Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

Back in August when General Motors introduced the all-new GT2 class Corvette C6.R, it ran downsized 6.0-liter version of the 7.0-liter V8 from the long-dominant GT1 car. At the launch, Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan told us the 6.0-liter was just an interim engine. With revised GT rules on tap for 2010, GM was already planning a brand-new engine for its race Vette.

Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

Unlike the 6.0/7.0, which is a ground-up race engine that only shares basic architectural dimensions with the production small block, the 2010 C6.R's V8 is a new 5.5-liter unit that will indeed be derived from the production engine found in roadgoing Corvettes. In fact, the 5.5-liter race engine will be built at GM's Performance Build Center alongside ZR1 and Z06 V8s.

Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

Fehan has confirmed that the 5.5 is running on the dyno and will make its race debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. We don't have any additional details on the new engine yet, although we were told earlier that it is based on the next-generation production small-block, which we expect to see in the Corvette soon

Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

Corvette Racing is preparing for the season-opening round of the 2010 American Le Mans Series, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, to be held in Sebring, Fla., on March 20. Forty years ago, Sebring set the stage for some highly competitive racing among Cobras, Ferraris, and Corvettes. 

Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

Difficult weather and trying mechanical situations added a challenging dimension to an exciting event. In light of recent C5-R successes and the impending start of yet another season of American Le Mans Series competition, a look back at the effort put forth by the privateer Corvette camp lends amazing perspective.

Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

Corvette Racing will compete in the GT (formerly GT2) class against entries representing Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Jaguar, and Ford. Corvette Racing drivers Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen, and Antonio Garcia are testing the No. 3 Compuware Corvette C6.R. Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta, and Emmanuel Collard are testing the No. 4 Compuware Corvette C6.R.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Chevrolet CORVETTE Racing at Sebring 2010

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin

Details on a possible future eco-friendly model, called SHC (Super Hatchback Concept), were revealed by designer Jamie Martin, a UK based designer whose previous works include the Cobra Venom V8 concept and the London Navigator bus. The SHC was conceived out of a desire to fuse the two very different worlds of hatchbacks and supercars. And in a world where limiting CO2 output is becoming increasingly important, the SHC also has some green tech up its sleeve.

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin 

Designed to compete against the likes of the Honda Civic Type-R and Ford Focus RS, the SHC would be offered with a choice of two different engine/transmission packages.

It has similarities to both a supercar and a 3-door hatchback and boasts of both styling and performance characteristics. The concept car is available in a choice of three next generation powertrains, including an electric / hybrid option. Interestingly, the body is composed of 65% Steel and 35% aluminum used for front wings, bonnet & bumpers. Alternatively, 30% glass reinforced plastic can be used for designated sections. 

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin 

Other features include front and rear window ‘air-streams’, combined with hydrophobic and super-fast screen heating and high-intensity LED/Single-Source fiber-optic illumination used on the headlight wing, lower fog light, and rear lights. Martin describes the car to have a “balanced formula of raw power, racing spirit, practicality and eco engine choices.” He said that this means that you have a supercar-inspired drive to use for weekly shopping.

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin 

The first proposed powertrain of the concept consists of a twin-turbocharged internal combustion engine with direct injection, stop-start technology and regenerative braking. Transmission would be via a 6-Speed Short-Shift manual gearbox or a 7-speed paddleshift auto.

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin 

The second option is a system dubbed the 'Delta Drive Hybrid (DDH)'. This setup consists of a smaller displacement internal combustion engine and a pair of electric motors. Nano-Titanate batteries located in the engine bay, and under the floor would feed power to the high-torque electric motors mounted within the front wheels. 3-performance modes would be available: Economy (low bhp town driving), Normal (medium bhp - motorway driving), and Performance (high bhp - utilising both the petrol engine and electric generator together for ultimate power). The car could also be driven in full electric mode for around 70 miles before the engine was needed to recharge the batteries.

