Posted 9th Nov 2010 by Stephan Heublein
Filed under: Motorsport, Formula One
Formula One teams are continually on the lookout for vital tenths of a second. In almost every race, new wings and aerodynamic updates are tested. And yet, without a powerful, reliable engine, nothing would move at all in F1.
Red Bull racing driver Sebastian Vettel took a big knock in the hunt for the world championship: a sparkplug gremlin in Bahrain and engine failure in Korea on his V8 Renault cost him 38 championship points. Had he secured those points, he would now be only two points adrift of clinching the world championship title at the finale in Abu Dhabi.
Continue reading Mercedes: Number one engine supplier again in 2010
Posted 9th Nov 2010 by Stephan Heublein
Filed under: Motorsport
On 31st October 2010, DTM driver Alexandre Prémat experienced a moment of horror during the penultimate race of the season at the Adria International Raceway. The Frenchman's car hit the crash barrier, flew several metres into the air, somersaulted, and then landed at the side of the track, a complete write-off. After his accident, the Audi driver was able to climb out of his car unaided and uninjured.
This much was apparent straightaway: the DTM safety concept works well and is in no way inferior to systems common in Formula One. The DTM safety concept is basically comprised of a carbon-fibre outer skin, a safety cell, carbon-fibre crash boxes and a seat box for the driver that resembles the monocoque of a Formula One car.
Continue reading DTM safety concept explained
Posted 9th Nov 2010 by Nic Cackett
Filed under: Audi, Safety, Tech, Videos, Electric cars , Pedestrian safety , News
Audi is drawing direct inspiration from Hollywood blockbusters in its pursuit of a suitable 'engine' sound for its forthcoming e-tron electric cars.
The manufacturer has decided that the new models – which are virtually silent up to speeds of 15mph – must emit a noise to alert pedestrians of their presence.
Apparently the firm's acousticians are paying particular attention to the engine note used in the Audi RSQ, a fictional electric model driven by Will Smith in the 2004 film, 'I, Robot'.
Click below to get a brief indication of what the 2012 e-tron might sound like.
Continue reading Audi looks to Hollywood for the engine note of the future
Posted 9th Nov 2010 by Stephan Heublein
Filed under: Motorsport, Formula One
Nasty shock for
Jenson Button: The reigning world champion was threatened by a group of locals armed with baseball bats and guns on the way back from the circuit to his hotel. His driver managed to speed away and no-one was harmed. Dangerous place, Sao Paulo!
Sometimes,
Formula One seems to inhabit a sort of cocoon. Following the attempted carjacking on Jenson Button as he travelled between the circuit and his hotel, the 2009 champion was asked whether it might not have been better to use a less high-profile vehicle. "It's not possible to have more of an understatement than a Mercedes 200B," he replied. "It would be hard to sink any lower." In view of all the poverty in Brazil, not exactly the most tactful of statements...
Continue reading Paddock gossip from Brazil - Part I
Posted 9th Nov 2010 by Nic Cackett
Filed under: Commercial vehicles , News
Black cabs are to go on sale in Paris as part of the newly named London Taxi Company's gradual expansion onto the international market.
Since instigating a joint venture with the Chinese car maker Geely, Manganese Bronze Holdings – the Coventry based engineering firm which operates the London Taxi Company – has begun supplying the iconic cabs to markets as far afield as Beirut and Bahrain.
Continue reading London's iconic black cabs to make Paris debut
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