Author: yoann besnard

BMW and Fiat win ‘Car Design of the Year’ awards by Car Design News
BMW has won the car design of the year for its concept car Concept CS while without a surprise Fiat has won the prize for its 500 model.
What’s interesting about the CarDesign News Prize is its readership comprised of international car designers. The prize is an award given by designers for designers.
The award for the best concept show car announced in 2007 went to the BMW Concept CS, with over 51% of readers awarding the BMW a top three ranking. The Fiat 500 was the clear winner in the production category, with 50% of readers giving it a top three ranking. The result for the Fiat is more remarkable, given that the other top five contenders were all luxury models costing far more than the baby Fiat.
Car Design of the Year 2007 – Concept
1. BMW Concept CS, 4794 points
2. Mazda Taiki. 4495 points
3. Citroën C-Cactus. 4115 points
Car Design of the Year 2007 – Production
1. Fiat 500, 4643 points
2. Maserati Gran Turismo. 4140 points
3. Audi A5. 3965 points
March 12, 2008
Peugeot creates a sporty look for the 207 van
Peugeot is never short of a good joke. The carmaker launched the 607 or offered us a reincarnation of Hannibal Lecter under the form of a 4007. This time, Peugeot has launched a range of ‘Sports’ accessories for the 207 Van.
The range of accessories cover everything from an iPod docking kit to a full body kit, 17” alloy wheels, or an exterior stripe kit. All accessories can be fitted at any Peugeot dealer or by a competent owner.
Sports Front Bumper Conversion kit: £430.13
Fog Lamps: £92.57
‘SP’ Body Kit (inc mesh radiator grille): £989.68
‘RC’ Stripe Kit: £180.79
Four x 17” Alloy Wheels excluding tyres: £579.08
Sports Gear Knob: £41.80
Sports Handbrake Lever: £32.71
Sports Exhaust Kit: £112.12
iPod Docking Kit: £180.62
Stainless Steel Sill Guards: £42.22
Bluetooth Kit: £158.71
Sports Interior Trim: £6.24 for air vent trims, £10.81centre fascia trim and £10.05 for centre console trims
March 12, 2008
Porsche to request for judicial review
Porsche has announced it will make formal application for judicial review to challenge the new congestion charge scheme.
Porsche will file a request for judicial review after TfL and Ken Livingstone (pictured) have rejected the carmaker’s request to change the new congestion charge due to apply next October.
After Porsche files the request, The Mayor will then have 21 days to acknowledge the Porsche claim.
Responding to the Mayor’s decision, Andy Goss, Managing Director of Porsche Cars GB, said: “The new £25 charge will have no meaningful impact on congestion and TfL’s own figures show the anticipated CO2 emissions savings in a year could be equivalent to less than four hours of emissions from Heathrow. All it will do is unfairly hit large numbers of drivers in London and undermine London’s attractiveness as a place to do business. We are therefore formally applying for judicial review to challenge the Mayor’s proposals and we are confident we have a strong case.”
March 12, 2008
Stirling Moss named greatest F1 driver of all time
Stirling Moss has been named the greatest F1 driver of all time by Autocar Formula One guru Alan Henry.
The journalist has published a new book in which he gives his own top 100 list of F1 driver. The top four positions – Moss, Clark, Senna and Prost have a total of 133 wins between them during their racing careers.
Alan Henry also writes: “One must also consider F1’s man of the moment, Lewis Hamilton. If we revamp this volume in a few years’ time, Lewis should be able to make the top 10.”
Surprisingly, Michael Schumacher didn’t make the top 10. The journalist comments that Schumacher’s contract conditions, making his team mate do as he was told, left him out of the top 10.