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin 

Further highlights of the SHC include a magnetorheological fluid suspension system with Normal, Sport & Track modes. This system, first used by Ferrari, features dampers with iron filings suspended in fluid. When an electrical current is passed through the fluid it instantaneously changes the damping rate and stiffens up the suspension.

2010 Super Hatchback Concept Car by Jamie Martin 

While the SHC is just an independent concept with no intention of production, it does seem more and more likely that hybrid technology will filter very quickly into performance vehicles - and hot hatches could be one of the first segments to make the switch.

Diminished entries for WTCC

The FIA has published the entry list for the 2010 World Touring Car Championship. The grid is down to twenty cars, following the withdrawal of the Seat and Lada works teams and a reduction in the BMW factory effort from five to two cars.  The Spanish manufacturer however remains committed to supporting privateers running the Leon.



By contrast organisers are surprised at the absence of Lada, as only last year it committed to a three-year programme.  Perhaps it would have been more surprising if the Russian manufacturer had decided to participate, given its circumstances.  Lada’s parent company Avtovaz was facing bankruptcy, its problems caused by dramatically reduced demand and mounting debts.  Only a bail-out by Renault and the Russian state in November 2009 kept it going.



Gabriele Tarquini, who at 47 was the oldest World Champion ever when he won the WTCC title in 2009, will be returning to defend his title, driving a diesel Seat Leon run by SR-Sport.  Three-time champion Andy Priaulx will again be at the wheel of his BMW 320si, doubtless hoping he’ll be better able to challenge the Seats in 2010.

The full entry list is:



1 SR-Sport / Gabriele Tarquinii (ITA) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI

2 SR-Sport / Tom Coronel (NED) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI

3 SR-Sport / Tiago Monteiro (POR) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI

4 SR-Sport / Jordi Gene (ESP) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI

5 Zengo-Dension Team / Norbert Michelisz (HUN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI

6 Chevrolet / Yvan Muller (FRA) / Chevrolet Cruze LT

7 Chevrolet / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet Cruze LT

8 Chevrolet / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet Cruze LT

10 BMW Team RBM / Augusto Farfus (BRA) / BMW 320si

11 BMW Team RBM / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW 320si

15 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Franz Engstler (GER) / BMW 320si

16 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Andrei Romanov (RUS) / BMW 320si

17 SUNRED Engineering / Michel Nykjar (DEN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI

19 bamboo-engineering / Harry Vaulkhard (GBR) / Chevrolet Lacetti

20 bamboo-engineering / Darryl O'Young (HKG) / Chevrolet Lacetti

21 Wiechers-Sport / Mehdi Bennani (MAR) / BMW 320si

23 Colak Racing / Marin Colak (CRO) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TFSI

24 Poulsen Motorsport / Kristian Poulsen (DEN) / BMW 320si

25 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Sergio Hernandez (ESP) / BMW 320si

26 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Stefano D'Aste (ITA) / BMW 320si



Curitiba, Brazil hosts the first race of the season on 7 March.

Formula 1 Style by BEAU REID a Single Seat Electric Supercar

This car is BRD Concept, which is designed by Beau Reid and is a one seat formula 1 style street racer. The designer submit ideas that aren’t revolutionary but when they include descriptions that read like personal vendettas.

Formula 1 Style by BEAU REID a Single Seat Electric Supercar

For the racing enthusiast who wants to have the ultimate driving experience without all the extra room and the annoying girlfriend. You can also call it supercar for everyday driver who loves driving to work place alone.

Formula 1 Style by BEAU REID a Single Seat Electric Supercar

Well, it may not sound impractical but how many of us travel from home to office with more than one person in our vehicle. On the other, as per Beau, the vehicle has a combination of gas and electric engine to create the ultimate power and still get fair gas mileage.

Formula 1 Style by BEAU REID a Single Seat Electric Supercar 

Thanks for the details Beau.

CrossPolo not cross country

At first glance the CrossPolo, which Volkswagen has just announced, could mislead you into thinking it has some useful off-road ability.

