Author: stephane schlesinger

Brera in Goodwood
Alfa Romeo will bring its highly desirable Brera in the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 24-26 June. This beauty, built upon the same platform as the new 159, is the incarnation of the splendid prototype created by Giugiaro in 2002. Alfa has not betrayed the original prototype. Unveiled in the last Geneva Motorshow, the Alfa Brera will offer 3 engines: a 2.2 litre 4-in-line delivering 185bhp, a 200bhp diesel 2.4 litre five-in-line and a 260bhp 3.2 V6, all already seen on the 159. The production of this 440cm-long coupe will debut early July and it’ll probably hit British showrooms in 2006, at a minimum price of nearly £25,000. However, one might wonder why Alfa has been granted 2 coupes, the GT and the Brera, while Lancia has none.
As a sponsor of the renowned festival, Alfa Romeo will display mythical cars such as the P2, Fangio’s 159 Alfetta, the 8C Le Mans, a 33 Le Mans, a 1750 Gran Sport and even a 6C 2300B. Of course, the new 159 will be there too.

June 22, 2005
Fiat gets smart with Piccolo Bello?
Last year, at the Geneva Motor Show, Fiat unveiled the lovely Trepiuno, a kind of 3^rd millennium 500, which was enthusiastically greeted. At last, Fiat decided to exploit the extraordinary sympathy conveyed by the 500. Of course, everybody found it logical that Fiat produced the Trepiuno. Everybody but Fiat… It would have been too simple. Arguing that it’d be too expensive (£10,000) and too close to the Panda, Fiat decided to shelve it and began studying the Piccolo Bello. Why not. Given that the Smart Fortwo meets a considerable success in Italy, replacing the 500 in people’s hearts, Fiat thought it a good idea to take up the same concept and to improve it. In the same way, Fiat had tried to imitate the VW Golf and launched the Stilo… When did you last see one?
Like the Smart, the Piccolo Bello is a rear-engined minute car. But the Italian engineers have been trying to find a solution to offer accommodation for four people instead of two, in a car that’s not more than 270cm long. As a matter of fact, the rear bench will be mounted over the engine. So, to provide decent headroom, the height could reach 170cm. Various storage spaces will be scattered throughout the cockpit: beside the rear bench, above the glove box or under the front bonnet. Besides, the driver will enter the car opening a sliding door, just like in the Peugeot 1007. There will be just one though.
The Piccolo Bello will be built alongside the Panda, in Poland, at a rhythm of about 150,000 copies a year. Some say the basic price will not exceed £4000 when it’s released in 2007.

June 21, 2005
Mercedes unveils new S-Class
Launched in 1998, the previous S-Class has sold 480,000 copies up to now, which makes it the best selling luxury saloon in the world. Mercedes intends its new S-Class to meet the same success and to do so, has laden it with technology. In terms of active safety and comfort, we find a few innovative systems:
–       Brake assist plus: fitted with a radar, this system registers the cars ahead and gives a warning if the gap is too small. Moreover, if a collision threatens, the system calculates the ideal braking assistance: the car will brake as strong as it can even if you don’t apply enough pressure on the pedal. In the mean time, the adaptive brake lights will flash.
–       Pre-safe plus: if the car detects an emergency situation, it’ll tension the seat belts, inflate the air-cushions in the seats to give the driver more support and close the side windows.
–       Distronic Plus: using the same components as the Brake Assist Plus, this systems keeps the car at the right distance from the vehicle ahead, and, in stop-and-go traffic, will go as far as stopping the S-Class and make it re-accelerate automatically. Not a good reason to read and drive though.
–       Night view assist: two infrared lights detect non-visible objects at night, which are then displayed in the instrument cluster.
Mercedes’s new flagship is even larger than its predecessor and like it, is available in two lengths: either 507 or 520cms. It’s also 16mm wider and 29mm higher. Its huge wheel arches recall that of the new Fiat Croma while the boot lid makes one think of the BMW 7-Series. On the whole, the new S-Series shows a slender silhouette conveying a sense of dynamism, which is quite amazing for such a big car.
Under the bonnet, the engine range has narrowed to 4, with 3 new units. We find the 3.2 V6 CDI delivering 231bhp, the usual 272bhp 3.5 V6, a new 5.0 litre V8 block delivering 388bhp and the 6.0 litre V12 boosted to 517bhp, available in 2006. All these units are coupled with the 7 speed G-Tronic automatic gearbox. The Airmatic suspension is standard while the Active Body Control is optional, except on the V12. I don’t expect Mercedes to avoid competition with the Audi A8 4.2 TDI or the BMW 740d, especially as they have an excellent V8 CDI in store…
In the cockpit, major changes are to be discovered: Mercedes has fitted its luxury saloon with a device very similar to BMW’s iDrive, with a console mounted big switch. Called Comand, this system monitors the stereo, the heating, the telephone or the hard-drive based navigation. Of course, it’s possible to adapt it to your habits. It’s combined with a huge colour screen set on the centre of the dash, just like in a BMW… For their comfort, passengers are offered multicontour seats including a massage function. Thanks to the stretched wheelbase, accommodation should be better and the boots stores up to 560 litres of luggage.
The new S-Class will hit the showrooms by October.

