22 Jun 2012
Defending
double world champion Sebastian Vettel reacted coolly on Thursday amid
speculation that he might move to join Fernando Alonso at Ferrari in an
F1 'super-team' in 2014.
MUST READ
Mercedes calm over Schumacher issues
Mercedes
has promised Michael Schumacher that it will adopt a 'calm and
concentrated' approach to sorting out the reliability problems that have
wrecked his season.
Schumacher has scored just two points so far this campaign - having
crashed out of one race and suffered mechanical failures at four events.That run of trouble, which is in contrast to Nico Rosberg's trouble-free campaign, has left Mercedes determined to get to the bottom of exactly what has gone wrong – and the German car manufacturer has admitted that it has not done a good enough job.
Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug said: "We have been through every detail and this is not the standard of the team, but sometimes you have such a period and you need to be strong and concentrated and focused. I am sure it will change.
"There are no reasons; it is just something that should not happen. It is rare that one car does each and very race lap after seven races and the other car hits trouble. We know that and we have to and will fix it, but it is a calm and concentrated approach."
Haug said the team was not going to rush into making procedural changes just for the sake of it.
"People are doing their job and if you have a weaker period you need to systematically explore it and understand the reasons for it," he said. "There are not specific reasons, but it is the results that count. They are not as we want them to be but we have to have a constructive approach to it."
While Schumacher has scored two points so far this year, his team-mate Rosberg is currently fifth in the drivers' championship with 67 points.
SELF DRIVING CAR
Self-driving Volvo cars take to the road in Spain
Volvo’s self-driving cars may soon make it possible for motorists to use their tablets or laptops when driving.
The
initial test for Volvo’s autonomous vehicles has already proved
successful. A convoy of Volvo’s autonomous cars did a 200 km journey on a
Spanish motorway as part of the tests.
The
company interconnected the cars via a wireless system that allowed them
to “mimic” a lead vehicle being driven by a professional driver. The
cars deployed during the test included a Volvo XC60, a Volvo V60 and a
Volvo S60. A truck was used as the “pace setter” for the convoy during
the trial run. The convoy of self-driving cars drove at about 52 mph
separated by an in-between gap of 19 feet.
Volvo’s
initial tests and its considerable success mark a significant milestone
towards mainstream usage of autonomous cars. Deploying the vehicles in
real-time traffic amongst other road users provides crucial pointers
requisite for mainstream usage.
The cars
feature standard gear for self-driving vehicles such as radar, laser
sensors, and cameras. Through “mimicking” the lead vehicle (truck), the
autonomous vehicles can brake, accelerate and turn in a similar manner.
The
project is the work Volvo and partners such as Ricardo UK, Idiada and
Robotiker-Tecnalia of Spain, Institut fur Kraftfahrzeuge Aachen (IKA) of
Germany and SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden.
Volvo remains confident the vehicles may be available in the near future.
If
successful, the initiative will highlight the dawn of relaxed driving.
Motorists would do everything else except drive, for instance have
lunch, finish up some work on a laptop, or simply enjoy “relaxed
autonomous chauffeuring”.
The project, known as
Sartre - Safe Road Trains for the Environment, is funded by the
European Commission. According to Linda Wahlstroem, project manager for
the Sartre project at Volvo Car Corporation, autonomous driving may soon
cross over from the sci-fi realm into the real world, thanks to
advances in technology.
Thus far, the vehicles have covered some 10,000 km on test circuits.
volvo
A performance concept car developed on the lines of the requirements of
a performance-oriented driver to provide satisfaction to the same, the
official Motorsport and Performance partner of Volvo Cars, Polestar,
announced the Volvo S60
Polestar. Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Polestar,
Christian Dahl, said, "We are proud to present Polestar's interpretation
of the Volvo S60." He further added, "It's a car developed with our own
preferences in mind which, we from experience know, are shared by a
group of active drivers."
Polestar develops all-new sporty Volvo S60, to be showcased at TTA Series
While developing the new car, the main focus of the car maker has been
on creating the perfect blend of high power and excellent handling,
along with the opulent Volvo driving experience. The powertrain
assimilated in the car, a Volvo T6 unit, has been tweaked to deliver
increased power and torque output. When coupled to a lowered, widened as
well as reinforced chassis working in conjunction with a tuned Haldex
all-wheel-drive (AWD) system and Öhlins suspension, the car becomes the
perfect vehicle for high performance driving and long distance
travelling.
The uptuned powertrain unit is built to deliver an astonishing 508 hp
of maximum power and 575 Nm of peak torque, an increase of 208 hp of
power and 134.2 Nm of torque as compared to the standard version of the
engine. With the enhanced power output, the Volvo S60 can touch 100 kmph
from standstill in just under 3.9 seconds.
Commenting on the driving experience, A Volvo Polestar racing driver,
Robert Dahlgre, said, "To me the Volvo S60 is a very well sorted car
from start. In our concept car we have developed chassis, engine and
transmission just like we want it, and the result is a huge leap forward
in terms of handling and performance. It is, by far, the most
impressive street Volvo I've ever driven. But I must also say that the
genuine Volvo feeling is still there."
