car,vehicle

FeedJournal Basic

9/28/2011 - 10/1/2011

feedjournal.com

The new BMW ActiveHybrid 5 by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 5:37:23 PM

The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 features precise and intelligent energy management for maximum fuel efficiency. It has as standard BMW Professional Multimedia satellite navigation system, which can read the road ahead and prepare the car's powertrain and electrical systems to respond in the most efficient way. For example, if it detects a hilly stretch ahead, it stores energy in the battery so that the electric motor is ready to assist the engine, already knowing this will be recouped later in the journey.

A new powertrain for a BMW hybrid The drivetrain of the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 combines the 306hp 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo petrol engine of the 535i with a 54hp electric motor and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. This is the first time an in-line six-cylinder engine has been part of a BMW ActiveHybrid system. Together, the engine and electric motor can generate a maximum 340hp and 450Nm of torque.

At speeds of up to 37mph the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 can travel up to 2.4 miles on electric power supplied by the high-performance lithium-ion battery stored in the boot, between the wheel housings. The electric motor, also integrated into the gearbox housing for the best packaging efficiency, delivers a maximum 210Nm of torque from rest.

The internal combustion engine featuring a twin-scroll turbocharger, high-precision direct fuel injection and VALVETRONIC variable valve timing - comes into play only when the driver needs more power or the energy stored in the battery is exhausted. When accelerating, the electric motor assists the petrol engine by providing an additional

boost. This results in acceleration to equal that of a 535i: zero to 62mph in 5.9 seconds, and a limited top speed of 155mph. The ActiveHybrid 5 has a clear edge in economy and emissions with a combined consumption figure of 44.1mpg and a CO2 output of 149g/km.

This equates to a benefit-in-kind tax rate of only 19 per cent.

At speeds of up to 100mph the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is capable of cruising in ECO PRO mode when the driver lifts off the accelerator, running soundlessly with zero tailpipe emissions until the driver accelerates.

Intelligent and precise energy management The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 uses an intelligent energy management system, integrated with the BMW Professional navigation system, which analyses data to sense when the driver's requirements are likely to change. Using this information, all the powertrain systems and on-board electronics are pre-prepared to make the most efficient use of the energy available.

The high-performance lithium-ion battery is charged whenever the

BMW ActiveHybrid 5 is braking, with the electric motor performing the role of a generator. Whenever the car comes to a standstill at junctions or traffic lights, a hybrid-specific version of the BMW EfficientDynamics Auto-Start Stop system switches off the internal combustion engine to save fuel and cut emissions. The Climate Control system continues to function using energy stored in the battery.

The operating status of the powertrain is displayed in the instrument cluster and on the iDrive central control unit's screen. This shows energy flow and recuperation, the boost being provided by the electric motor during acceleration, the battery's charge level and which powertrain is being used to drive the car.

The most dynamic hybrid in class The ActiveHybrid 5 is, first and foremost, a BMW with the same high level of dynamic driving ability as any other 5 Series. It is fitted as standard with Servotronic steering.

The car comes with the full repertoire of BMW active safety features - Dynamic Stability Control

+ (DSC+) that includes Brake pretensioning, Hill-start assistant, Brake drying and Brake fade compensation.

Collectively, these features ensure the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 remains stable and under the driver's control in all circumstance.

Hybrid-specific safety features include housing the high-voltage battery in a strong case in the boot, between the wheel arches. There is still a 375 litres boot at the driver's disposal. In a collision, the car's structural strength and sophisticated crumple zones not only keep impact forces away from the passenger cell, but also from the hybrid components.

A unique specification for the BMW ActiveHybrid 5 Standard equipment on the ActiveHybrid 5 includes the BMW Professional Multimedia satellite navigation system, an eightspeed automatic transmission, fourzone climate control with Stationary cooling, 17-inch alloy wheels, black panel display and high-gloss Fineline Anthracite wood interior trim.

The car is distinguished by bespoke touches which highlight its identity.

It has 窶連ctiveHybrid 5' script on the C-pillars, the BMW double-kidney grille with chrome slats, the door sill strips and on an aluminium plate on the centre console. Matt chrome tailpipes, a bespoke engine cover and 窶連ctiveHybrid Power Unit' inscription on the battery housing in the boot are other visible identifiers.

The BMW ActiveHybrid 5 will make its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show on 30 November and goes into production at the company's Dingolfing plant in January, 2012. It will go on sale in the UK on 25 February, 2012, priced at ﾂ｣46,860 OTR. BMW hybrid power is coming to the UK in February 2012 with the launch of the ActiveHybrid 5, a petrolelectric saloon based on the 5 Series.

2

FeedJournal Basic

NEW CHRYSLER YPSILON IN UK: BIG CAR COMFORT, SMALL CAR PACKAGE by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:19:56 AM

The new Ypsilon, introduced by Chrysler into the UK supermini sector this month, is a mix of segment-leading style, cutting edge technology, eye-catching design and world-class engines. All this is incorporated in a 3.8m long 5dr vehicle that’s shorter than most of its rivals.

On sale in the UK now, the Ypsilon certainly isn’t a conservative ‘metoo’ entry into the most hotly contested class of cars in Europe. It’s a premium model in a small car’s body; original, full of character and targeting drivers who appreciate quality, elegance and innovation in equal measure. It marks a resurgence for Chrysler Group LLC which was formed in 2009 as a strategic alliance with Fiat.

Chrysler’s portfolio contains some of Europe’s most recognisable vehicles, including the striking 300C saloon and top-selling Grand Voyager MPV. Now with the help of Fiat’s experience and knowledge in the small and medium-sized car sectors, Chrysler can imbue compact, more environmentally friendly models with the luxurious character traits of its bigger cars.

Chrysler brand director Nigel Land says: “Through the launch of Ypsilon and Delta we now have a range that encompasses both the small and medium passenger car markets with vehicles that are notably well designed, ensuring that they really are credible alternatives to the mainstream. They are equipped with all the features you would expect from a large Chrysler, integrated with stylish European designed interiors.”

As well as bringing the Chrysler name to the supermini segment, the Ypsilon introduces a host of new technologies. For the first time in this class of car, buyers will have access to a raft of large car features such as Magic Parking, xenon headlights, Blue&Me™-TomTom LIVE and the Smart Fuel System.

On top of that, depending on the trim level they choose, buyers will be able to specify automatic climate control, fog lights, 16-inch wheels, cruise control, a leather steering wheel with audio controls, dusk and rain sensors, parking sensors and a 500-watt surround sound music system.

The Chrysler Ypsilon has been designed to compete in the increasingly popular supermini sector. To do so successfully it must appeal to a wide range of buyers, from down-sizers looking for an economical but comfortable small car, to those aiming to move up to a more luxurious model that is still affordable to buy and run. With a five

-door body shape that has the appearance of a sporty three door thanks to hidden rear door handles, the Ypsilon combines practicality with good looks.

For added reassurance, it’s also one of the safest cars in its segment, featuring as standard up to six airbags, ABS anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC – standard on Auto, optional on SE and Limited), Anti Slip Regulation (ASR), traction control and Hill Holder.

This is underpinned by a lightweight, super-strong and safe structure that sits on a new specially designed suspension. And beneath the bonnet there’s a range of class-leading engines including the 2011 International Engine of the Year, the TwinAir. With its two distinct ‘characters’, this diminutive 0.9-litre turbo gives drivers the option of a sporting drive or class-leading economy in a lightweight package.

The Ypsilon’s engine range is completed by a zesty 1.2-litre petrol and a potent 1.3-litre turbo diesel, all of which come with Start&Stop as standard, and promise improved refinement combined with reduced emissions and consumption.

To give Ypsilon owners even more choice there will be three trim levels at launch: S, SE and Limited. But there’s a huge choice of options in an almost limitless number of combinations, enabling drivers to give their car the personal touch.

There’s are 16 elegant paint combinations of which four are bicolour; five different upholstery trims, and three types of alloy wheel.

Owners can personalise their cars further at Chrysler UK dealerships where they’ll be able to order special wheels, add stylish piano black interior trim and buy special key fobs to give their car unique appeal.

Combined, all these facets ensure Chrysler Ypsilon owners will easily

stand out from the crowd. And they’ll enjoy a comfortable, chic and responsible city runabout that’s wrapped up in cutting edge technology.

HIGH SPEC AS STANDARD The Chrysler Ypsilon might look like a small three door, but it’s actually a five-door, the configuration that makes up 77 per cent of the supermini market in the UK. At just 384cm long and 167cm wide, the Ypsilon is smaller than many of its supermini rivals. Yet it has one of the largest luggage capacities in its segment and is one of the best in class when it comes to passenger space. It also has class-leading versatility thanks to its five-door hatchback design. And it manages to cloak all this in an exterior that exudes a uniquely elegant style for such a compact car. Setting the windscreen further forward creates the illusion of a larger, sleeker vehicle. It has also allowed the designers to make the luggage capacity larger.

The Chrysler Ypsilon’s height, and therefore its generous head room, is disguised by two sweeping curves.

The first takes the line of the bonnet and extends along the waistline, going up into the rear pillar. The second rises with the A pillar to follow the upper arch of the glass. It then drops to follow the outer edge of the tailgate window. It’s a theme the Ypsilon shares with its big brother, the Delta.

The interplay between the concave and convex nature of the sides combines with rear door handles concealed in the C pillar to give this five door the appearance of a more compact 3dr car.

At the front, and unusually for a supermini, powerful, projector-type headlights sit either side of Chrysler’s new shield grille. These give the car a sophisticated appearance and make it seem wider than it actually is. At the rear, LEDs are used to draw minimum power from the battery

while creating the maximum impression. The lights have been developed with Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting, and at the front feature integrated Daytime Running Lights (DRL) which automatically turn on when the engine is started.

Finally, the rear reversing light and fog light sit below the back bumper, neatly protected from the knocks that go hand in hand with urban motoring.

Inside Ypsilon The Chrysler Ypsilon was designed to give a large car feel in a small car shape and the interior embraces this philosophy.

The dashboard has a line that traces the curve of the windscreen and ties it into the door panels to give the cabin a feeling of extra width.

The materials don’t just give the illusion of comfort. An all-new roof lining reduces noise inside the passenger compartment by 2 decibels (dB). To demonstrate the significance of that improvement, a reduction of 3dB equates to a 50 percent drop in noise. The rear seats, each with three -point seatbelts, have been designed to be as supportive as a larger car’s.

And the front pair use new ‘slim seat’ technology for the first time to increase leg space for rear passengers.