The Top 100 F1 Drivers of all time
1. Stirling Moss
2. Jim Clark
3. Ayrton Senna
4. Alain Prost
5. Alberto Ascari
6. Juan-Manuel Fangio
7. Bernd Rosemeyer
8. Jackie Stewart
9. Tazio Nuvolari
10. Mika Häkkinen
11. Michael Schumacher
12. Gilles Villeneuve
13. Chris Amon
14. Tony Brooks
15. Carlos Reutemann
16. Achille Varzi
17. Emerson Fittipaldi
18. Jack Brabham
19. Mario Andretti
20. Niki Lauda
21. Jochen Rindt
22. Nelson Piquet
23. Guy Moll
24. John Surtees
25. Ronnie Peterson
26. Hermann Lang
27. Dan Gurney
28. Keke Rosberg
29. Kimi Räikkönen
30. Lewis Hamilton
31. Nigel Mansell
32. Fernando Alonso
33. Rudolf Caracciola
34. Didier Pironi
35. Jacky Ickx
36. Alan Jones
37. James Hunt
38. Phil Hill
39. Damon Hill
40. Mike Hawthorn
41. Giuseppe Farina
42. Jody Scheckter
43. Jean-Pierre Wimille
44. Graham Hill
45. François Cevert
46. Gerhard Berger
47 Pedro Rodriguez
48. Jean Behra
49. Jacques Villeneuve
50. Ricardo Rodriguez
51. Clay Regazzoni
52. Denny Hulme
53. Jean Alesi
54. Juan Pablo Montoya
55. Carlos Pace
56. Louis Chiron
57. Peter Revson
58. Jo Siffert
59. David Coulthard
60. Felipe Massa
61. Froilán Gonzalez
62. Stefan Bellof
63. Elio de Angelis
64. Lorenzo Bandini
65. Riccardo Patrese
66. Patrick Tambay
67. Jenson Button
68. Rubens Barrichello
69. Martin Brundle
70. Derek Warwick
71. Dick Seaman
72. Patrick Depailler
73. Peter Collins
74. Bruce McLaren
75. Michele Alboreto
76. Eddie Irvine
77. Richie Ginther
78. Jean-Pierre Beltoise
79. Johnny Servoz-Gavin
80. Thierry Boutsen
81. Rene Arnoux
82. Tony Brise
83. Tom Pryce
84. Innes Ireland
85. Jarno Trulli
86. John Watson
87. Luigi Musso
88. Raymond Sommer
89. Mike Hailwood
90. Roy Salvadori
91. Ralf Schumacher
92. Wolfgang von Trips
93. Stuart Lewis-Evans
94. Jacques Laffite
95. Eugenio Castellotti
96. Trevor Taylor
97. Piers Courage
98. Stefan Johansson
99. Jochen Mass
100. Brian Redman
March 12, 2008
Renault to fit ESP on Twingo
Renault will feature the ESP on the he New Twingo as an option from next month. The safety device will cost around £230.
ESP is the latest addition to a range of active safety devices fitted as standard on Twingo such as ABS and emergency brake assist. However the option won’t be available with the entry-level engine, the 60bhp 1.2-litre petrol unit.
The aim of ESP (Electronic Stability Program) is to maintain a car on the trajectory intended by the driver in spite of a loss of grip of one or more wheels. Tyres can lose grip as a result of an emergency manoeuvre, excessive cornering speed, a slippery surface, snow or even a poorly maintained road surface. This makes it hard, if not impossible, to keep control of the car. By sensing the warning signs of these phenomena, ESP helps the driver to manage the situation.
Seven sensors record data which allows the ESP processor to brake one or more wheels, while also regulating engine torque, to ensure the car stays on the intended cornering line. The system works in close conjunction with the ABS.
March 12, 2008
Skoda rolls off the 2,000,000th Octavia
The Czech carmaker has rolled off the 2,000,000th Octavia since the model has been launched for the first time in 1996.
The milestone-marking vehicle is a silver Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI. The current generation has been launched in 2004. However the first-generation is still being built along with the current model. Altogether Skoda has produced 1,315,000 first-generation Octavias and 685,000 second-generation Octavias.
Last year the company delivered 72,529 first-generation Octavia vehicles and 237,422 current generation Octavias.
