The Fast Lane

Prestige and performance motor show MPH '07 and the 4Car website recently asked viewers to vote for their perfect car and passenger. The choices for voters for the perfect car are the Alfa Romeo 8C, the Bugatti Veyron, the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, and the McLaren Formula One.  For the perfect female passenger, the choices were Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Alba, Jodie Kidd, Cameron Diaz, and Eva Longoria. For the perfect male passenger, the choices were Jeremy Clarkson, The Stig, Lewis Hamilton, David Beckham, and Daniel Craig.

And the winners are… (drum roll), Scarlett Johansson, Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione, and Jeremy Clarkson and The Stig.  Check out autoblog.com to see how close the balloting was for the perfect female passenger. For the perfect car, the Alfa Romeo is the runaway winner garnering 30 percent of all the votes while the Veyron, the second highest finisher only got 13 percent.  The Gallardo got nine percent and the McLaren Formula One got 11 percent.

When I read the said post I found the comments really entertaining.  Here's one: " Amen. Both have some of the sexiest curves ever allowed in public, and anything else I might try to say would likely qualify as some sort of NSFW FCC violation."

Now let's talk about that curvy car, the Competizione.  I really think that this is one sexy car but of you ask me, I'll take the new Audi R8 anytime.  Anyway, back to the Alfa Romeo.  According to Wikipedia, the production version of the Competizione is equipped with a 4.7-liter V8 engine with an output of 443.8 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque.  The Alfa Romeo 8C is one rare car with a production target of only 500 units.  Ninety of these will go to the United States, 80 in Italy, 80 in Germany, 70 in Japan, 40 in France, 40 in the United Kingdom, 35 in Switzerland, and the remaining 65 will be sold in various countries.  One thing that kinda reduces the appeal of the 8C to me is its Edsel-esque nose.

But while the Alfa Romeo is a rare car, Scarlett Johansson is the one and only.   Her vitals statistics I'll leave for you to research.  She appeared in the movies, Horse Whisperer in 1998; My Brother the Pig in 1999; An American Rhapsody in 2001; Eight Legged Freaks in 2002; Lost in Translation in 2003; A Love Song for Bobby Long in 2004; Match Point in 2005; The Prestige in 2006; and The Nanny Diaries this year.

If you have seen gorgeous cars at the Detroit Auto Show last January and if your drool over the hot cars at the Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany which just recently ended, then be ready for some action at the Tokyo Auto Show for it will soon open its door for more Japanese cars and other car models from makers around the globe.

Of course, Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi will be the ones to lead the Japanese show well taking into account that they are all Japanese car makers. But among all these carmakers, Mitsubishi promises to bring more reasons for these car enthusiasts to visit Tokyo as they will reveal the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X at the said show. Now, tell me that’s not interesting.

The ongoing car was first seen on the “The Fast and the Furious” video game and is now finally taking the real world. It will be going on dealerships handling a price tag of roughly $30,000 with features closer to the Subaru WRX STi. It is now going to make a big splash at the forthcoming Tokyo Auto Show wearing the letter “X” with its previous name. Now the car is tagged as the Lancer Evolution X which was based on the Lancer platform which came out last year.

The Japanese car maker have launched the official photos of some of their car models like the GSR, MR and many others but sadly, they failed to reveal any information about the Evolution X. However, thanks to Car and Driver’s November issue, the new car was spied doing its complete test drive and then we had a chance to see the new Mitsubishi car before the official revelation of the Japanese car maker. The photos are now widely distributed over the net.

Kicking Tires released the news early this morning saying that the two new models from Mitsubishi, namely the base-level GSR and as well as the US bound upper-level MR, were rated to produce 295 horsepower as well as 300 pounds-feet of torque. Aside from this, the new car is also installed with an all-new dual-clutch sequential gearbox for the MR while the GRS received the five-speed manual which is both relatively priced at around $30,000.

Kicking Tires also said, “There will be a new all-wheel-drive system with a perfect power split of 50/50 to the front and rear wheels, but up to 80% can be sent to either the front or rear wheels, which is impressive.” The new Evolution was made capable of running 60 mph in 5.0 seconds which is slower than the previous car model. However, Mitsubishi gave it a better handling and grip.

We will be watching out for more information about this new Mitsubishi car at the soon to open Tokyo Auto Show. Meanwhile, let us just wait for the auto show to open to see more about the new vehicle.