The cabin isn’t just a restful place to be, it’s bright as well. LEDs are used to illuminate the dashboard. And the main instruments sit in a central display above the console housing the entertainment and ventilation systems, to create an inclusive environment for driver and passengers alike.

But it’s the Chrysler Ypsilon’s level of equipment that makes it a benchmark vehicle in its segment. It’s the first supermini to include Magic Parking, Blue&Me™-TomTom LIVE, the Smart Fuel System and innovative headlight clusters.

Magic Parking Finding a parking place in towns and cities is frequently a patience-testing experience, so the Chrysler Ypsilon can be specified with the innovative Magic Parking system.

Pushing a button on the dashboard activates the system which then uses radar sensors mounted in the front bumpers combined with wheel speed sensors to measure the length of empty parking spaces. If it detects one that is free from obstacles and is the length of the car plus 40cm at either end, the driver is informed by a beeping noise and a message on the dash. If the driver decides to park in it, the car’s computer takes over the steering while the driver retains control of the accelerator and brake and is permitted a speed of just over 4mph. The driver can deactivate the system at any time, either by turning the wheel, changing out of reverse NEW page 4

FeedJournal Basic

3

NEW CHRYSLER DELTA IN UK: MOST SPACIOUS IN ITS CLASS by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:15:32 AM

The new Chrysler Delta, which is now on sale in the UK, is all about adding value to people’s lives. It offers family saloon space in a compact hatchback body. It introduces executive car equipment to a wide market. It features sophisticated technologies that are entirely new to this size of car. And it presents all this at prices, starting at just £16,695 OTR, that equal or undercut many less gifted rivals.

With its sophisticated appearance, sumptuous interior and four state-ofthe-art engines, the Delta is an accomplished re-entry into the C segment for Chrysler. On sale here now, it provides the sort of interior space expected from a far larger vehicle. Yet a host of all-new electronic driver aids ensures that the Delta is satisfying to drive as well as being very comfortable for both front and rear seat passengers.

Along with its smaller sister, the new Chrysler Ypsilon, Delta marks the resurgence of Chrysler Group LLC, which was formed in 2009 as a strategic alliance with Fiat. Chrysler’s portfolio contains some of Europe’s most recognisable vehicles, including the 300C saloon and top-selling Grand Voyager MPV. Now with the help of Fiat’s experience and knowledge in the small and mediumsized car sectors, Chrysler can infuse compact, more environmentally friendly models with the luxurious character traits of its bigger cars.

Chrysler brand director Nigel Land says: “People know us for large vehicles such as the Grand Voyager and 300C. We are transferring the values that lie behind those cars to the B and C segments. We are not going for high volumes. We want to be the choice for people who are seeking a credible alternative to traditional segment offerings.

“The Delta will bring D-segment standards of space and quality to the C-segment. This is just the start of our journey as we re-launch the Chrysler brand in the UK. We are now starting to sell cars that are relevant to a more mainstream market. They’ll have all the quality features you would expect from a large Chrysler, integrated into very stylish European designed interiors.”

The Delta has already made a promising start, with CAP predicting strong residual values. Part of this is down to the expectation that buyers will welcome some of the features it introduces to the family hatchback sector. The rear seat slides for maximum versatility and when it’s in its rear position there is a classleading 1010mm of leg room in the back. Passengers can recline the seat

back up to 25 degrees for extra comfort. And there are a host of ‘large car’ technologies available, such as Magic Parking, Lane Departure Control and Blue&Me™.

The theme of versatility embues the entire Delta range. There are four trim levels: S, SE, SR and Limited.

There are four engines too, starting with a lively petrol 1.4-litre TurboJet and a more powerful 140bhp 1.4-litre that uses Fiat’s ground-breaking MultiAir technology. These are supplemented by a pair of potent yet economical diesels, in 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre capacities, which benefit from second generation MultiJet technology. All models feature sixspeed gearboxes with a semiautomatic version available on the 1.6 SE MultiJet. Standard equipment is satisfyingly high. Even the range-starting S model offers a radio/CD with MP3 compatibility, front foglamps with cornering function, remote keyless entry, manual air-conditioning and power windows front and rear. And the range-topping Limited model comes with Blue&Me™, a Navigation system, headlamps with dusk sensors, reclining rear seats and leather upholstery.

Safety comes as standard throughout the Delta range, so all models are equipped with Daytime Running Lights (DRL), six airbags, three-point safety belts for all five seats, ABS anti-lock braking with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Holder and Anti Slip Regulation traction control. It also incorporates Linearisation Torque Feedback (LTF), Torque Transfer Control (TTC) and Drive Steering Torque (DST), all of which are designed to improve handling.

STRIKINGLY SOPHISTICATED Drivers looking to make their mark without spending a small fortune will appreciate the new Chrysler Delta.

Handsome, dynamic and

sophisticated, the striking modern design ensures it stands proud of more conservative rivals, and yet is very competitively positioned.

At the front, high tech projector style headlamps are instantly recognisable because they feature bright LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) as standard equipment. Front fog lamps with cornering function also come with every model and sit either side of a front air intake designed to give the Delta a sporty look. Combined with Chrysler’s newly styled shield grille and neatly sculpted bonnet, it makes for a stylish alternative to the mainstream.

With a high waistline rising to the rear, the Delta has an equally sporty stance from the side, helped by the standard rear spoiler that blends into the rear window. A sophisticated appearance at the back is set off by a rear window that has no surrounds and is flanked by curved, vertical LED tail lights.

SPACIOUS TRAVEL The Chrysler Delta has been developed to offer driver and passengers the levels of on-board comfort they might expect from a much larger, much more expensive car.

The first thing that will strike anyone slipping inside the Delta is the sheer space. In size terms, with its 2700mm wheelbase and 4520mm overall length it sits at the larger end of the C segment. But inside it has the kind of room you’re more likely to find in a D or even E segment model.

Chrysler has employed techniques usually found in MPVs to make this space as flexible as possible.

Unusually for this sector, the rear bench slides backwards and forwards (not on Limited versions). It means owners can choose to increase boot space, if for example they have small children in the rear seats, or give rear seat passengers limousine levels of leg room.

With the back seats in their forward

position the Delta still offers rear passengers a remarkable 930mm of leg room. With the rear seats in their most forward position, the boot offers 465 litres. And even when the backrest is as far back as it’ll go there’s still a healthy 380 litres. The boot also features a small space under the floor. This provides a hidden compartment for valuables and means that when the seats are folded down, the 1190 litres of space has a continuous flat floor.

The rear seats don’t just slide, they recline 25 degrees backwards too, offering passengers impressive comfort options. This is further emphasised by the quality of the fabrics used inside, which present owners with the sort of high-class materials and build quality they’ll be more used to in much more expensive models. This should appeal to buyers who are downsizing, one of Chrysler’s target markets.

Materials such as leather and Alcantara are used extensively, while on lower trim levels the dashboard is covered with Benova, a soft premium textile. This is the first time Benova has been used on such an accessible vehicle; until now it’s been reserved for prestige brands. On Limited versions the dashboard is covered in Poltrona Frau Leather.

The range-starting S model has premium fabric covered seats while in SE variants they’re cloaked in Carbony 3D fabric. This high-tech cloth has a three dimensional effect and features contrasting Alcantara inserts. The SR has Alcanatara with leather inserts, while the top of the range Limited comes with full leather trimmed seats finished with classic piping round the edge for an authentic executive feel.

The dashboard has been designed to feel substantial without being too imposing. Centre console buttons are illuminated by a white light for quick and easy identification. Elsewhere, elements of the cabin are aimed at the driversuch as the centre console, steering wheel and instrument surrounds that are highlighted by a metallic-effect Satin Silver paint.

The sophisticated feel of the Delta’s cabin is reinforced by thoughtful detailing throughout. Chrome finishes are used on the door handles, radio, climate control knobs and dashboard.

The front seats on SE, SR and Limited models have the new Chrysler logo on the head restraints.

The glovebox and grab handles both have the slow sprung return you associate with refined cars. And the roof is lined with a new polyesterbased material that reduces cabin noise on the move.

It’s not just in comfort terms that the Chrysler Delta has been designed to NEW page 5

4

FeedJournal Basic

NEW continued from page 2

gear or pressing the button on the dashboard.

Blue&Me™-TomTom LIVE Every Chrysler Ypsilon can be specified with the latest and most versatile version of Fiat’s awardwinning Blue&Me™system.

Each car can be equipped with the fitting for Blue&Me™-TomTom LIVE. So even if owners don’t specify it on purchase, they or future owners of their Ypsilon can buy it at a later date.

It’s based on the TomTom Go1000 and features a touch screen that allows occupants to manage phone calls, satellite navigation and all the driver information required. It even allows control of a media player via the cutting edge next-generation touch screen.

It uses TomTom LIVE services which combine accurate traffic information, such as road closures or traffic jams, with dynamic route calculation. Chrysler Ypsilon customers will get a year’s free subscription to LIVE. The removable screen sits in its special holder to the right of the steering wheel.

Other innovations It’s not just inside that the Chrysler Ypsilon is innovative. It also takes a step ahead of the competition with its Smart Fuel System. This device replaces the classic fuel cap and automatically opens and closes when the pump nozzle is put inside it. It makes refuelling easier and safer by reducing harmful gas emissions and fuel overflow. It also prevents ‘misfuelling’ as it’s impossible to pump petrol into a diesel car (or vice versa) fitted with this system.

Setting itself further apart from rivals, new Ypsilon features a 360° 500-Watt sound system that’s a unique factory fit option in such a small car. It consists of four 40W musical Dome tweeters, four 80W musical Neodymium mid-woofers and a digital eight-channel amplifier.

This then uses three signal processing methods simultaneously to increase the ‘depth’ and ‘height’ of the sound and equalise the stereophonic reproduction to produce a more enveloping experience for listeners.

All this equipment supplements a wide-range of standard kit. There’s a height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, electric front windows, 60/40 (50/50 ‘S’ model) split rear seat and height-adjustable driver’s seat.

POWER AND ECONOMY COMBINED The Chrysler Ypsilon benefits from some of the same cutting edge engine technology that has transformed Fiat Group Automobiles into one of the world’s leading makers of environmentally friendly transport.

Three engine options are available, two petrol and one diesel. All come with the Start&Stop system as standard and all are Euro 5 emissions compliant. In the TwinAir model, a semi-automatic five-speed gearbox

can be specified. All other models feature a five-speed manual transmission. All engines combine power with economy to ensure the Chrysler Ypsilon isn’t just environmentally responsible and therefore economical to run, it’s effortless to drive too.

