wednesday, when they noticed a Bugatti Veyron running the road course. Since a mildly tuned Nissan GT-R was already making a few runs at the drag strip, it seemed logical to encourage the Veyron owner to try his luck in the quarter mile. The result shown here is impressive, but we didn’t get to see the Veyron’s first run, which was done without using the car’s launch control. The net result of that pass was a 12 second run, at 137 miles per hour, which would have been a loss to the GT-R.   More: Score That Bugatti Veyron 1, Tuned Nissan GT-R 0 See the original post here: Score That Bugatti Veyron 1, Tuned Nissan GT-R 0

General Motors has recalled 4,296 Chevrolet Sonic vehicles from model year 2012, because some may be missing the front brake (inner or outer) pad, which could result in reduced brake system performance, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalled vehicles were manufactured between June 2 and November 21, 2011. GM will notify owners about the recall, which is expected to begin on or before January 14, 2012. The recall campaign number is 11354. Dealers will inspect the front brakes for a missing inner or outer pad, and install any missing pads, plus a new brake caliper, and new rotor, free of charge. For more information, vehicle owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit www.Safercar.gov . Excerpt from: Recall: 2012 Chevy Sonic—front brake pad may be missing

This sure looks like a snow-covered road in a small British oceanside town, right? Yeah, it’s not. More » The rest is here: That’s not snow [Video] Originally posted here:  That’s not snow [Video]

Drivers in various states around the country will need to be aware of some new driving laws that affect seat belts and cell phone use that go into effect on January 1st. California has a new child restraint law aimed at further protecting children. All children age 7 and under who are less than 4 feet, 9 inches tall are required to be in a booster seat placed in the rear seat. This law replaces the previous one in which booster seats were only required for children under 6 years of age and 60 pounds. Also, on January 1st, Illinois will strengthen their seat belt law by requiring the use of seat belts for all passengers in front and rear seats. This new law replaces the previous legislation that only required the driver, front seat passenger, and passengers under the age of 19 to wear a seat belt. Besides seat belts, there are some stronger distracted driving laws going into effect as well. Nevada has implemented a new law that will ban hand-held cell phone use and texting while driving in the state and this also includes using a hand-held phone while stopped at a light or in traffic. Drivers are allowed to use a hands-free device such as a Bluetooth. In addition, this offense is now primary, which means police can ticket drivers for those offenses alone. North Dakota will ban cell phone use for young drivers under age 18 and has increased their graduated licensing requirements. Driver’s under 16 must hold a learner’s permit for a year until they can get a full license and have at least 50 hours of supervised driving time. Further in 2012, Pennsylvania’s texting law will go into effect on March 8th and it will be a primary offense. For more on distracted driving and teen safety, see our special section . Read more here:  New Year brings new driving safety laws

If you’re one of the early buyers (or renters) of the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and planning to head over a mountain pass for the holiday weekend, you might just want to get a quick brake inspection. GM is recalling 4,296 U.S.-market Chevy Sonic models—all assembled at the automaker’s Orion Township, Michigan plant, for a possible… Original post:  Missing Brake Pads Prompt GM To Recall 2012 Chevy Sonic Models