In a recent interview by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn confirmed that a 4-cylinder version of the large A8 luxury sedan is in the works. Asked if a 4-cylinder luxury car could work emotionally, Winterkorn insisted that today’s technology made it possible to acoustically de-couple the engine well enough to completely mask the 4-cylinder character. According to Winterkorn, it’s all about “achieving less emissions without having less emotions”.
4-cylinder larger luxury cars already exist: The base version of Mercedes-Benz’s S-Class, the S250 CDI, is powered by a twin-turbocharged 204hp 2.2L 4-cylinder turbodiesel. While in most European markets the 6-cylinder diesel versions dominate luxury car sales, Mercedes expects the 4-cylinder to take over the sales lead soon thanks to it’s 20% better fuel economy. The V8 diesel that used to be available in European S-Class versions has been discontinued due to low sales. The only large luxury sedan to still offer a V8 diesel in Europe is the Audi A8.
What does it mean? Luxury car drivers want to save on fuel, too.
Greenies, bring out the (green) pitchforks: The average new car horsepower rating in Germany was the highest in history, for January. Expect the average speed on the Autobahn to rise considerably, because the average German-market car sold in January has… one hundred and thirty three point six horsepower. That’s right, 133.6-hp.
Digging deeper into the numbers and becomes apparent what’s responsible for the rise in average horsepower: Diesels are selling better than ever in recent history and now have a 48% share of the new car market. Germans typically like their diesels a bit more powerful than their gasoline powered engines. The average new diesel makes 150.5-hp, the average new gas engine only makes 118.5-hp.
Also very interesting: SUVs are on a roll, a whopping 14.6% of the new car market now being of the high-riging kind. 70% of the SUVs had a diesel under the hood.
For a little historical perspective: In 1995, the average new car horsepower in Germany was 95.1 hp.
The last two races have seen our favorite circus run through Japan and for the first time, South Korea. On the Asian arm of this tour, the focus was on the main tent and its five main acts, the championship leaders. With just a few races left, any hiccup could spell certain doom. Especially for the two McLaren Drivers of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. With two back-to-back early exits, Hamilton could ill afford any mistakes to stay alive but Jenson who is furthest of the five back, just needed to score.
The Grand Prix of Japan this year was held at the grand circuit of Suzuka. This fabled track has produced many historic races in many different series. This was not one of them. The weekend leading up the the main event saw lots of rain. Enough to delay qualifying until a few hours before the start of the race. The start of any race can be a challenge as the cars dive flat out for the first corner. Most often, someone is left in tears. This time around (pay driver) Petrov put his Renault into the Williams of Nico Hulkenberg, ending their race. Petrov would soon be joined in the garage by teammate Robert Kubica, since someone forgot to tighten down a rear wheel. This was not a good race to be a Renault fan.
The drive of the race came from native born son of Kamui Kobayashi, the fearless and some times wreckless Sauber rookie. While the top five were afraid to challenge each other in fear of making the mistake of all mistakes, this pilot put on a clinic on how to pass and drive. Hamilton looked as if he was ready to put on a charge after his pit stop but was lucky to bring his McLaren home in fifth after he lost third gear in his brand new gear box. The race would end close to how it began, with Vettel taking the win and teammates Webber in second. Alonso would round out the podium in third.
The new circuit of Yeongam in South Korea would play host to the following round. Built on reclaimed swamp land off the coast of the Sea of China, many were wondering if it would stand up to the abuse of a Formula One race. The teams headed out and hoped for the best, since the ‘thumbs up’ was given to the track just two weeks prior. The drivers would start out happy with the track but that would soon change as the placement of the pit entrance became an issue. Track designer, Tilke, must have decided that placing it at the exit of a high speed blind turn would finally add some excitement to one of his masterpieces. The weather would soon help out.
When it comes to Formula One, one is hard stretched to find a more valuable entity than Ferrari. The most decorated and fan adorned team in the history of the sport. With this though has come a darker side. At least to the rest of us fans who choose to pull for one of the other teams.
For instance: breaking the rules, every team does it. If there is a team that says otherwise, don’t buy it. Race teams are just like politicians, if the lips are moving, the lies are flowing. This time around Ferrari were accused of breaking the rule that violates team orders. Which was put in place due to blatant team orders that Ferrari had used to let Schumacher past Barrichello in 2002. In Germany this year, poor Felipe Massa was told “Fernando is faster than you. Do you understand?” We all understood long before he slowed down to let Alonso pass. That is when things got ugly. Ferrari were eventually fined a mere $100,000.
The part that bothers me is that Ferrari would go on to lie to the race stewards and claim that Massa’s car had developed a problem and that is what let Alonso get by. Sure thing there Skippy. Hamilton and McLaren lied to the race stewards last season in Australia, where they were stripped of third place and given a suspended race ban of 3 races. How was McLaren caught? Radio transmissions. The World Motor Council appointed someone to investigate the case with Ferrari. A 160 page report was returned outlining all the steps that were taken to let Alonso leap frog Massa. Radio transmissions and car telemetry have nothing to hide and lay it all on the line. The smoking gun was in the hands of the FIA and then nothing.