1.2-litre Fire The range starts with the latest evolution of the famous Fire engines family. This 1.2-litre eight-valve unit features continuously variable valve timing which optimises the opening and closing of the valves to ensure the engine still feels peppy while operating at maximum efficiency.

The engine develops a healthy 102Nm of torque at 3000rpm while power at 5500rpm is a respectable 69bhp. And thanks to Start&Stop, overall fuel consumption is reduced by 5 per cent while CO 2 emissions are an impressively low 115g/km.

0.9-litre TwinAir The other petrol engine available in the new Ypsilon is 2011’s International Engine of the Year, the TwinAir. This combines Fiat Powertrain Technologies’ (FPT) revolutionary MultiAir technology with a small capacity two-cylinder engine plus turbocharger.

The results are ground-breaking, giving the 875cc TwinAir more power (85bhp) and torque (145Nm) than the larger capacity 1.2-litre Fire engine. It is also more economical and at 97g/km (for the semiautomatic gearbox version), has the lowest CO 2 emissions of any quantity production automotive petrol engine currently on sale.

The bedrock of the TwinAir is the MultiAir technology that underpins it. This system features electrohydraulic valve management that reduces fuel consumption by controlling the air going into the engine via the inlet valves without using the throttle. It enables airflow to be managed cylinder by cylinder, cycle by cycle, phase by phase, according to the driver’s and therefore the engine’s requirements.

By rigorously controlling the combustion process, pumping losses of around 10 per cent are eliminated, while valve control strategies can be optimised to reduce emissions and boost driveability through improved throttle responses.

The TwinAir also features an ECO button on the dashboard. By pressing it, torque is limited to 100Nm at 2000rpm for even greater increases in economy and reductions in emissions.

1.3-litre MultiJet The third engine in the range is the lively 1.3-litre MultiJet II turbodiesel with its 95bhp and 200Nm of torque at 1500rpm for effortless low speed cruising. This second generation engine is equipped with a variable geometry turbocharger, a new variable displacement engine oil pump and an alternator with ‘smart charge’.

The engine features faster injectors

than the first generation of its kind.

Now with eight injections per cycle, it offers greater speed, flexibility and precision in its various phases of operation. By improving the combustion process in this way, operation is quieter while particulate and nitrogen oxide (NO X) emissions are lowered.

The injectors are also simpler and with 40 per cent fewer components they’re more reliable than their predecessor, thereby promising cheaper running costs.

Economy isn’t solely enhanced by the capable engine line-up. Chrysler has left no stone unturned in its efforts to make the Ypsilon as economical as possible. As a consequence, it sits on new generation low rolling resistance Goodyear EfficientGrip tyres. These use new materials to make them 10 per cent lighter. This results in 1.9 per cent better fuel economy, which Goodyear estimates could save a driver 30.6 litres of fuel over 12,500 miles. These tyres are also longer lasting and offer greater braking capability.

Every Chrysler Ypsilon is equipped with Start&Stop and a Gear Shift Indicator (GSI). Specifically designed for city driving, Start&Stop is like having an invisible co-pilot who automatically switches off the engine when the vehicle is stationary. But all the systems that guarantee comfort and safety on board, such as the lights, climate control and windscreen wipers, remain operational. When either the system detects that the battery needs some charge, or the driver dips the clutch to engage first gear, the engine fires automatically.

By cutting the engine when it isn’t needed, Start&Stop saves up to 15 per cent in fuel over the urban cycle.

The GSI meanwhile helps the driver to change gear at the optimum point for best fuel consumption.

TOP PRIORITY FOR SAFETY The new Chrysler Ypsilon has been engineered from the ground up to be more cosseting than any car in its class. The secret of its success here lies in the suspension, which is allnew front and rear.

The MacPherson front suspension uses a lower arm made of ultra-high strength material, while a modular cross member is made from low thickness, high strength steel sheets.

As well as improving comfort, this helps dissipate impact energy through the car to make the Ypsilon safer.

The front suspension also features shock absorbers with split mountings to transmit loads to the body through two different routes to filter out road vibrations better, and improve acoustic performance.

A new anti-roll bar has had its weight reduced and been connected to the shock absorbers to maximise its anti-roll effect. Lastly, new bushes have been designed for the front suspension. These have a lower

dynamic stiffening than previously to maximise comfort on bumpy roads and reduce noise. A torsion axle is fitted at the rear. With new bushes, this guarantees greater comfort on bumpy roads and improves noise insulation without affecting road holding.

High strength materials have also been employed in the Chrysler Ypsilon’s body. These improve the car’s energy absorption characteristics in both front and side impacts, but also make it lighter to benefit fuel economy.

Another safety innovation employed on the new Ypsilon is the third load path. In frontal impacts this transfers crash energy to the lower, more resistant parts of the vehicle. It increases the vehicle’s ability to absorb frontal impacts, helps control deformation of the passenger cell, and reduces the chance of intrusion to the passenger compartment.

High performance tempered steel has been used for the front bumper cross member, while the lightweight strong plastic Xenoy has been employed on the rear bumper cross member. The energy absorption material behind the third load path is made of a special highly absorbent plastic. This minimises damage in low speed impacts and reduces the risk of knee damage in pedestrian collisions.

It’s no accident that all these features combine to make the new Chrysler Ypsilon one of the safest cars in its class. It was designed at the Fiat Safety Centre, and information was gathered from all possible types of accident including front, rear and side impacts, roll overs, pile-ups and collisions with pedestrians. The varying speeds at which impacts occur were also accounted for, as well as obstacles the car might collide with, and the physical shape and size of occupants.

Initial testing was carried out by virtual means, involving more than 20,000 hours of mathematical modelling. The results were then confirmed with more than 80 crash tests, 100 tests on a HyGe Sled and about 100 tests on components and sub- systems.

The Ypsilon features a wealth of safety equipment as standard across the entire range. There is VDC vehicle dynamic control (standard on Auto and optional on SE and Limited versions), complete with ASR traction control plus Hill Holder, and ABS anti-lock braking with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD).

Inside, there are up to six airbags (two each on the front, window and side – S versions have four airbags) and front seat belts with double pretensioners and load limiters. There are three-point seat belts across the rear passenger accommodation, (two rear seats on S versions), making this a realistically safe five-seater. Both NEW page 7

FeedJournal Basic

5

NEW continued from page 3

excel. It’s also had safety engineered into it from the ground up. The result is that it’s won a European New Car Assessment Programme (EuroNCAP) five star crash safety rating. This is thanks to six airbags fitted as standard (front, window and curtain bags on both sides), and five three-point safety belts, with load limiters and pretensioners fitted to the front seats.

In addition to that, the Delta is packed with standard equipment to make driving as safe possible. It comes with ABS anti-lock braking and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) to ensure maximum stopping power is deployed in an emergency situation. Powerful disc brakes are used front and rear, and in an emergency stop the hazard lights are automatically switched on.

WHERE SAFETY, FUN AND COMFORT COMBINE It’s not just the Chrysler Delta’s generous level of interior space that has the hallmark of an executive car.

Its sleek shape also cloaks the kind of large-car equipment levels that until now haven’t been available to drivers buying a mid-sized family hatchback.

Designed to ensure that the Delta tops the class when it comes to comfort, safety and driving dynamics, innovative technology has been used from the very earliest design stages.

Absolute Handling System and Drive Steering Torque To enable drivers to make the most of their Chrysler Delta, it’s been fitted with some pioneering electronic systems to make life at the wheel more enjoyable yet even safer. Prime among these is the Absolute Handling System. This is an amalgamation of various existing technologies such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Hill Holder to ensure perfect hill starts every time, Anti Slip Regulation (ASR) which uses brake and engine control to optimise traction at any time, and MSR which cuts in to ensure engine torque isn’t interrupted if a swift down change is needed during a climb.

Where the Absolute Handling System really stands out from the crowd is by encompassing Linearisation Torque Feedback (LTF), Torque Transfer Control (TTC) and Drive Steering Torque (DST) in its suite of skills.

The new DST is an electronic steering system that suggests the moves drivers should carry out to maximise road holding and therefore security. It does this through generating torque at the steering wheel courtesy of a continuous interaction between the electric power steering and the Absolute Handling System which controls the car’s dynamics. The DST means that if the car begins to oversteer, the most appropriate manoeuvre to maintain control is ‘suggested’ to the driver.

The DST also has a Mu-Split Control

Function (MCF) which works over surfaces with different levels of grip.

This enables automatic countersteering to prevent the vehicle from spinning and reduces braking distance by 10 per cent.

The LTF comes to life when it detects high lateral acceleration.

Assuming this to be the result of sporty driving it boosts the steering wheel’s resistant torque to improve road feel for the driver, particularly through fast bends.

The Delta also features a new TTC system designed to improve the transfer of torque to the driven wheels. When the driver accelerates through a bend, the brake is constantly modulated on the inner front wheel to increase traction to the loaded outer wheel. By distributing torque between the front-driven wheels in this continuous dynamic manner, it simulates the behaviour of a Limited Slip Differential to give the driver a feeling of improved agility and better traction.

Generously equipped As well as being packed with systems designed to make it more comfortable, safer and better to drive, the Chrysler Delta features a generous level of standard equipment.

Even in standard S guise it comes with a radio/CD with MP3 files compatibility, air conditioning, adjustable steering wheel with audio controls, power windows front and rear, and ‘follow me home’ headlights that delay switching off.

The SE model features trim enhancements such as a quality finish to the dash and doors, a refrigerated compartment in the cabin, chromed door handles and window surrounds, and 16-inch alloy wheels. The SR builds on that with two-zone automatic climate control, Alcantara leather upholstery, Cruise Control and 17-inch alloy wheels. Options include a panoramic sunroof that takes up 80 per cent of the total roof space, a Bose Audio System and an electrochromatic dimming rear view mirror.

Navigation Versions Both SE and SR trim levels of the Delta also feature Nav versions which come equipped with Blue&Me™ Nav. The result of a joint venture between Fiat and Microsoft, this extremely simple-to-use system allows drivers to manage their music and phone calls easily and safely, using either voice controls or buttons on the steering wheel.

Blue&Me TM Delta owners can make calls and play music the way they want with Blue&Me TM, developed in conjunction with Microsoft.

It works via Bluetooth®, so users can safely stay connected while they are driving. The buttons on the steering wheel are easy to use to answer and make a call. There is also voice recognition, allowing calls to be made and connection within seconds.

As soon as users of Blue&Me TM receive an SMS text message, it notifies them. And at the push of a button or by voice command, the message will be read out over the car’s speakers.