Ooops 😀
June 21, 2005
Kristensen’s seventh victory in a row in Le Mans
Even if the Audi R8s were not the fastest cars on a lap – they were compelled to carry ballast and reduce their power– , one of those engaged by American Champion Racing team won the race thanks to their consistency. Bearing in mind the Pescarolos were quicker, they paid great attention to reliability and the pilots did the rest, committing no fault. Champion Racing team drivers Kristensen, Werner and Lehto led the Audi R8 number 3 to victory. It’s the seventh for Danish Tom Kristensen, who thus surpassed Jacky Ickx.
World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb was on the Pescarolo number 17, but a flat tyre on hour 20 caused the car to crash, preventing it from finishing the race. The Pescarolo number 16, driven by Collard, Bouillon and Collard, was on pole position but the, after 2 hours, the gearbox broke down, forcing it to stop for 30 minutes. Despite a fantastic recovery during the night, the three French pilots were not able to make up for their lost time, staying behind 2 Audis, because of a coolant leak. The Audi that was second crashed, allowing the French team to finish on second position, ahead of 2 other Audis, respectively driven by Champion Racing team pilots Pirro, Biela and McNish and by Oreca team pilots Montagny, Ortelli and Gounon.
On the fifth position we find the Corvette C6.R that won in the LMGT1 category, after a tough struggle against the Aston-Martin DBRS9, while a Lola won in the LMP2.
June 20, 2005
Anything rotten in the kingdom of F1?
One might wonder indeed. It was an unbelievable sight: after the formation lap, all the cars using Michelin tyres headed to the pits. Only six that were supplied for by Bridgestone remained on track and ran the race: 2 Ferraris, 2 Minardis and 2 Jordans.
How was such a situation made possible? First, last Friday, Ralf Schumacher crashed his car in Turn 13, a fast banked curve, presumably because of a faulty tyre. Given the violence of the shock, his doctor advised him not to run the GP two days after. On Saturday, replacing Ralf in the Toyota team, Ricardo Zonta met the same problem and had an accident too. Soon, Michelin agreed to say their tyres were not safe on this track and stated teams using them should not race unless they were allowed to use brand new tyres coming from Franceovernight. Arguing it was against the rules, the FIA said, no.
Then, Michelin claimed that speed should be reduced, by means of a chicane laid before Turn 13, to ensure certain level of safety. 9 teams agreed on this proposal, but once again, the FIA turned it down, say it’d be unfair for the teams running on Bridgestone tyres.
What was to happen happened: Michelin runners did not take part in the race. 14 cars quit the track and then, to the woos of the crowd, began the most ridiculous Formula 1 grand-prix in all times. Schumacher won, Barrichello came a close second. So close that the Ferrari drivers nearly had an accident. The next four are, by order of arrival, Monteiro, Karthikeyan, Albers and Friesachier. Bridgestone and these 3 teams got the job done: was it that difficult? There’s one positive element though: Jordan and Minardi scored points, which will ensure them a financial income.
Speaking of money, will the 150,000 spectators be given theirs back? They widely incriminated Michelin and remarked they had not made it to Indianapolis just to see Ferrari testing their cars.
Formula 1 was already struggling for a good image in America, now, what shifted from a safety to a political issue made it look contemptible even in Europe.
June 20, 2005
Trulli emerges first from an odd qualifying session
Last Friday, during a practice session, Ralf Schumacher violently hit a wall, because of his tyres as it seems. Replacing him, Ricardo Zonta met the same problem and crashed his car too. Fortunately, they were not injured. Nevertheless, Michelin confess they don’t exactly know what happened and thus, want to be allowed to fit new tyres on all the cars they provide – as a precaution–, which is prohibited by F1 rules. The authorities have yet to take a decision concerning Michelin. They are under a very high pressure for the teams provided by Michelin have threatened to pull out the race if the French tyre manufacturer advised them to. In this case, the race would be cancelled, which remains unlikely given all the money involved.
All the pilots pushed very hard to be in pole position and eventually, Italian driver Jarno Trulli turned out to be the quickest on track, in spite of what happened to his team mate, posting an impressive 1m10.625 in his Toyota.
In his McLaren, Kimi Raikkonen is very close behind, only 0.069 slower. Then we find Button (BAR), Fisichella (Renault), Michael Schumacher (Ferrari), Alonso (Renault), Barrichello (Ferrari), Sato (BAR), Webber (Williams), Massa (Sauber), Montoya (McLaren), Villeneuve (Sauber), Zonta (Toyota), Klien (Red Bull), Heidfeld (Williams), Coulthard (Red Bull), Monteiro (Jordan), Albers (Minardi), Karthikeyan (Jordan) and Friesachier (Minardi).
McLaren, Renault and Ferrari did not meet many problems during the session and say they feel confident. On the contrary, WilliamsGP were not satisfied at all but they hope their strategy wil help them.
Of course, strategies will be a big concern: in a same team, 2 pilots may have different ones, which explains why Raikkonen is second while Montoya is only eleventh. Many pilots complained about the lack of grip, so tyres will play a key-role. How will Bridgestone react if Michelin is allowed to bring new tyres in?
June 19, 2005
Special Fiats for UK
A few months ago, Fiat released the Stilo Schumacher throughout Europe. Fiat’s compact car simply received new bumpers, a red paint and a few Schumacher badges. Rightfully, Fiat UK thought this was not enough and, with the help of Prodrive, decided to fit it with OZ Superturismo 18’’ alloys, front and rear springs made by Eibach, Bilstein dampers and a rear silencer with 2 pipes enhancing the sound of its 170bhp 2.4 five-in-line. This Stilo Schumacher GP was launched last month, in the UK only, at a price of £16,995. Only 200 copies will be made.
Now Fiat UK launches the Panda Sporting Special Edition. This sporty version receives new bumpers and side skirts, special alloys, lowered suspensions and the most powerful engine in the Panda range, the appraised 70bhp 1.3 Multijet. 400 copies will be produced, priced at £8,995. Fiat promises a unique finance package for young drivers.
These 2 cars look sportier than they actually are, but then, we can’t reproach Fiat UK for not addressing the brand’s main problem: an appalling image.