Land Cruiser has been screaming its popularity for the past years of being in the car market and before Toyota revealed the fully redesigned 8th generation Land Cruiser, we already had a snippet of the new vehicle because of the automaker's Honduran division. And now, the Japanese car maker will officially reveal the new vehicle at the forthcoming Australian International Motor Show in October. 
             
What does the new land Cruiser offer? Well, Toyota decided to completely alter its design. The Land Cruiser comes out completely redesigned with looks closer to its younger brother, the Tundra. Land Cruiser wears a bolder front end with measurements reaching 60mm longer and 30mm wider compared to the current Land Cruiser. It was also given a larger dimension thus giving more rooms for eight passengers. There is also the addition of third row seats to comfortably accommodate more passengers.

The Australian International Motor Show will reveal a Land Cruiser that handles a turbodiesel V8 or maybe a gas V8 engine. The powertrain details of the new vehicle was not revealed yet although for the European version, the powertrain will be most likely 4.5 liter unit that is capable of producing 289 horsepower on 480 ft-lbs. of torque. The power source is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Australian version will be wearing either a turbodiesel V8 or gas V8 engine as well. Toyota also gave it a new 4.7L VVT-i V8 capable of running on 328 ft-lbs. of torque thus producing 288 horsepower - even more powerful than the European version. The new truck also comes out with a five-speed automatic transmission.

Land Cruiser will also go to the States after it will be revealed in Australia. Just like its sister SUV, the Lexus LX570 as well as the 5.7L V8 containing Tundra, this family will soon be available in the US car market.

When? We do not know yet but if Toyota updates the news, we will be glad to keep you posted.

Lewis Hamilton accused teammate Fernando Alonso of unfair driving during the Belgian GP. The 22-year-old Briton was upset the two-time world champion forced him off the track as they fought for third place at the beginning of the event.

"He has gone and swiped me and pushed me as wide as he could," said the Briton. "I was just really lucky there was a run-off area so I could take that." Asked if he thought the move was hard but fair, Hamilton has this to say: "I wouldn't say fair, but it was hard."

Hamilton effectively accused the Spaniard driver of double standards, saying the Spaniard is "always complaining about people doing unfair maneuvers.” He added: "We all had equal starts, perhaps a little bit better for me than for Fernando. I braked quite late and was on the outside quite close to the Ferraris. I started to accelerate and all of a sudden Fernando came sweeping across me, and he knew I was there."

Hamilton, who finished fourth at Spa, was able to continue his fight with his teammate on the run down to the 180mph Eau Rouge corner. "At Eau Rouge it's impossible to take two Formula One cars through there without taking each other out, so I just lifted," said Hamilton. "Eau Rouge is always going to be a tricky one. He had the momentum on me and was a bit quicker. It would probably have been stupid of me just to keep it flat, although I was very tempted. It worked in Formula Three in the wet but I don't think it would work in an F1 car."

The 26-year-old Spaniard said that he had been blocked by Felipe Massa's Ferrari. "I was blocked on the inside and I had no space," said Alonso. "The first corner is a bit more tricky as it is 180 degrees, so there are many possibilities for the racing line out of it. Lewis ran a little wide, so he took a little bit of an advantage, and we arrived wheel to wheel into turns three and four. I was lucky to be on the inside to keep the position there."

McLaren team boss Ron Dennis said that he was "pretty relaxed" about the incident. "They were just pushing hard on each other," he said. "I don't have a position on fairness. They were just pushing hard and they are fighting for the world championship. They didn't touch. They didn't fall off at the end of the day."

Hamilton also questioned Alonso's loyalty to the Woking team. As reported by BBC Sport, the Spaniard did not attend the 'spygate' hearing in Paris, where McLaren was fined a £50M fine and stripped of its constructor points for this season.

"It's been a tough week, for sure a lot tougher week for me than for Fernando because... I won't say any more," he said. "I feel more attached to the team, I guess, and I care a bit more."

Australia has its first-ever paid driver in a World Rally Championship after Chris Atkinson was signed with Subaru WRT for a 2-year-contract to end in 2009. The Japanese automaker has announced the good news last Friday.

"It's great news, and I'm very much looking forward to continuing my relationship with Subaru," Atkinson told The Sydney Morning Herald. "Even though the last couple of seasons haven't always been easy, I think our recent results show we've turned a corner now with the performance of the car, and I'm confident we'll see improved form as we go forward."