For playing music, users can plug in their USB stick or MP3 player into the port provided to get their favourite music at their fingertips, or by voice command.

The buttons on the steering wheel allow the driver to skip through albums or tracks which are shown on the dashboard display. Alternatively, voice command technology allows operations via simple voice commands like ‘Next’, ‘Previous’ and ‘Play’.

Nav The navigation system has a 6.5” colour screen, voice recognition and SD-card map management. Map updates are possible through the NAVTEQ MAP CARE programme.

Both Blue&Me TM and the Navigation System are standard on Nav versions and are also standard on Limited (*Nav versions are available on the SE and SR trim levels).

As well as this, the range-stopping Limited model is fitted with parking sensors, dusk sensors and a tyre pressure monitoring system. This car’s top model status is highlighted by gold exterior ‘D’ badges replacing silver on the B-pillar, twin chrome exhaust tail pipes and unique 17-inch alloy wheel designs.

Magic Parking The larger the car, the more difficult finding a parking space can be.

Chrysler provides a solution to this problem with its optional Magic Parking.

Pushing a button on the dashboard activates the system which then uses radar sensors mounted in the front and rear bumpers combined with wheel speed sensors to measure the length of empty parking spaces. If it detects one that is free from obstacles and is long enough to accommodate the car, the driver is informed by a beeping noise and a message on the dash. If the driver decides to park in it, the car’s computer takes over the steering to carry out the reverse parallel parking manoeuvre. The driver retains control of the accelerator and brake and is permitted a speed of just over 4mph.

The driver can deactivate the system at any time, either by turning the wheel, changing out of reverse or pressing the button on the dashboard.

Lane Departure Control Today’s roads are so crowded that another pair of eyes always comes in handy. And that’s exactly what the Chrysler Delta’s optional Lane Departure Control provides.

The main element of this is a TV camera with image-processing software. This sends data on the geometry of the road in front of the vehicle to the onboard computer enabling the car to ‘recognise’ road markings. The car’s control unit then

decides what sort of steering inputs are needed to keep the car within the lines on the road. If these aren’t applied and the car starts to drift out of its lane, a motor generates torque on the wheel to tell the driver which direction they need to steer to stay in the lane. It only intervenes if the car starts to change lanes without indicating. The driver can override it at any time.

DELTA FORCE The Chrysler Delta benefits from Fiat Powertrain Technologies’ (FPT) experience of designing, developing and building small, yet highly efficient and powerful award winning engines. Whichever one of the two petrol and two diesel engines buyers choose, they can be sure of optimum fuel economy and impressive torque.

1.4 litre Turbo-Jet Petrol Giving a combination of sporty refinement and great value, and developed as part of the FIRE (Fully Integrated and Robotised Engine) range of engines, this power unit guarantees the best possible performance for the lowest possible fuel consumption (44.8mph Combined Cycle), and a 2 year/ 18,000 mile service interval helps to make this a highly economical choice.

1.4 litre MultiAir The second engine in the Delta range is a more powerful 140bhp 1.4 litre petrol which utilises FPT’s awardwinning MultiAir technology.

MultiAir technology works by allowing the direct metering of air stroke-by-stroke, cylinder-by-cylinder through the intake valves without using the throttle. The benefits of this technology are wide ranging: maximum power is increased by up to 10% because of the adoption of a power-orientated mechanical camshaft profile; and low-end torque is improved by up to 15% through early intake valve closing strategies that allow maximisation of air mass in the cylinder. By eliminating pumping losses, a 10% reduction of fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions is achieved over naturally aspirated and turobcharged engines not using MultiAir technology. Optimised valve control strategies during warmup and internal Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR, which is realised by re-opening the intake valves during the exhaust stroke) mean that substantial HC/CO and NO X reductions can also be achieved.

MultiAir technology combines to allow this engine to exceed the excellent MPG of the 1.4 Turbo-Jet, achieving 49.6mpg (Combined) with significantly higher BHP and torque figures.

1.6 MultiJet 120bhp The first diesel engine in the Delta range is a 120bhp FPT developed MultiJet available to customers purchasing Delta SE and SR versions, NEW page 12

6

FeedJournal Basic

CPT DEVELOPING POWERFUL 48 VOLT ELECTRIC SUPERCHARGER FOR MICRO MILD HYBRIDS by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/29/2011 12:30:30 PM

Developed for a new generation of micro mild hybrid vehicles, Controlled Power Technologies’ innovative application of switched reluctance motor technology for existing 12 and 24 volt systems means it is well placed to exploit the proposed 48 volt electrical architecture fast gaining ground in Europe. Other applications of a more powerful air charging solution for reducing CO 2 emissions without sacrificing vehicle performance include commercial vehicles for reducing diesel engine NOx and particulate emissions.

The low carbon vehicle specialist Controlled Power Technologies (CPT) is developing a 48 volt version of its electric supercharger based on its variable torque enhancement system known as VTES. The more powerful higher voltage variant will support moves by European vehicle manufacturers announced earlier this year to introduce 48 volt passenger vehicle power networks to help meet the requirement for lower fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions.

CPT currently provides the only production ready 12 volt supercharger available as original equipment for passenger car applications. The scalable design and highly controllable switched reluctance motor technology means it can move swiftly to offer a more powerful 48 volt solution to meet a diverse range of OEM customer enquiries.

At 48 volts a VTES electric supercharger will efficiently transform 7kW of battery power into a highly boosted charge of air for downsized gasoline and diesel engines. Unlike crankshaft driven superchargers and exhaust gas driven turbochargers, an electric supercharger is mechanically decoupled from the engine, which means it can deliver the air almost instantaneously into the engine – spinning up to 70,000rpm in less than a third of a second.

“Even with the higher transmission gearing adopted by manufacturers to reduce CO 2 emissions and particularly at the lowest engine revs, the instant additional torque when the driver needs to accelerate these smaller powertrains from low engine speeds is already very beneficial at

12 volts,” says CPT’s engineering director and chief technical officer Guy Morris.

“Electric supercharging at 48 volts extends that envelope of torque enhancement.

It’s an efficient way of using 7kW of stored electrical power to deliver not less than six times that at the crankshaft. In other words adding a useful 42kW boost for low speed overtaking and hill climbs.

Depending on the turbocharged engine system optimisation the boost could be as much as much as 70kW or 10 times the instantaneous power extracted from the batteries or supercapacitors.”

CPT foresees a new generation of micro mild hybrid vehicles with radically downsized engines featuring transient electric boosting as a more effective hybrid alternative to the mechanical supercharging and/or twin turbo-charging systems in use today.

“The torque response of these future VTES equipped vehicles will be equivalent to the best mass market vehicles on the road today,” says Morris. “There will be no torque deficit or other tradeoffs from essential engine downsizing and higher gearing, which now dominates the development of internal combustion engines. If anything their low speed performance will be even better, while still delivering very significant fuel economy benefits and CO 2 reduction.”

Commenting on additional applications, CPT’s senior manager for VTES, Mark Criddle adds: “We’ve also been responding to customer enquiries from vehicle manufacturers for some while now interested in applying VTES technology to diesel engines, both to help with the control of NOx and particulates, and for the regeneration of off-highway engine diesel

particulate filters.”

Morris and Criddle are attending the annual Supercharging conference in Dresden this week to discuss these latest developments with vehicle manufacturers making their annual pilgrimage to discuss new supercharging and turbocharging concepts for future powertrains. The industry’s main annual conference on the subject has long recognised the importance of air boosting as a key technology for the development of internal combustion engines.

CPT is exhibiting at the conference where it will discuss its modular 12, 24 and 48 volt technical solutions focused on the innovative application of switched reluctance electric motor technology and low voltage power electronics. Switched reluctance motors have yet to be adopted by the automotive industry for high volume mass production and low voltage power electronics have only recently become commercially viable.

Switched reluctance motors are highly efficient and avoid the use of permanent magnets and rare earth materials.

CPT technology development is primarily focused in the 10 to 50 volt range, where modest voltage increases can offer significant efficiency improvements.

CPT’s production ready VTES technology has already been incorporated as a 12 volt system in its ‘low cost’ ‘low consumption’ ‘low carbon’ LC Super Hybrid technology demonstrator. The company has commissioned AVL to build the demonstrator, which is currently undergoing final shake-down trials in Austria in readiness for evaluation by vehicle manufacturers. Following this initial assessment by carmakers, the vehicle will then be re-built with a 48 volt electrical system. The project is being supported and funded by the Advanced Lead Acid Battery

Consortium (ALABC).

CPT is already on record saying that if adopted as a global industry specification, 48 volt power networks would facilitate the development of standardised high volume and highly affordable enhanced lead acid battery modules. It would also offer a potential mass market opportunity for high end lithium-ion based energy storage solutions, of a similarly standardised modular configuration.

Modules of 48 volt standard configuration could form the building blocks for lower volume electric vehicles, where battery system costs are currently such a dominant constraint to vehicle affordability.

The 16 th Supercharging event is a high level engineering conference organised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans Zellbeck of the automotive technology institute at the TechnicalUniversity of Dresden.

Companies sending speakers include ABB, BorgWarner, Caterpillar, Daimler, Deutz, Ford, Honeywell, IAV, MAN and Voith. Further details at http://lvm.iad.vkw.tud r e s d e n . d e / index3.php?SECTION=ATK2011&L NG=en CPT is an up-and-coming, award winning, high tech company specialising in cost-effective CO 2 reduction measures for the global automotive industry. Its work also includes thermal energy recuperation considered by many to be the next and perhaps final energy recovery challenge for the internal combustion engine. Engineering competencies include low voltage power electronics, advanced control software and the application of low voltage electrical machines to vehicle powertrains including full hybrids with range extenders. The company was established in 2007 as a management buy-in funded by venture capital initially to acquire advanced powertrain technologies from Visteon Corporation and its technology development partner Emerson Corporation. CPT comes with a highly experienced team of automotive engineers and is backed

by Turquoise Associates and other prominent investors specialising in the energy and environmental sectors. Further information on CPT is available at www.cpowert.com.

FeedJournal Basic

7

BENTLEY LAUNCHES COLLABORATION WITH LINLEY by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 4:42:29 PM

Bentley is delighted to announce the launch of a unique collaboration with British design company Linley for a limited edition of 10 Continental Flying Spurs.

The limited edition CFS models will be sold in China, reflecting continuing demand by Bentley’s biggest four-door market. They incorporate signature Linley elements designed to appeal to customers who value pedigree and lineage, handcrafted quality and peerless design.