June 19, 2005
F1 to take a great step… backwards in 2008
Last Friday, the FIA issued a proposal for new F1 rules to come to application in 2008. Max Mosley wants to reduce manufacturers’ costs by 90% so as to reduce the gap between top teams and less performing ones he’s afraid to see leave the championship. Moreover, he takes it for granted there’s no need of advanced and costly technology to ensure a good show. “It may fascinate the relevant engineers that by spending millions of euros they can build a new gearbox with ratios that are 0.25mm thinner, but no-one else knows or cares. There is no additional value for the watching public who, ultimately, pay for the whole thing” Mosley says. Besides, to him, the cars go too fast, which endangers pilots and marshals and compels race organizers to spend more and more money upgrading the safety of the circuits.
As a consequence, cars should lose power (engines should receive an FIA-made ECU), downforces be reduced by 10%, electronic helps almost suppressed and all the cars be fitted with a clutch pedal and a fully manual gearbox. There would be only one tyre manufacturer appointed by the FIA while wheels could become wider and slicks tyres be allowed again. Besides, gear ratios, differentials, and brakes should be provided by an FIA-approved supplier. No more spare cars, no more telemetry between pits and cars. Eventually, tests should be reduced to 30,000kms over a year.
The new rules must be finalized by the end of September.
Back to Fangio’s time…
June 18, 2005
Urban mud bath for SUVs
Tired of nasty remarks on your Freelander that has never left London? There’s a solution for you: Sprayonmud. This a bottle filled with mud collected in the centre of England. Just spray it on your car and it’ll look as if you had spent the week-end off-roading in the countryside. Of course, it’s harmless for the paintwork. Anyway, don’t forget your plate numbers must remain visible so don’t use it to fool radars. Eventually, even if your car was delivered late because the factory had been invaded by ecologists, please don’t spray mud on them alleging it’s for the sake of their skin, badly damaged by pollution and nights spent sleeping in trees.
Sprayonmud is not even expensive: only £7.95 for a 75cl bottle.
June 18, 2005
Grinnal Trike R3T
Famous 3-wheeler maker Grinnal unveiled the Trike 3T last month and plans to start production late June. Based on the Triumph Rocket 3T, Grinnal’s trike delivers around 150bhp, a good car’s power for a third of its weight. Thus, this vehicle should provide breathtaking acceleration for 2 people. A 3-seater version is on study and could be produced if there’s enough demand.
Under the pillions, there’s storage for 35 litres of luggage. Besides, the rear boot contains 45 litres.
Indeed, not only that this trike provide astonishing acceleration and awesome styling but also a certain practicality.
Production will deliberately be limited while orders have already been passed: don’t wait too long to buy this great three-wheeler.
What a paradox: the UK is a country where no driver (or rider) can escape controls of many kinds, where speed limits are strictly enforced and yet, there remains such small crazy carmakers as Grinnal, making indecently fast vehicles, such as not only the Trike but also the Scorpion III and IV.

June 17, 2005