March 12, 2008
Dodge rolls off the 25,000th Viper
The troubled Chrysler has rolled off its 25,000th Dodge Viper at its Conner Avenue Assembly factory.
The milestone might look like a bit small when Petrol-Head reports usual production milestones above one million units, but the Viper is a special vehicle sold at a high price.
The car was created on the idea of Bob Lutz and Caroll Shelby. Shown as a concept car, the car went on sale to spearhead a revival of the American carmaker. Unfortunately, the milestone won’t cheer the factory’s employees as Chrysler has announced it will close the Conner Avenue factory.
The current Dodge Viper will be built until 2011.
March 12, 2008
BMW invests to boot capacity in the US
BMW has announced it will increase the production capacity of its American factory by investing £375 million by 2012.
The investment will boost the facility’s production capacity from 160,000 to 240,000. Located in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the factory will increase its area by 60%.
In addition to the 5,400 current employees, BMW will hire 500 new people within the next four years. The news doesn’t come as a surprise. Indeed BMW had already announced its intention to increase the production capacity to 200,000. Last month, the carmaker had announced it will eliminate 8,100 jobs, mainly in Germany and unions had to be prepared to bigger job cuts if the Euro becomes stronger.
The X5 and X6 are being built in Spartanburg. BMW will add the next-generation X3 to the factory’s assembly lines.
March 12, 2008
Volkswagen details 10 years plan
Stefan Jacoby, president of Volkswagen of America, has detailed the company’s plans to sell one million vehicles on the American market per year by 2018.
The German carmaker has set an ambitious plan to boost its sales to one million units per year in the US by 2018. In 2007, it sold 230,572 vehicles in 2007, representing a decrease of 1.9% from the 235,140 units sold in the prior year. The one million figure will be comprised of 800,000 Volkswagens and 200,000 Audis.
On the Volkswagen side, the company plans to downsize the Passat model that will also lose its nameplate. It will decrease its selling price from about £12,000$24,000 for the entry model today to £10,000/$20,000 similar to that of the Chevrolet Malibu and slightly more expensive than that of the Toyota Camry saloon. The carmaker realised that its strong brand image in Europe didn’t cross the ocean. Drivers are not ready to pay a premium for a Volkswagen model. In the same way, the next-generation Jetta will be less expensive with a targeted price of £7,500/$15,000.
Volkswagen will also boost its sales by expanding its lineup. To the ten models offered today, the company will add new models, a pickup and a compact model based on the Up! concept cars. The Phaeton will also return on the American market as a smaller a cheaper saloon than the unsuccessful current Phaeton. Some versions of the next-generation Polo might also be sold there.
Volkswagen also plans to increase its share of diesel cars. Indeed, a recent J.D. Power report said that diesel sales were expected to increase from 3% of vehicles to 7% in the US, Stefan Jacoby wants the company to lead the market.
The other major part of the plan is a possible factory built in the US. The carmaker hasn’t given the green light yet although the company has already entered into talks with a few states to determine the best location. A plant in the US would enable the company not to be penalized by the weak dollar.
March 11, 2008
Tata interested in Ferrari stake
In an interview with Italy’s L’Espresso weekly news magazine, Tata Chairman Ratjan Tata has revealed that he would like to buy a stake in Ferrari.
"I have two passions in my life, cars and aircraft. I have always dreamed of being able to be a fighter pilot. And I confirm the wish to participate in Ferrari’s shareholding," Tata told L’Espresso.
"Luca di Montezemolo (both Fiat and Ferrari chairman) has invited me to look around in Italy because his country offers a lot of opportunities in the design and luxury sectors," he said.
Tata has definitely a big appetite and the acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover might be an opportunity to discuss with Fiat. The Italian group has shown its interest in Jaguar technology that could be used by Alfa Romeo. Rajan Tata might offer a stake in Jaguar to Fiat in exchange of a stake in Ferrari for Tata Motors.
March 10, 2008