Christine Gaskell, member of the board for personnel, Bentley Motors, commented at the launch at Jack Barclay, Bentley dealer, in London’s Berkeley Square: “Our collaboration with Linley brings a new element to the interior of one of our globally best -selling models. The Continental Flying Spur has a unique executive style and elegance which is complemented wonderfully by the Linley veneers. We share an expertise in the use of natural materials and a commitment to superlative craftsmanship.”

Specially selected Linley veneers in Santos rosewood have been applied to the fascia, console, waistrail and roof console and integrated within the cars for the first time. The veneers cover the entire wood surfaces of the model, where Bentley chestnut or walnut would normally be used.

David Linley, Chairman of Linley, comments: “It is a great honour to be working alongside such an esteemed British brand as Bentley. Our two brands share a commitment to superlative craftsmanship and design.

I believe that the culmination of our efforts has resulted in a car that is

utterly unique and reflective of the passion that both brands share for pushing boundaries of engineering and excellence.”

The iconic Linley Helix motif has been taken from the distinctive Linley Helix Furniture Collection and has been set, using the highly specialised skill of marquetry inlay, into the waist-rails and picnic table of the Flying Spurs. The Helix pattern is made up of four different types of veneer which contrast with the Santos rosewood to show the wave effect delivered by the marquetry.

In addition, the rear console has been modified for a customercommissioned Linley humidor.

Brett Boydell, senior designer at Bentley, says: “The humidor has been designed by Linley and it drops into a unique console. We have reconfigured the console so that the humidor can fit in, moving things around and creating a space. It was an engineering feat to meet the quality requirements of a Bentley and the design cues of Linley.”

The project has been worked on by Mark Blanchard, Head of Design at

Linley, who comments: “It has been an exciting and challenging project to work on. We designed the interior within the stringent constraints specified by Bentley, however we ensured the car exemplified Linley craftsmanship.

“The car had to look different and we wanted a strong statement inside the interior, so we chose Santos rosewood, a straight grain veneer.

Bentley usually uses burr veneers for their interiors as they are more malleable around compound curves.

Using a straight grain veneer was a new challenge but together we succeeded and the final results look stunning.”

Stainless steel Linley treadplates also feature on the cars, as does a Linley for Bentley rhodium-plated plaque in the glove box. There is also a stainless steel overlay of the Linley logo on the passenger fascia panel.

Modified fluting on the seats features burnt oak contrast stitching, with additional burnt oak hide accentuating the storage areas and door pockets.

A Linley branded leather bag with a

NEW continued from page 4

front and rear seats are fitted with an anti-submarining system to prevent the body from sliding underneath the seatbelt, and the front seats have an anti-whiplash system to reduce the risk of injury in rear end collisions.

Finally, ISOFIX attachments, which allow child seats to be securely fitted, are standard.

ACCESSORISE ALL AREAS There is an almost limitless combination of options to enable owners to personalise their Chrysler Ypsilon.

Three basic trim levels are available: S, SE and Limited. Even the entrylevel S trim, which is only available with the 1.2-litre engine, is a very well equipped supermini. Standard equipment features height adjustable steering wheel, electric front windows, 50/50 split rear seat, height

-adjustable driver’s seat, 15-inch wheels, premium fabric upholstery and heated rear window, radio with CD and MP3 player, plus the full complement of safety kit.

In addition to that, SE specification adds manual climate control, electrically adjustable door mirrors, leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear-lever gaiter, and Castiglio upholstery available in either Romantic Gold or Urban Black designs.

Finally, with an eye very firmly on buyers who will be purchasing the new Ypsilon for its high specification, the Limited has rear electric windows, fog lights, 15-inch alloy wheels and leather upholstery.

Should owners want to customise their cars, there’s an extensive range of quality accessories available to

complement the new Ypsilon’s bespoke nature. There are 16-inch alloy wheels, side skirts and tinted headlights plus door kick plates with illuminated logo.

To enhance the new Chrysler Ypsilon’s already expressive design further, there’s a stylish range of exterior paint trims, including bicolour, which allows owners to specify varying bonnet and roof colours to make their car even more eye-catching. A total of 16 colours are available, including four Bicolour, four Metallic, four Micalised, two Tri-coat and two Pastel.

sumptuous cashmere blanket and other Linley items such as a leather luggage tag is also included in the boot of the limited edition Flying Spurs.

In working with Blanchard, Boydell ensured that all Bentley automotive quality processes were integrated with the design work.

There were several design challenges, says Boydell. “For instance, the marquetry of the Helix pattern had to be combined with the manufacturing standards and processes which we adhere to in the automotive industry.

“The collaboration is a ringing endorsement of two great British brands working closely together. We have achieved a very high-class product which has the recognisable signs of Linley entwined into a Bentley. We are offering customers the chance to own a highly customised piece of British heritage.

“I hope the collaboration will be a springboard for future projects.”

Key features of the Linley for Bentley limited edition Continental Flying Spur • The distinctive marquetry inlaid Helix motif runs throughout the interior.

• Linley-designed box in the rear console - the humidor contains a humidification system, cigar cutter and ashtray.

• In-built fridge set behind the arm rest and rear console, with specially designed space for bottle storage.

• The picnic tables have a pop-up vanity mirror concealed within them, which is a standard option on the CFS.

TOMTOM LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC FOUNDATION by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 12:37:36 PM

A year since committing to reduce congestion for all in its Traffic Manifesto, TomTom today launches the world's first Traffic Foundation dedicated to fostering collaboration in the field of traffic management.

The not-for-profit TomTom International Traffic Foundation will bring together key stakeholders from academia, industry and policymaking with the aim to help reduce traffic congestion. The Foundation TOMTOM page 10

8

FeedJournal Basic

DRIVE TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE TO RARE EARTH METALS by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/28/2011 6:10:04 PM

A world-leading team of UK engineers has been charged with developing a new motor for electric vehicles that will significantly reduce our future dependency on rare earth metals.

Sevcon, Cummins Generator Technologies and Newcastle University have been awarded £518,000 by the UK’s Technology Strategy Board to develop a novel electric motor for hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles.

Unlike the current EV motors which rely on rare earth metals such as Neodymium and Dysprosium, the new motors will replace these rare earth metals with steel. Steel is not only cheaper and less damaging to the environment, but also much more widely available – a key factor if we are to meet the expected rise in demand for hybrid and electric vehicles.

James Widmer, of Newcastle University’s Centre for Advanced Electrical Drives, explained: “The pressure on supplies of rareearth metals coupled with rising demand for this technology means the pressure is on to find an alternative.

In addition to this, extracting these rare minerals can be incredibly destructive to the environment. If we

are to pursue electric and hybrid vehicles as a truly greener option then we need to look not only at the fuel but also the materials we are using to develop the various components.

Newcastle University, Sevcon and Cummins are in an excellent position to deliver this world class technology.

Between us we are leaders in the development of new electric motor technologies, the supply of the electronics which drive the new electric vehicles and the manufacture of engines for many of the world’s commercial vehicles.”

Rare earth metals are a range of minerals which have become increasingly important in the delivery of new and sustainable technologies ranging from electric vehicles to solar panels. However their success in these applications is now raising worldwide concern about the supply and environmental impact of mining these materials.

The market for electric cars and commercial vehicles is expected to grow five fold over the next decade from less than 2 million EV’s sold in 2010 to an estimated 49 million by 2020. But this $180 billion-industry will be held back unless alternatives can be found for the metals currently used to drive the engines.

Grant funding of £518,000 was awarded by the Technology Strategy Board following the consortium's success in the 'Highly Innovative

Strategic Technologies in Low Carbon Vehicles' competition for collaborative research and development funding.

About The Technology The“ High Torque Density Switched Reluctance Drive System for Low Carbon Vehicles” project will develop a highly innovative electrical machine and drive system for low carbon vehicles. Containing no expensive and scarce rare earth magnet material it will be capable of providing tractive power and acting as a generator in a cost competitive and suitable for high volume manufacture package.

This project will go beyond the current state of the art in low carbon vehicle drivetrains by replacing electric motors which use rare earth magnets with one that does not and electronic control systems based on IGBT inverters with a high temperature alternative.

Dr. Peter Barras, Sevcon’s Vice President of Engineering, said: “This is an exciting, cutting edge project in a market sector that has great potential. We are already very active in the low carbon vehicle sector and the performance capabilities of our advance technology motor controllers are ideal for this sort of application. We are delighted to be bringing our automotive drive train engineering expertise to this project.

Speaking about the award CGT’s

General Manager for Emerging Business, Sitaram Ganeshan said: “We are committed to developing innovative products that enable us to deliver attractive value propositions for our customers. The rising costs of magnets can have a significant impact on the cost of electric machines and this award provides an excellent platform to develop a new generation of electric motors to meet the challenges. It further reinforces our position as a technology leader in electric machines and our commitment to provide innovative solutions to the industry.”

Newcastle University’s Professor Barrie Mecrow, who leads the University’s electric motor research, added: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to apply our research concepts in the electric vehicles sector. There is a tremendous opportunity for this consortium to make a real impact upon the electric vehicles of the future, combining low cost with highly efficient solutions.

The consortium provides the ideal mix of leading motor and drive manufacturing experience with state of the art research capability.”

The system to be developed by the partners should be ready for volume production within four years.

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:31:16 AM

The Royal Automobile Club's annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run takes place on the first Sunday of every November and commemorates the Emancipation Run of 14 November 1896 which celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotives on the Highway Act, which raised the speed limit for 'light locomotives' from 4 mph to 14 mph and abolished the requirement for these vehicles to be preceded by a man on foot.

The early law required the man on foot to carry a red flag but that requirement was actually abolished in 1878. However, the Locomotive Act was still widely known as the 'Red Flag Act' and a red flag was symbolically destroyed at the start of the Emancipation Run, by Lord Winchilsea as it is today just before the start in Hyde Park of each November's celebration Run by members of The Royal Automobile Club.

33 pioneering motorists set off from

the Metropole Hotel in Central London on the 1896 Run to endure the rough roads to the Sussex seaside resort and the Metropole Hotel of Brighton. But only 14 of the starters actually made the journey, and some evidence shows that one car, an electric model, was secretly taken by rail and covered with mud before crossing the finishing line!

The first formal re-enactment of the 1896 Run was staged in 1927 and organised by the motoring editor of the Daily Sketch. The Run has taken place every November thereafter, with the exception of the war years and 1947 when petrol rationing was in force.