The 27-year-old Aussie has been with the British-based team since 2005 and started 42 rallies with them. Seventh in the current standings with 25 points, his best result was third in Japan in 2005, reported Reuters. This year, he has finished fourth on 3 WRC rallies and has set 12 fastest stage times.

"Over the last 12 months he has shown excellent pace on many occasions and is now backing this up by producing strong results," said team managing director Richard Taylor in a statement. "Chris's driving has clearly moved up a level in recent events and we expect to see him on the podium before the end of this season. I look forward to Subaru giving him his first WRC victory in the not-too-distant future."

The announcement that Chris will be contracted to SWRT for a rumored $1.5 million per year, says a lot about the Queenslander and his backers who have had so much faith in him over the previous two seasons, wrote Rally Sport Magazine. It recognizes that Subaru have sufficient faith in him and his abilities as well to again find a spot for him in the team beside the team’s lead driver, Petter Solberg.

Atkinson, whose current teammate is Norway's former World Champion, said that he was delighted to be staying. "Even though the last couple of seasons haven't always been easy, I think our recent results show we've turned a corner now with the performance of the car, and I'm confident we'll see improved form as we go forward," he said.

Atkinson’s experience with rallying wasn’t that easy. In fact, it was pretty tough. In the past couple of years, his struggle has become more and more difficult especially when driving a difficult to maneuver car. Eventually, he has proven that an Aussie can drive as quickly as anybody else.

With a remarkable car equipped with state-of-the-art auto parts such as the Subaru ignition coil, engines, brakes, radiator, and the like plus the exceptional prowess of the one driving it, make the combination truly rewarding.

For a young Aussie who is into rallying for just a short period of time to see himself now racing alongside the best rally drivers around the globe is nothing less than an answered prayer. It’s good news for Atkinson and his followers. It is also a victory that is well deserved. Cheers!

Volkswagen will be dealing with a brand new challenge – this time around, the team will be conquering sand, not tarmac…

On Thursday, Christian Abt the DTM racer and the Volkswagen factory driver Giniel de Villiers swapped cars – an Audi A4 DTM for a Volkswagen Race Touareg. As such, he is bound to face a different challenge in a new territory.

After a few laps on off-road terrain Abt enthused: “The Race Touareg impressed me. A great foretaste,” said the enthused Abt who will conquer a sand territory this month. The Bavarian Audi factory driver will accompany the VW team for tests in Tunisia. Such is a gift from the company’s Motorsport Director Kris Nissen for his 40th birthday.

Also, Giniel de Villiers savors the drive in the Audi. “It’s fun to sit in a touring car again for a change – especially if it’s a fast one like the Audi A4 DTM,” commented the South African who is also driving Audi’s DTM racing taxi this upcoming race.

How close is VW to its goal? Paddock Talk has this to share:
 
Desert pros in the Eifel: Annie Seel and Mark Miller in the Polo Cup

"That’s a completely different world,” said the bewildered rally princess Annie Seel after her first laps in the Racing Polo. Normally, the petite Swede contests desert rallies on two wheels, and she has brought along a massive KTM-Enduro with her to the Eifel region.

VW factory driver Mark Miller was extremely impressed with the "talent school” as well. "The Polo Cup demands utmost precision at the wheel. A very good training ground for young talent – and a great diversion for rally drivers like myself,” said Miller.

Success story: historic Formula 3 racers in the paddock

Seven championship wins in Germany, 55 international titles: Volkswagen has a long and successful history in Formula 3. On the occasion of its comeback to the most important racing category for young drivers the manufacturer from Wolfsburg is showcasing two historic "monoposti” at the Nürburgring paddock: for one, an Ralt RT30-Volkswagen in which Kris Nissen – today Volkswagen Motorsport Director – won the German Formula 3 Championship in 1986. For the other, an Ralt RT30, in which Joachim Winkelhock, German Formula 3 Champion with Volkswagen in 1988, was fighting for points in his younger years.

Volkswagen with complete motorsport lineup at the Nürburgring

VW is showing its complete motorsport lineup in the Eifel. Aside from the races of the Formula 3 Euro Series – in which the Wolfsburg-based automaker is making its comeback – and the ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup, the other racing projects are represented at the Nürburgring as well. According to the Paddock Talk, the Golf GTI, which clinched class victory and the spectacular eighth place overall in the 24h-race in June, and the Race Touareg, which will be fielded by Volkswagen in January in the 2008 Dakar Rally, are on display.

To the German team, you have established a niche in the race and still have a long way to go!

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