Telmex Daytona Prototype arriving this week

Sideways new #SW05 Riley MkXX Ganassi Racing Team TELMEX - GRAND AM Champion 2008 should arrive next week.

NePa Slot Cars - club website

If you get the chance check out the website that I've set up for the club I race with... it's a good start I think. We've gotten the club's Carrera track up and going, and on the 5th of Sept. we're going to have our Sideways Daytona Prototype race, everyone is welcome to come and race with us at NePa Slot Car Club!

New SCX Ford Fusion-Greg Biffle

New 911 GT3 Cup car from Porsche!!!!!!!!!

ATLANTA – August 26, 2009 – Stronger, wider, faster – Porsche’s new 911 GT3 Cup car is the latest-edition of the world’s best-selling and most successful production-based race car of more than 1,400 units. It will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 17-27, 2009, along side the previously-announced 2010 911 Turbo and 911 GT3 RS.

For the first time, the race car is based on the street-legal 2010 GT3 RS version. However, in keeping with tradition, it continues to be assembled on the same production line as all road-going Porsche 911 vehicles in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.

Like the flat-six “Boxer” engine in the new GT3 RS, displacement is increased by 0.2 liters over the former model to 3.8 liters and produces 30 more horsepower – 450 hp with a maximum RPM of 8,500. Additionally, it comes with a standard, sequential six-speed manual gearbox and weighs 2,646 lbs (1,200 kg).

New Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Race Car To Debut In Frankfurt

Also like the 911 GT3 RS, the GT3 Cup car features the 1.73-inch wider body of the current 911 Carrera 4S, providing sufficient space for larger wheels. Wider front wheel arches allow for three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18) utilizing 24/64-18 Michelin racing tires. The three-piece light-alloy wheels on the rear axle are up by one inch in width, now measuring 12 J x 18 with 27/68-18 tires.

The new 911 GT3 Cup is clearly recognizable at first sight through the special design of the front end. The striking daytime driving lights come straight from the current generation 911. Another carryover from the road-going 911 GT3 RS are the front body panels – as they prove aerodynamically-efficient for racing duty. The front spoiler lip is more than 0.5-inches lower to provide significantly more downforce on the front axle.

Downforce on the rear axle is also increased by the by virtue of a rear wing that is over 9-inches wider than the street version, 66.9 inches vs. 57.5 inches respectively. The rear air dam, with its air vent openings as well as the rear LED lights, also come straight from the road model.

Additional Unibal joints are featured on the track control arms and the front and rear anti-roll bars are now adjustable to seven different positions, allowing for an even more precise set-up of the car to best match each prospective race track.

The cockpit of the new 911 GT3 Cup caters even more to the specific needs of the driver. An additional vent in the upper part of the front lid, for example, provides the driver with a better supply of fresh air. The controls for the Info Display are now positioned directly on the steering wheel housing. And in addition to fore-and-aft adjustment, the steering wheel may now also be adjusted for height as on the regular production car.

News and photos used with permission from Porsche.

Mini turns 50

The Mini celebrates its 50th birthday today. The iconic car was first unveiled to the public in August 26 1959.

Here is the official Mini birthday-song "That´s Entertainment", a Paul Weller and The Jam classic. It's performed by Twisted Wheel.

Rally Shelby 2009

An update from Luiz Carlos Cardoso from Brasil (update not in english, but please enjoy the pix if you can't read the text):

A las 22 horas del día 26 de Julio se encerró en Shelby Modelismo (Brasil), más una edición de su tradicional Rally.




Una vez más fue posible colocar a la toda prueba la pericia y habilidad de los participantes, una vez más se testó la robustez y versatilidade de sus vehículos.



Fueron dos días de enfretamento, en diferentes situaciones, en las cuales, allende revelar destreza en el arte de pilotaje y navegación, fue posible disfrutar una marcante reunión de apasionados por el automovilismo “Off Road”.





Con un escenario de grande realismo, montado especialmente para la ocasión, Shelby Modelismo, que es una de las pioneras casas em todo el mundo, especializada en autenticas replicas de coches en la escala 1:32, reunió varios miembros de su Club y amigos invitados para este especial evento.

Parabién a todos los participantes por más ese primoros acontecimiento. Congratulaciones por la demostración de compañerismo y cooperación, congratulaciones a todos de Shelby Modelismo.

BYD to Sell Electric Car in US by 2010

BYD is finalizing plans for an all-electric battery car that would be sold in the U.S. next year, one year ahead of schedule. BYD wants to build up its brand name in the U.S. by offering one of its most advanced cars, the five-seat e6, before eventually expanding its offerings.