From 1930 to the present day the Run has been owned and professionally organised by The Royal Automobile Club of Pall Mall London. In 1936 the Club moved the start of the Run to Hyde Park which has hosted the ceremonial early November Sunday morning assembly ever since and for 2011 celebrates the 75th Anniversary of the start from this Royal Parks venue.

Not a race but an endurance of man and machine the annual event today

attracts over 500 automobiles with an eligibility criteria that requires the cars to be of three or four wheel design and certified that their build took place prior to the 1 January 1905. Occasionally however the organisers invite a small number of vehicles just out of period to join the celebration.

Many famous celebrities including members of the Royal Family have been seen on the Run and for many years the 60 mile route has been lined with hundreds of thousands of spectators standing in the early winter Sunday mornings to cheer the drivers of this wonderful spectacle of early motoring.

115 years later the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is today the world's longest running and greatest motoring celebration event attracting entrants from all over the world. Over 600 entry applications are received for 550 places with over 25% represented by eligible vehicles shipped to the UK especially for the Run from across Europe, North and South America, Asia and the Australia's making the annual Run a truly International event. Over 160

vehicle makes take part and individual values range from around £25,000 to several million!

In December 2010 the Royal Automobile Club won a prestigious Federation Internationale de L'Automobile (FIA) Award for its dedicated promotion of the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and its related protection of early motoring vehicles.

To owners of Veteran cars worldwide the annual November Run to Brighton represents the high point of the year's early motoring car events and a rare opportunity to take their extraordinary vehicles to a wider audience. www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk www.veterancarrun.com www.futurecarchallenge.com http://www.facebook.com/ group.php?gid=94817020996 http://twitter.com/#!/thevcr2011 http://www.youtube.com/user/VCR The Royal Automobile Club`s London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is organised and promoted by Motion Works.

FeedJournal Basic

9

NEW CITROËN C4 AIRCROSS - A NEW TAKE ON THE COMPACT SUV by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:22:47 AM

Citroën is extending its successful C4 range with the introduction of the New Citroën C4 AIRCROSS. The New Citroën C4 AIRCROSS redefines the codes of compact SUV design, bringing together contemporary styling and technological innovation. Ideally suited to modern lifestyles, C4 AIRCROSS introduces a sense of escape into everyday driving. This new Citroën body style draws upon the brand’s technological excellence, combining the grip of an off-roader with the ride and driveability of a saloon. Ecologically considerate, the model also boasts some of the lowest CO 2 emissions in its segment.

Available with two and four-wheel drive versions in some markets, the New Citroën C4 AIRCROSS will be launched in Europe at the end of the first half of 2012. The car will go on sale in the UK during the second half of 2012.

The styling of the C4 AIRCROSS draws upon the brand’s DNA, combining the vitality of other Citroën models in the range with the strong presence of an off-roader.

The sculpted horizontal lines and aerodynamic vents of the front end accentuate the model’s compact appearance. The contours of the bonnet - visible from the driver's seat - the wide wheel arches and the reduced front and rear overhangs all combine to enhance the overall impression of robustness.

The distinctive light signature at the front - illuminated both day and night - is created by LEDs integrated into the vertical vents. The shape of

the large 18-inch wheels and the rear lights are directly inspired by the Hypnos concept car, reworked for optimal air flow and reduced CO 2 emissions. Seen from the side, the inverted shark fin at the rear also hints at the design of the Hypnos concept. The fin is decorated at the tip with a chrome compass motif to denote the model’s inclusion in Citroën’s SUV family. The sophisticated design includes indicator repeaters in the door mirrors, light guides in the rear light clusters and a reversing camera built into the chrome trim on the tailgate.

The New Citroën C4 AIRCROSS is fitted with a latest generationfourwheel transmission system, providing optimal handling in all conditions.

This technology allows the car to be driven permanently in four-wheel drive mode, with the torque optimally distributed between the front and rear wheels.

Using the single control positioned behind the gear lever, the driver can manually select one of the three transmission modes: • 2WD, for optimal fuel consumption • 4WD, which automatically distributes the torque between the front and rear axles • ‘Lock’,which provides maximum traction in severe conditions.

The C4 AIRCROSS fulfils Citroën’s ecological commitments with its HDi 110 engine mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox. This model is one of the front-runners in its segment for low CO 2 emissions. In some markets this efficient Euro 5 engine will be available with four as well as two-wheel drive.

The model’s compact dimensions 4.34m long, 1.80m wide, 1.63m high - and 10.6m turning circle ensure outstanding manoeuvrability in the

urban environment. The comfort of this 5-seater is worthy of the saloon segment above, while the 442-litre boot comfortably meets the demands of modern life.

Serenely confident on the road, drivers enjoy a clear view from the raised driving position with the specially developed chassis and suspension delivering the optimum balance between comfort and road holding. All occupants can enjoy a true sense of well-being thanks to the large panoramic glass sunroof, which fills the cabin with light during the day and is illuminated by integrated LEDs at night.

The New Citroën C4 AIRCROSS’ design is also focused on ease of use in everyday driving. A high level of specification includes GPS navigation with touch-screen, a reversing camera and USB/ Bluetooth® connectivity for portable audio players.

Technical characteristics: Engine 1.6i 115 petrol HDi 110 HDi 150 2.0i 150 (except Europe) Transmission 5-speed manual 6speed manual 6-speed manual 5speed manual/CVT Max. power (kW) 85 82 110 113 Max. torque (Nm)) 152 270 300 198 Cubic capacity (cm 3) 1590 1560 1798 1998 Euro5 Euro5 Euro5 Euro 4 4x2/4x4 4x2 4x2/4x4 4x2/4x4 4x2/4x4 To meet the needs of international markets, the 2.0i 150 petrol engine will be available outside Europe in two and four-wheel drive versions, coupled to a 5-speed manual gearbox or continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Trim level and engine availability are still to be confirmed for the UK.

RENAULT LAUNCHES THE CLIO RENAULTSPORT 200 RAIDER by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 1:31:49 PM

Renaultsport is launching Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider, a highly exclusive limited edition of the award -winning hot hatch. With a wealth of extra equipment over the standard Renaultsport version on which it is based, this limited run of 50 cars for UK customers offers exclusivity and style.

A first for Renault, and highly exclusive, even amongst the most expensive cars on the market today, Raider is finished in matt Renault i.d. paintwork. The choice of matt Stealth Grey or Diavolo Red is contrasted by a gloss black finish to the roof, rear spoiler, F1-style front blade, rear diffuser and door mirrors. This gloss

black finish is also applied to the 18” ‘Interlagos’ alloy wheels, one inch larger diameter than the standard 200 wheels. These are fitted with Bridgestone RE 050A tyres, as used on the record-breaking Megane Renaultsport 265 Trophy. Naturally,

the acclaimed Cup chassis is standard featuring a lower ride height, stiffer springs and dampers, quicker steering ratio and red finish to the Brembo brake callipers. The exterior finish is rounded off by extra-tinted rear side and tailgate windows and a

Raider badge.

A warm interior welcomes the driver. Leather upholstered Recaro seats are complimented by the zinc grey finish to the centre console and fascia inserts. Contrasting with this is a white rev counter. Bluetooth, USB connectivity, automatic climate control and Renaultsport carpet mats are also fitted. A numbered plate identifies the number in the 50 production run. Customers can order their Raider with a no cost choice of either Renaultsport Monitor – Renaultsport’s on-board telemetry system – or Carminat TomTom Live satellite navigation.

The Clio Renaultsport 200 Raider will be available to order from the end of October when further details and pricing will be announced.

10

FeedJournal Basic

TOMTOM continued from page 7

will nurture talent in the field of traffic management, funding PhD and post-doctorate research, publishing research papers and hosting a number of traffic-related events.

The launch comes as TomTom releases a report on the top 50 most congested towns and cities in the UK. Oxford has seen the biggest increase in traffic congestion, up 2.2% in the last six months, followed by Belfast and Bolton. In London, 36 per cent of roads overall are significantly more congested during rush-hours than at off-peak times, with Edinburgh second worst (33%) and Oxford third (31%).

Only five areas in the top 50 have seen congestion fall over the past six months. Road congestion is estimated to cost the UK economy £20 billion a year in lost production.

"The TomTom International Traffic Foundation is an important step towards our goal of reducing congestion for all, as set out in our Traffic Manifesto," says Harold Goddijn, chief executive officer of TomTom."Traffic is a universal issue that impacts the individual, business and society as a whole. The Foundation will bring together the best global thinkers to look at traffic management from every angle."

In September 2010 TomTom outlined 20 action points that would

contribute to traffic congestion reduction globally. Over the last 12 months several have been accomplished, including: • doubling the number of active TomTom HD Traffic users from more than half a million to close to 1.3 million, thus increasing the accuracy of the service and reducing journey times for all • increasing the global reach of TomTom HD Traffic from 8 to 22 countries, including the US and Australia • improving the quality and accuracy of TomTom HD Traffic with the launch of version 5.0 which now covers virtually the entire road network, ensuring drivers are always given the best route to avoid traffic congestion • increasing the availability and accuracy of TomTom HD Traffic by bringing the service in-dash, working with automotive and in-car entertainment partners, including Renault, Fiat and Mazda • reaching over 42 million people with TomTom HD Traffic information via radio, TV and online partnerships, enabling people to make a more informed choice about the best time to drive • making TomTom HD Traffic more accessible by giving millions of

consumers across Europe the opportunity to 'trade-in' any old satnav from any brand for a new TomTom LIVE device • making TomTom HD Traffic available to everyone online with the launch of a TomTom live online traffic map to help drivers plan their journeys around the jams ( www.tomtom.com/livetraffic) TomTom International Traffic Foundation The TomTom International Traffic Foundation will fund two PhDs and two post-Doctorate research projects annually into Traffic Management and Knowledge Technology.

Successful candidates will be selected on a case-by-case basis. The research topics for 2012 will be: • Engineering models for Traffic Management • Vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-toserver communication • Physics of transport and traffic

Systems in the field of road transport and for interfaces with other modes of transport.

Notes for editors • TomTom HD Traffic combines dynamic route guidance technology with the world's most accurate traffic information. It delivers traffic updates every two minutes - which is up to seven times more frequently than rival traffic services.

• The TomTom Traffic Manifesto was published on 30 September 2010.