I understand team orders. I do not care for them since it takes away from the race. If I want to watch theater, I will go see a play. When I sit down to watch a race, I want to see a fight to the end. If a teammate vows to help the other, then that is all good. This was not that case. Point wise, Massa was still in the hunt at that junction of the game. When you team up with Alonso though, you team up with his ego.
The claim on why Ferrari was let off was Jean Todt stating that there was not enough evidence. How is 160 pages not enough evidence? Todt would explain by saying that Ferrari provided examples of other teams using team orders, and nothing was done for those infractions. Those other teams were not blatant about it and were not caught. Once again the FIA prove they are the Ferrari International Assistance Organization. Over the last few years it has been proven time and time again that Ferrari seem to skirt the rules while others pay dearly. Is there anyone in the FIA willing to stand up to Luca di Montezemolo?
The FIA had a chance and do the right thing but once again backed down to the Prancing Horse. Since Ferrari would not admit to the claims, Todt let them go. How many criminals admit to the crime?
There is an amazing season unfolding before us but once again, the FIA is refusing to step up. If this had been McLaren or even Red Bull, the out come would have much different.
If you don’t know who the Tiffosi are, they are Ferrari’s rabid fan base. The Raider Nation of motor sports. It seems the FIA may not have wanted to deal with them this weekend either.
Like I stated before, my cat has bigger attachments and he has been neutered. Thanks again for nothing, FIA. Way to stand tall.
At the start of the auto show season, Hyundai could be one of the big stars. Sources at Hyundai claim the new Elantra will make its North American appearance at the LA Auto Show in December. The Elantra, known worldwide as the Avante, carries design cues from the Sonata and Tucson. It’s expected the Elantra will use brand new 1.6 and 2.0 four-cylinder engines mated to a six-speed manual or automatic. The new Elantra could be the first out of three new car introductions for the Korean brand. Back in June, sources at Hyundai confirmed to Motor Trend that a new coupe will make its introduction at the 2011 Detroit Auto Show. The coupe in question could be Veloster concept shown at the Seoul Auto Show in 2007. Spy shots taken within the last year Hyundai testing a production version of the Veloster. However, it’s unknown if Hyundai will stick with Veloster or go back with Tiburon nameplate. The third car in question is new Accent which has been introduced in Russia and China under two different nameplates and designs. Hyundai has been quiet on when the Accent will make an appearance in the US but expect the car to come equipped with the 1.6 motor and 6-speed manual or automatic.
Ford says the new 2011 Explorer is 85% recyclable due to the parts used on the vehicle. One part on the Explorer, the noise-dampening fender baffles come from metal used to create door openings on the F-150. The scrap metal is taken from Ford’s Woodhaven, MI plant to Midway Products Group Inc., in Monroe, MI. Mark Courtright, a Ford product design engineer explains what happens next, “(Midway) stamps it into an (Explorer) part and, with a robot, applies some noise, vibration and harshness sealer around the edge.” Ford says this process will save 119 tons of steel.
One example of how to tell if you’re having a bad day on the job; a swarm of bees attack your car. Case in point: A Wake County sheriff’s deputy by the name of Brandon Jenkins was checking out a disabled pickup. The pickup was moving a trailer of honey bee hives from Mount Airy to Rocky Mount in North Carolina when it broke down before dawn. Deputy Jenkins was walking around the vehicle when the sun began to rise and the honeybees became active. Deputy Jenkins fearing he was in the middle of a real life version of “Attack of the Killer Bees” ran to his cruiser, and the bees followed him, covering the car. The sheriff’s office called North Carolina State University’s agriculture department, which removed most of the bees from the cruiser. The rest of the bees on the vehicle flew away once Deputy Jenkins drove away. It’s unknown if Deputy Jenkins is afraid of bees now or avoids honey at all costs.
Executives at Ford are standing firm with the Flex crossover, even though sales have disappointed. Ford hoped to sell 70,000 to 100,000 of the Flex per year, but through July 2010, 22,932 Flexs have left dealer lots. Analysts say that the Flex should either be redesigned or be given a farewell party. Analysts see two problems; the new Explorer and the lack of awareness for the Flex. Both the Explorer and Flex are seven seat crossovers, aimed at families. Aaron Bragman, automotive analyst with IHS Automotive thinks that if the 2011 Ford Explorer eats into Ford Flex sales even more than the crossovers “days will be numbered.”
Ford argues the Explorer and Flex go after different buyers with the Explorer offering an off-road system. The other problem facing the Flex is the lack of awareness with buyers. Beau Smith, owner and vice president of Sill-Terhar Ford in Broomfield, CO. says “The customer who come in and test-drive the car love the car. There is still not a huge awareness, but our conversion rates are high.”
But Ford says the Flex is staying. Mark Fields, Ford’s Presidents of Americas says both products are important to Ford by “brining in some very, very unique costumers to our brand.”
But if Ford did kill the Flex, problems would arise,
“The Flex hasn’t been the success they wanted it to be but they can’t eliminate that without having serious problems with MKT pricing and volume. And they need a premium large Lincoln people mover.”
With another grueling North American International Auto Show behind us, Justin and Joel round up Adam Barrera, from Highmileage.org, and Zane Merva, from autoinsane.com, to discuss their winners and losers.