Despite the tough looking grey plastic body kit, it lacks some of the essentials needed for all-terrain driving.  Well, all of them actually - there’s no four wheel drive, no decent ground clearance (although it is raised by all of 15 mm), no lockable differentials and the tyres are definitely suitable only for tarmac.



In reality then it’s not going to be much better than a ‘normal’ Polo when it comes to going cross country.  So does that mean it’s a daft concept?

Maybe not.  In some respects it’s an ideal town car, built to better shrug off the inevitable minor dings and scratches that come with exciting urban adventures, such as the school run or the expedition into the supermarket car park.



If that’s to be its role then, why go and fit lovely 17 inch alloys with fairly low profile 215/40 tyres?  A regime of kerb-scraping parallel parking and crashing through pot holes is going to mean they won’t remain unscathed for long.

Only available as a five-door, the CrossPolo comes in a range of six colours, two of which - orange and beige - are exclusive to this model.  They’re possibly not as bad as they sound.  Beneath the exterior changes, the mechanicals are standard Polo, with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines.



The CrossPolo is already available for pre-order in Germany, with deliveries beginning in May.  Thereafter the rest of Europe should get it, although there’s some doubt as to whether it’ll make it to the UK.

Cadillac back in Europe

Cadillac is planning a return to Europe, after previous Dutch-based importer Kroymans got into financial difficulties following a collapse in demand for new and used cars.



GM Europe is doing it in-house this time around, though.  A new organisation, Cadillac Europe, has just been set up to take care of importation, distribution and marketing.  It will operate only in key markets, but those markets have yet to be revealed.



The range is to be presented at March’s Geneva International Motor Show.  The striking CTS Sport Sedan, familiar from the Kroymans era, will be the core model.

It will be joined by the distinctive CTS Coupe.  This brand new model is due to begin sales in North America this summer, with a European on-sale date scheduled for the autumn.  Both Sedan and Coupe will be available in high performance CTS-V specification, powered by a 556 bhp 6.2 litre V8.

The third member of the CTS family is the Sport Wagon, which is expected to cross the Atlantic in time for the 2011 model year.

Environmentalists will be delighted that the Escalade Hybrid is to also make it to Geneva.  Powered by an electric motor as well as its 6.0 litre petrol V8, Cadillac is claiming its Two-Mode Hybrid System reduces fuel consumption by 40%.



Sounds great, although the standard vehicle’s thirst for fuel should mean that even after such a big improvement economy will still be relatively terrible.  It’s doubtful that G-Wiz owners will rush to trade-in.

So what are Cadillac’s chances of success in Europe?  Stating the obvious, its big challenge is to persuade buyers out of the established competition.  For instance, how readily are drivers going to swap their Jaguar XF, BMW 5 Series or Lexus GS for a CTS?



Some will certainly value the exclusivity that comes with a low volume brand.  The driving experience of the CTS shouldn’t be too bad, helped by it having either rear or all-wheel drive, and equipment levels will doubtless continue to be attractively generous.



But three key issues could mean Cadillac struggles.

 

The first concern is how to avoid catastrophic depreciation.  Unchecked, residual-based leasing costs will be totally uncompetitive, putting most business users off pronto.  During its earlier forays, Cadillac’s resale values didn’t have the best reputation in the UK market.  This is ably demonstrated by a UK franchised dealer currently trying to offload a CTS 2.8 V6 Sport Luxury with only 25 miles on its odometer.  The asking price?  Just under £20,000.



The second problem is the lack of a diesel CTS, a critical omission in the European market.



The third matter is more subjective: image.  Cadillac has always been a bit of a mystery for Europeans, with perceptions of a typical owner usually focussed on two extremes - the octogenarian retiree bumbling about in Florida, and the pimp using his car for business purposes.  Neither is particularly appealing.



All hurdles that mean it’s somewhat ironic that GM is now trying to establish a luxury brand in Europe, given it is still in the throes of disposing of Saab.  At least it’ll have plenty of mistakes to learn from.

New Car Concept -Mercedes F-CELL Roadster

width: 568px; height: 400px;"