It outlines how TomTom drivers hold the key to reducing traffic congestion for themselves and every driver around them, because if 10% of drivers used TomTom's HD Traffic system there would be a realtime "collective effect", with roads flowing more efficiently and reduced journey times for all. For more information on the Traffic Manifesto, including TomTom's progress to date, please visit www.tomtom.com/ trafficmanifesto

2012 will also see TomTom fund research into a topic that aligns with the EU policy on Transport: 'Creating standards in the field of road transport' at European level. This relates to the EU Directive 2010/40/ EU on the framework for the deployment of Intelligent Transport

TRAFFIC CONGESTION RISES ACROSS THE UK SAYS NEW REPORT by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:34:44 AM

Oxford has seen the biggest increase in traffic congestion of anywhere in the UK, according to new figures released today by TomTom. The university city has risen from sixth to third place in a nationwide congestion ranking which shows nearly a third (31.2%) of its main roads are clogged with traffic.

Traffic expert TomTom measured the top 50 most congested areas across Britain in the past six months.

They found that while congestion is worst in big cities like London and Edinburgh, it has increased most in Oxford - by 2.2% since March.

Belfast has seen the second biggest increase in congestion, followed by Bolton, Southampton and Sheffield.

In Scotland Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are all in the top 10 cities which have seen the biggest increase in traffic jams in the past six months.

Road congestion is estimated to cost the UK economy £20 billion a year in lost production*.

It is also estimated that a reduction of just five per cent in travel time for all

business travel on the roads could generate around £2.5 billion of cost savings, by reducing missed appointments and speeding up delivery times**.

The research marks the launch of the TomTom International Traffic Foundation. The not-for-profit Foundation will bring together key stakeholders from academia, industry and policy-making to collaborate to reduce traffic congestion.

It will fund PhD and post-doctorate research, publish research papers and host traffic management seminars.

The new study shows that, perhaps unsurprisingly, London is the most traffic clogged city in the country, with 36 per cent of roads significantly more congested during rush-hours than at off-peak times.

At number two is Edinburgh with a congestion rate of 33 per cent, perhaps mainly due to road works linked to its ill-fated tram system.

Behind Oxford in fourth place is Belfast where 31 per cent of roads are classed as congested, followed by Bradford (30 per cent), Manchester (30 per cent) and Birmingham (28 per cent).

The least congested big towns or

cities are Northampton, Warwick and Chesterfield, all with congestion rates of less than 10 per cent.

Only five in the top 50 have seen congestion fall over the past six months: Bedford, Colchester, Newport, York and Chester.

TomTom's research is based on its real travel time database, which has collected more than four trillion speed measurements to date with over a billion new measurements added each day.

This year is the anniversary of the launch of the company's Traffic Manifesto, a mission to reduce traffic congestion.

A TomTom spokesman said: "Many people may be surprised to find that places like Oxford, Belfast and Bolton have suffered big increases in levels of traffic congestion.

"If 10 per cent of drivers use a live navigation system such as TomTom HD Traffic which is updated every two minutes, there will be a 'collective effect' that will reduce journey times in congested areas for all drivers by up to five per cent."

Table 1: Top 10 most traffic clogged cities in the UK 1 London

2 Edinburgh 3 Oxford 4 Belfast 5 Bradford 6 Manchester 7 Birmingham 8 Aberdeen 9 Southampton 10 Nottingham Table 2: Biggest increase in traffic congestion (September 2011 versus March 2011) 1 Oxford 2 Belfast 3 Bolton 4 Southampton 5 Sheffield 6 Edinburgh 7 London 8 Glasgow 9 Cambridge 10 Aberdeen Notes to editors: Roads are considered congested when peak time traffic is 70 per cent slower than that at off-peak times.

All UK towns and cities with over 50,000 inhabitants were analysed. * Irving Yass (2010) "Delays Due to Serious Road Accidents" RAC Foundation, London.) ** Eddington Transport Study (2006)

FeedJournal Basic

11

THE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI i40 SALOON by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:11:48 AM

• The all-new Hyundai i40 is a stylish entry to the medium saloon car market • Starting price from £17,395 on-theroad and insurance from Group 12E • Offers CO 2 emissions from 113g/ km and impressive fuel economy from 65.7mpg • Spacious, high quality interior • High level of standard equipment, premium features and intuitive technology • Highly competitive pricing, low CO 2, fuel consumption and insurance group ratings ensure exceptional value for money – including lowest BIK cost in class Hyundai today announces the full pricing, specification and insurance group ratings for the all-new i40 Saloon.

On sale from 5 January 2012, prices will start from £17,395 on the road with insurance from Group 12E; and as with the i40 Tourer, will offer customers a high level of standard specification coupled with competitive cost of ownership. Also, with the lowest ‘Benefit in Kind’(BIK) cost in class for key diesel derivatives, the Hyundai i40 range will become an attractive alternative for company car drivers.

Tony Whitehorn, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor UK says: “The i40 Saloon represents the next-step in the

launch of the i40 range to the UK market. It is a vehicle that has been designed and engineered specifically for Europe, ensuring its relevance in the market place.

“The stylish saloon version shares the same qualities found in the i40 Tourer - offering outstanding levels of fuel-efficiency, comfort, quality, and a high level of standard equipment all at an accessible price.

It will broaden the appeal of the i40 range to buyers in the D-segment by offering a unique, value for money, customer proposition.”

The Hyundai i40 Saloon will be available in the same three main trim levels as the i40 Tourer (Active, Style and Premium) with the choice of two efficient engines, three power outputs and manual or automatic transmission. Hyundai’s Blue Drive technologies – incorporating

Intelligent Stop & Go technology – are fitted as standard on all Active derivatives, and on the Style 1.7 CRDi 136PS Blue Drive and the Premium 1.7 CRDi 136PS Blue Drive model ensuring CO 2 emissions of 119 g/km.

Standard features, which set the i40 apart from other competitor offerings, are 16” alloy wheels, Bluetooth® connectivity with voice recognition, leather steering wheel with audio controls, electric heated door mirrors with integrated LED indicators, electric front and rear windows and electric parking brake with automatic hold function. Touch screen satellite navigation with rear view camera, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control and dual zone climate control are standard on the mid-point ‘Style’ range. The Premium models benefit further from

the addition of leather upholstery, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and supervision instrument cluster with LCD colour display as standard, plus the option of the Lane Departure Warning and Smart Parking Assist, heated leather steering wheel and ventilated front seats.

The i40 uses the latest active and passive safety technologies to ensure maximum protection for its occupants. Active safety features include ESP (Electronic Stability Program), ABS (Anti-lock Braking System), Hill-start Assist Control (to prevent roll-back when starting on an incline), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), Brake Assist System and Emergency Stop Signal.

In terms of passive safety, every i40 on the road in the UK will be fitted with seven airbags as standard – front, front side and curtain, with driver knee airbag available as standard on all models. Hyundai anticipates the i40 Saloon to follow in the footsteps of the Tourer by achieving the maximum 5-star result under Euro NCAP’s impact assessment.

All Hyundai i40 models will be supported by Hyundai’s industrybest, fully transparent Five Year Triple Care assurance. This package offers five-year unlimited warranty, five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks.

Full pricing details and insurance group ratings are as follows:

MONDIAL ASSISTANCE UK SECURES FISKER DEAL by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/28/2011 4:59:30 PM

Pan European roadside assistance for the growing hybrid vehicle market Mondial Assistance UK continues to enhance its position in the plug in electric and hybrid vehicle market, as it secures a new Consumer Affairs contract with Fisker Automotive.

Under the new agreement, Mondial Assistance will provide roadside assistance plus a range of customer and Retailer support services throughout Europe in readiness for the launch of Karma, Fisker’s luxury Electric Vehicle with extended range (Ever™). This win demonstrates Mondial Assistance’s growing strength in understanding the needs of electric vehicle manufacturers and their customers as the market expands for environmentally responsible

transport.

The Mondial Consumer Affairs team, which is dedicated to the Fisker brand, will provide 3 key functions – Customer Service, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Retailer Support.

The Customer Service operation provides a response to any customer concern regarding the vehicle or the retail network. Mondial’s CRM capabilities include both enquiry support and an outbound customer contact programme for potential and existing customers who do not have access to a Fisker Retailer. Outbound customer activities will include helping to manage lead times by contacting deposit holders and updating them. Retailers will also benefit from a dedicated resource that can support their event management teams, pre sales and after sales activities

Retailer Support from Mondial Assistance will allow Fisker to nurture its retail network by offering telephone assistance and support in arranging invites for events, following-up prospects and data cleansing to get the best out of its customer information from day one.

“Mondial Assistance already has experience working with pure electric and hybrid vehicles, combined with a solid CRM reputation, making it the first choice for us,” says Josh Batie of Fisker Automotive. “Our partnership with Mondial Assistance is vital for us as we enter the European market, providing more than just roadside assistance solutions, but also streamlining processes and providing an important customer contact point.

We will be working closely with Mondial Assistance to benefit from its extensive customer support solutions, as well as its

understanding of the EV market, ensuring we can provide a premium level of service at all stages of the Karma ownership experience.”

Lee Taylor, Automotive Director for Mondial Assistance UK comments, “This is an exciting contract for us, as Mondial Assistance continues to establish itself as a leading provider of customer solutions for the electric vehicle market.

“The electric vehicle market offers us an important opportunity for growth.

We will be working closely with Fisker Automotive to develop a bespoke assistance and customer service operation, designed to boost the launch of the Karma by bringing added value to the customer experience.”

12

FeedJournal Basic

MIKKELSEN AIMS TO GIVE ŠKODA SCOTLAND HATTRICK by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 4:44:26 PM

Andreas Mikkelsen will be aiming to give ŠKODA a hat-trick of wins on the RACMSA Rally of Scotland (7-9 October), when he contests ŠKODA UK Motorsport’s home round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in his Fabia S2000. ŠKODA has won the event for the last two years, with Andreas and codriver Ola Fløene finishing2nd to Juho Hänninen (ŠKODA Motorsport) in 2010. The event is only the second gravel rally of the IRC season, so Andreas will have a two-day test in the Scottish forests prior to the event.

Having done all his early rallying in the UK, including winning the first rally he ever contested in 2006, the Quinton Stages, Andreas has a good feeling for the British forests and especially likes the fast and flowing challenging loose surface tracks of Perthshire and Stirlingshire.

This year’s Rally of Scotland has received its best ever entry, with 11 ŠKODA Fabia S2000s on starstudded list. Defending IRC Hänninen returns, his ŠKODA Motorsport team-mate and IRC leader Jan Kopecký makes his first appearance in Scotland, talented Northern IrishmanJonny Greer will start just two weeks after claiming 3rd in the British Rally Championship in his Simpson’s supportedŠKODA, while Patrik Sandell, Toni Gardemeister, Robert Barrable and top female rally driver Burcu Çetinkaya are all entered in Fabia S2000s. ŠKODA is also the Official Vehicle Supplier to the event, continuing its support for a third consecutive year.