The car which was exhibited at Gothenburg City Arena is the first Volvo
S60 built for an unknown buyer. Going by the market response, the car
maker may manufacture a small series of Polestar modified S60s. With the
usage of carbon fibre elements, the car maker has been able to shave
off 204 pounds off the car as compared to the existing S60 available in
the North American market. Interiors of the model have been modified as
well, with Alcantara leather on steering wheel, gear knob and seats for
extra grip. The central console in the cockpit has also been placed a
little lower in order to optimise the gear-lever aesthetics. Polestar
has also integrated redesigned seats that render better support to the
passengers in the car.
Dahl said, "Polestar's heart and soul is motorsport and our main focus
is to deliver the absolute best results for Volvo on the track." He
added, "But over the years we have also seen a significant increase in
demand for Volvo performance cars and parts and naturally we want to
respond to this."
Progressing from the epic Volvo C30 Polestar, the new car has started a
new journey in the 16-year-long history of Polestar and Volvo alliance.
In the new Swedish racing series TTA - Racing Elite League 2012, Volvo
Polestar racing has nominated four Volvo S60s. Besides the racing
variant, Polestar has also developed a street version of the new S60.
The new Volvo S60
Polestar will be officially launched at the third race round of the TTA
Series, which is being held on Polestar's home track in downtown
Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 16, 2012.
ML Class benz
Mercedes Benz ML500 4 MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY SUV launched
Mercedes Benz has officially unveiled the all new ML500 4 MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY SUV which generates more power and offers better fuel efficiency. Booking for the new ML 500 SUV begin from the 22 June while the SUV will arrive in dealer showrooms by autumn 2012. Mercedes Benz ML500 4 MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY SUV is launched at a price of €63,050 ($80,116) exclusive taxes and with statutory VAT of 19%, the price comes to €75,029.50 ($95,344).
New features of the ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY include a turbocharged BlueDIRECT V8 4663cc petrol heart generating 408 bhp and 600 Nm torque, which is 20bhp and 70 Nm more than the previous model. Not only the new ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY is more powerful, it is also 16% more efficient than its predecessor.Thanks to the new and improved engine, Mercedes Benz ML500 4 MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY does a 0-100 kmph (0-62 mph) in just 5.6 seconds and delivers a combined mileage of 11.0 - 11.5 l/100 kms (8.89 kmpl). Top speed is electronically limited to 250 kmph (155 mph).
The third generation of the M-Class was launched in September 2011 and, in common with its predecessors, it has had an enduring impact on the SUV sector. An additional V8 petrol version now joins the range in the shape of the ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY. The equipment package is also further enhanced by new safety features such as COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST (CPA)*. The new ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY can be ordered from 22 June and will be arriving at dealerships in autumn 2012.
The new ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY, which features a turbocharged BlueDIRECT V8 direct injection petrol engine, offers outstanding performance along with top-class efficiency. The new model outperforms fuel consumption figures of its predecessor by 16 percent – while simultaneously boosting performance. The V8 engine develops increased output from a significantly smaller displacement (4663 rather than 5461 cc): the ML 500 4MATIC BlueEFFICIENCY now generates 300 kW (408 hp) instead of 285 kW (388 hp). Torque has been increased from 530 to 600 Nm and is available at a much lower engine speed of 1600 rpm.
The high output despite reduced displacement is achieved mainly by the use of two exhaust gas turbochargers – one for each bank of cylinders. Other innovations of the new V8 engine include a further developed, third-generation direct fuel injection system with spray-guided combustion and piezo injectors combined with multi-spark ignition. The outstanding fuel economy is underpinned not only by the V8 model's state-of-the-art engine technology, but also by a comprehensive package of BlueEFFICIENCY measures. In addition to the ECO start/stop function which comes as standard, these measures include the seven-speed 7G-TRONIC PLUS automatic transmission.
new c class
Mercedes launches new C Class AMG at Rs 35 lakh
"With the launch of the new C Class AMG Performance Edition, Mercedes-Benz aims to redefine the luxury entry level sedan segment. We are now looking at expanding through launching new products and increasing network penetration," Mercedes-Benz India Director (Sales & Marketing) Debashis Mitra told reporters here.
Mercedes was the top-selling luxury carmaker in India until it was overtaken by German rival BMW. Mercedes-Benz sold about 7,430 units last year and was the second-largest seller of high-end cars after BMW, which sold more than 9,400 cars.
bmw
BMW has expanded its line-up of models in the UK, with the
introduction of the ActiveHybrid, four-wheel-drive xDrive and M Sport
versions of the 3 Series.
The hybrid BMW 3 Series is powered by a 302bhp 3.0-litre
six-cylinder engine from the 335i and a 54bhp electric motor. Together
they propel the Active Hybrid 3 from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds.
It can return average fuel economy of 47.9mpg and CO2 emissions of
139g/km, thanks to the electric motor and the fact the hybrid 3 Series
can travel for up to 2.5 miles on battery power alone.
The 320i xDrive becomes the first 3 Series model in the UK to get
four-wheel drive, powered by a 181bhp 2.0-litre turbo. Priced at
£27,400, it costs £1,535 more than an equivalent rear-wheel-drive
model.
M Sport variants are introduced along side a new 330d model – which
is powered by a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine with 255bhp. The M
Sport package costs £3,000 more than the SE model, while standard kit
includes 18-inch alloys, M Sport suspension, leather upholstery and an M
Sport steering wheel.
For an alternative review of the latest BMW 3-Series visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk
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