The e6 is a 5 seater MPV with similar styling to the Honda Odyssey with 400 km battery range. Priced at around $40,000, after US government rebate $32,500, the e6 will be in the same price bracket as the Chevy Volt. BYD hopes to enter Europe with a similar strategy in 2011 or later.

Listed in Hong Kong, BYD plans to sell up to 100 million new shares in mainland China ahead of a listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as early as next year. The offering, which still needs government approval, could raise up to $500 million based on current prices.


BYD already sells a plug-in hybrid car with a small gasoline engine to charge batteries that is called the F3DM. BYD began selling it late last year to fleet customers but hasn't made it available for consumers in China yet. BYD is waiting for government incentives for private buyers in China to buy "new energy cars."

Honda to launch electric car in US by 2015

Honda plans to develop an electric car to debut in the U.S. market by around 2015 as tighter environmental regulations push demand for zero-emission vehicles, the Nikkei newspaper said on Saturday.

Honda, Japan's No. 2 automaker, has started developing a prototype of the car to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, the business daily reported, without citing sources.

The vehicle is expected to be around the size of a minicar, it added.

Other automakers such as Toyota and Volkswagen have also announced plans to launch electric cars in the next few years.

But they say it could take decades for the vehicles to spread due to their high cost, limited driving range and long charging times with the current battery technology.

Nissan, Japan's third biggest automaker, unveiled its electric car "Leaf" earlier this month with plans to begin selling it in the United States, Japan and Europe towards the end of 2010.

Holden doesn't rule out making electric car

Holden says it would be an "enormous leap", but it hasn't ruled out building the Volt electric car at its Australian assembly operations in Adelaide.

The company said it remained committed to bringing the US-made version of the car to the Australian market in 2012, before considering local production.

The Volt shared its Delta platform with the Cruze, the four-cylinder car Holden will build in SA from next year.

"Having the same platform certainly gives us a first step in terms of future development opportunities but anything involving electric vehicles would be an enormous leap," Holden spokesman Scott Whiffin said.

"We've only just launched the imported Cruze and are working towards a range of locally-built, fuel-efficient models on petrol and diesel. We'll get this piece right then look at potential alternatives including E85, LPG, stop-start hybrids and other powertrains.

"We plan to bring Volt to market as an imported vehicle in 2012 and we'll look at the market reaction to it before considering any further moves on that front."

The company's comments followed calls from South Australian Premier Mike Rann for the company to build an electric version of the Cruze in Adelaide.

Mr Rann met the head of General Motors Fritz Henderson in the US overnight and was also given a test ride in the Volt.

"Because the Cruze has the same architectural base as GM's new Volt, it is technologically possible to ultimately have an electric version of the Cruze manufactured on the new car production line at Elizabeth," Mr Rann said.

"While the Cruze will be a fuel-efficient car, I would like to see the Elizabeth plant manufacturing the same model but with an even greater fuel efficiency in the future as the technology develops.

"Developing and adapting this new Holden four-cylinder to even lower carbon emission standards will further entrench our car manufacturing industry."

Mr Whiffin said the Premier was clearly impressed by the Volt, judging by his comments.

"Premier Rann is a great advocate for Holden and the Australian car industry and we're delighted he had the chance to meet Fritz Henderson in Detroit," he said.

"We're also pleased that senior Volt engineers were able to give him an understanding of what is an incredibly important vehicle for us."

OPEC’s greed will herald the end of the oil age

The TIMES ONLINE have published a story by guest columnist and former editor of The Economist Bill Emmott on why, despite the barest of financial green shoots following the largest financial correction in a generation, OPEC are still restricting oil supply in an effort to raise the price of oil. Even with demand still down significantly the price of oil has doubled in the last 6 months and is seven times higher than just a decade ago.

We have previously reported that OPEC has made their intensions clear that they will not raise production until oil returns to $100 a barrel. The oil producers’ cartel has deliberately cut production by nearly five million barrels a day, which is more than the drop in global demand, to keep prices high.

Mr Emmott explains that if the cartel continues to over play it's hand the oil age will end, not because they run out of oil but because oil consumers run out of patience with greedy oil producers, and develop substitutes instead. We tend to think that this trend is already well under way, gathered significant momentum in September 2001, and is basically already unstoppable.

Kansas introduce lane hogging law

This news has nothing to do with EVs but is a subject close to most drivers hearts. Showing uncommon good sense, state authorities in Kansas have introduced a law making it illegal to hog the fast lane on multi lane roads.

Under the new law, drivers may only drive in the left lane of these highways when:

*Overtaking and passing another vehicle;
*Preparing to make a proper left turn;
*Otherwise directed by official traffic-control devices; or
*Otherwise required by other provisions of law.

The law applies to multi-lane roads, outside of any city, to travel in the right lane of traffic whenever two or more lanes are moving in the same direction. In the same law making session they also introduced a 'Move It' law for all those brain dead motorist who don't have the common sense to move their vehicles to a safe location (shoulder, nearest exit ramp) after crashing into another vehicle on a multi lane road.

It's one thing to make a law, it's quite another to have drivers aware of and obey it. Witness the large number of learner drivers, who are prohibited from expressways, seen driving down motorways, instructed to do so by supposedly experienced drivers.

What most good drivers consider common sense and courtesy now has to be made law to protect idiots from their own stupidity and rudeness. In the UK, trucks are prohibited from the outside lane on three lane motorways and many countries already have 'keep right unless overtaking' laws with regular sign posting but they are rarely, if ever, enforced.

Unfortunately we doubt a driver IQ test will ever be considered and mandatory or even optional advanced driver training seems as politically unlikely as ever. Perhaps Kansas may set an example there too.

NEW Tesla Model S TEST DRIVE shots

Just days after Fisker grabbed a few headlines with their Karma hybrid doing a slow demo lap around Laguna Seca, Telsa feels the need to release new 'action' pics of their solitary Model S. No further technical details about the 'S' have been released and no pre-production plans have been announced to date.

Click on any of these pictures to see it in High Resolution.

New Racer Ford P68 - RCR51A and RCR51B

Photos of the new Racer Ford P68 - RCR51A and RCR51B.

German government: 1 million electric cars by 2020

Chancellor Angela Merkel's Cabinet aims Wednesday to finalize a plan that envisions one million electric cars zipping along the nation's famed autobahns by 2020.

The plan calls for "financial incentives" starting in 2012 to support the sale of electric cars. Specifics on the finances are to be discussed in the next legislature period in the fall.

"The program is aimed at having a positive impact on investment decisions, give producers security and support the sale of electric cars," according to a copy of the plan, obtained by The Associated Press.

Germany's car companies have scrambled to catch up to their Asian competitors in electric technology. Volkswagen has said it hopes to introduce its first electric cars on the market in 2013, while Daimler AG is working together with California-based electric car maker Tesla Motors Inc. on developing better battery and electric drive systems for vehicles destined for the consumer market.

Already the opposition Greens have criticized the plan for being too narrow in focusing only on electric automobiles, insisting that all cars running on renewable energy should be eligible. Earlier this month, President Barack Obama announced $2.4 billion in federal grants to develop next-generation electric vehicles and batteries in the United States.

Toyota to buy hybrid batteries from Sanyo

As previously reported, Toyota's Prius is currently the number one selling car in Japan with a sales volume up 400% compared with the same period last year, not including the 10 month waiting list, as a result Toyota are outselling their battery supply. Toyota and Sanyo Electric are now discussing the possibility of the auto maker buying batteries for hybrid vehicles from Sanyo, a person familiar with the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, the Nikkei reported that Toyota will begin buying lithium ion batteries for hybrid cars from Sanyo in 2011, as Toyota's battery joint venture with Panasonic Corp. can't keep up with demand.

Both Toyota and Sanyo declined to comment on whether the firms are in talks over the supply of batteries.

Sanyo, who already supply NiMH batteries for the Ford Fusion Hybrid, is expected to become a subsidiary of Panasonic, with a tender offer likely to take place once regulatory hurdles are cleared,

A Toyota spokeswoman said the company's battery joint venture, Panasonic EV Energy Co., plans to raise its annual production capacity for nickel hydrogen batteries to more than 1 million units next year from the current 500,000 units. In addition, the joint venture will start mass producing lithium ion batteries from next year.

"We are ensuring a stable supply of batteries as we plan to sell more hybrid cars," the spokeswoman said.

Toyota holds a 60% stake in Panasonic EV Energy, while Panasonic holds 40%.

New Track for Harry

Slotfather Harry Wise has replaced his beloved Artin Track, with a new wood track! Read the story at this link.

The new Bentley Mulsanne unveiled

On their 90th anniversary, Bentley Motors unveiled their new flagship grand tourer - the Mulsanne on the 16th of August at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in Monterey, California.

Not much info apart from that it will be powered by a 6.75 litre V8 engine.

According to Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors:

"The challenge we set our engineers was to create a new grand Bentley that would stand as the pinnacle of British luxury motoring, offering the world’s most exclusive driving experience. They have responded to this challenge with real passion and the result is a luxury grand tourer that sets new standards in terms of comfort, effortless performance and hand-crafted refinement – the very qualities for which Bentley is renowned."

Chassis number one was sold at auction by Gooding and Company for US$500,000 at the event.

The Bentley Mulsanne will go on sale from mid 2010 and will also be displayed at the forthcoming IAA Frankfurt Motor Show (15-27th September, 2009).



Link: The official Bently Mulsanne site