It will supply a fleet of four-wheel drive Yetis, Octavia Scouts and Superbs to transport VIPs and rally officials from stage to stage, while Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles will supply vehicles to carry all the

essential rally equipment around the route – such as timing systems and control points.

Andreas: “Rally of Scotland is our home event and the most important rally of the year for us, and we’ll be very well prepared. We’ve done eight IRC rallies on asphalt this season, and we led the only gravel rally held so far in the Azores and finished a close second. We’ve also been contesting the Italian Gravel Rally Trophy and we’ll have a twoday pre-event test in Scotland, so we’ll definitely be up to full speed on gravel by the time the rally starts!

“The Scottish stages are fast and flowing and they suit my driving style. I really enjoyed the event last year and had a good result.

“We have performed really well and scored some good results in the IRC, especially during this second half of the season, so the aim is to try and win in Scotland. It won’t be easy because there is a lot of strong competition and a podium finish would be a great result, but for sure we will be trying to finish on the top step.”

This year’s Rally of Scotland begins on Friday 7 October with a Ceremonial Start at Stirling Castle at 19.00, before the event’s opening

two stages held in the dark of night around Carron Reservoir in Stirlingshire. The event moves into Perthshire on the Saturday 8 October, taking in classic stages such as Craigvinean, Drummond Hill and Errochty before a return on Sunday 9 October to Stirlingshire for another run through Carron Valley prior to two new tests, Loch Chon and the giant 16.15 mile (26km) High Corrie, that will each be tackled twice. The final two stages will be in the majestic grounds of Scone Palace, which will also host the Ceremonial Finish at 17.24, after the completion of all 15 stages and 124.33 miles (200.09kms) of competition.

British Eurosport 1 and 2 will broadcast four stages live on television – SS5/7, Errochty, on Saturday 8 October (12.00-13.00 and 17.30-18.30), and SS11/13, High Corrie, on Sunday 9 October (11.0012.00 and 13.45-14.45). It will also broadcast a review of the rally on Tuesday 11 October (23.30-00:00, British Eurosport 1) and on Wednesday 12 October (16.1516.45, British Eurosport 2). In case of time changes, please check TV guides nearer the time.

allows fuel quantities to be injected into the combustion chamber quicker, and with greater accuracy.

The shutter stroke has been reduced to 20µm (microns), which has allowed the interval between two consecutive injections to be dramatically reduced. This allows the injection rate to be modulated, to achieve greater combustion process control. This new injection mode is called Injection Rate Shaping. The results are reduced noise, fuel consumption of 60.1mpg (Combined)

and reduced pollutant emissions.

When a customer chooses the semiautomatic transmission, the benefits of MultiJet technology are amplified, with 61.4mpg (Combined) and 120g/ km CO 2.

2.0 MultiJet 165bhp The most powerful engine in the Delta range is available exclusively on the Delta Limited. Customers can thus enjoy the most luxurious trim level with the most appropriate engine.

The 2.0 MultiJet features all of the

British F3/GT Championships by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:29:36 AM

The British F3 International and GT Series make a welcome return to Silverstone towards the end of the season on 9 October for what will be a highly important round in the two championship fights.

The British F3 Championship is one of the most competitive racing categories in existence and attracts young racers from around the world.

Its former winners read like a Who's Who of motorsport nobility and legend: Sir Jackie Stewart, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Nelson Piquet (Jr and Sr), Jenson Button, David Coulthard and Anthony Davidson have all been champions.

The Avon Tyres British GT Championship, which joins the British F3 International Series this weekend showcases the most prestigious sportscar grid of any National racing series. All races feature a mandatory driver change pit stop and offer supercar fans a rare opportunity to see these amazing cars battle it out on the racetrack.

With F3 regulations allowing different engine and chassis manufacturers, it's a thrilling championship where formbooks can be thrown out of the window at a moment's notice. To win the Championship requires consistency, dedication and not a small amount of genuine skill.

2011 will also see the rebirth of the endurance format for GT cars with the brand-new Blancpain Endurance Series. Three-hour races, with all the excitement of pit stops, driver changes, multiple classes and nonstop overtaking makes for some very interesting racing. Reserved for GT3 and GT4 cars, which have already made their mark in long-distance races, without having a specific arena to test their skills, the new series will be centred around GT racing's showcase event, the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

NEW continued from page 5

with a 6 speed semi-automatic transmission available on SE versions.

MultiJet is another ground-breaking development from FPT which in this latest guise allows eight injections per combustion cycle. This is possible due to the new MultiJet II injector patented by FPT, and integrated into the ECU by Magneti Marelli. The shutter in the injector is hydraulically balanced, which allows a larger sealing diameter, with reduced shutter strokes. This servovalve

MultiJet technology available on the 1.6, but in a more potent package, offering 165bhp and 360Nm of torque. Economy figures are still impressive at 55.4mpg (Combined) with CO 2 emissions at 135g/km.

FeedJournal Basic

13

FEDERAL-MOGUL INTRODUCES NEXT-GENERATION LAMP FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTING by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/28/2011 4:19:39 PM

Federal-Mogul Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) has developed two innovations that make vehicle interior lighting systems slimmer, cooler, more efficient and more stylish. The company’s new ultrathin lighting combines LEDs and a specially designed lamp lens to reduce the profile of interior lamps by up to 60 percent. In addition to improving headroom, facilitating reduced power consumption and enabling greater interior styling, NovaLens™ provides consistent and even illumination without “hot spots.”

Growing demand for vehicles with higher seating positions and lower rooflines means vehicle manufacturers operate within tightening constraints to create sufficient headroom for occupants.

Increasing headroom is a contributing factor in improving the safety of occupants during a rollover event.

“Unlike conventional interior lighting, Federal-Mogul’s new ultrathin lighting with NovaLens provides a more stylish, integrated interior lighting solution,” said Ramzi Hermiz, Federal-Mogul’s senior vice president, Vehicle Safety and Protection. “With interior lamp profiles typically of 30mm or more, the size of interior lighting modules has been a limiting factor for vehicle manufacturers. Our new lamp is just 12mm thick, giving vehicle designers an extra 18mm of space and increased styling design opportunities.”

Conventional LEDs emit cones of light that generate variations in intensity and visible hot spots within the lens of a traditional interior lamp.

NovaLens is a specially designed lens that incorporates unique

geometric features which reflect and refract the light from LEDs positioned at opposite sides of the lamp to produce visually uniform illumination from the entire lens. The inner surface of NovaLens incorporates optical features that vary in shape, depth and position, depending on their distance from the nearest LED. The outer surface of NovaLens contains several parallel optical flutes. Light from the LEDs is reflected from the optical features and then is spread evenly by the flutes to deliver a uniform distribution of light over the target zones.

“The consistent, homogeneous appearance of our new ultrathin lamp with NovaLens is unrivaled in the industry,” Hermiz said. “It provides exciting new opportunities for interior designers and a competitive advantage for Federal-Mogul’s customers. Because the unique properties of NovaLens mean fewer LEDs are required, it also is a highlyefficient solution. Federal-Mogul’s combination of low-energy LEDs

with our innovative NovaLens offers greater design alternatives while improving packaging, safety and energy efficiency.”

LED technology can draw less than 2W, depending on customer requirements, compared to 10W for the equivalent incandescent bulbs.

This reduced electrical demand cuts CO 2 emissions and helps reduce battery drain, which is especially important in electric vehicles. LEDs also last more than ten times as long as incandescent bulbs and operate 95°C cooler, improving thermal management, installation and styling options.

Federal-Mogul is in discussion with vehicle manufacturers on several continents regarding its new ultrathin lamp with NovaLens. The company’s first production applications will reach the market during 2012. The technology was developed at FederalMogul’s Lighting Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Mich., one of the company’s 18 globally networked technical centers.

14

FeedJournal Basic

RECORD-EQUALLING BTCC GRID HEADS FOR BRANDS HATCH GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/29/2011 12:52:10 PM

A record-equalling 29-car grid is set to contest this weekend’s (1-2 October) Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship round on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in Kent.

The 888 Racing with Collins Contractors team has this morning announced that Oliver Jackson will race its second Vauxhall Vectra for the season’s final two rounds at Brands Hatch and Silverstone (15-16 Oct).

Jackson, aged 27 from Reigate in Surrey and who in recent years has competed in a variety of GT and sportscar categories including the BTCC-supporting Porsche Carrera Cup, tested 888’s Vectra at Brands earlier this week.

Meanwhile, at just 17 years of age Nottingham’s Chris Swanwick will also make his BTCC debut this weekend in a second Rob Austin Racing Audi A4 – taking the number of cars entered for the event to 29.

Only once since the BTCC’s switch in 1991 to an all two-litre formula have numbers been so high – which was the supporting race at the British F1 Grand Prix in 1993 at Silverstone.

Notably, Swanwick’s arrival will mean the grid will include five of the latest Next Generation Touring Car type machines – two Audis (Rob Austin Racing), two Toyota Avensis (Dynojet and Speedworks) and one Proton Gen-2 (Welch Automotive) – that will become de rigeur in the next few seasons.

In recent rounds Rob Austin’s Audi and Frank Wrathall’s Dynojet Toyota, both developed from new at the start of the season, have become a

major force with a variety of top three qualifying positions, fastest laps and outright podium results. Already the factory Honda Racing Team, with its new Civic model, plus the 888 and Pirtek Racing squads have confirmed they will be making the switch to full NGTC-specification cars for 2012’s BTCC. BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “To be going into our penultimate round with this recordsized grid, in such difficult economic times, demonstrates yet again the BTCC’s appeal and unrivalled ability to provide sponsors with by far the biggest ‘bang for their buck’ of any motor racing championship in the UK.” Meanwhile heading to Brands Hatch this weekend (1-2 Oct), seven drivers can still win the 2011 BTCC title.

Honda Racing team-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden will arrive there tied for the championship lead followed by Jason Plato (Silverline Chevrolet Cruze), Mat Jackson (Airwaves Racing Ford Focus), James Nash (888/Collins Vectra),

Andrew Jordan (Pirtek Vectra) and Robert Collard (WSR BMW). Some 102 points cover them with a possible maximum of 104 still up for grabs – 52 apiece from Brands Hatch’s three races and then Silverstone’s ‘triple-header’ title showdown a fortnight later (15-16 October).

Saturday’s qualifying session will be shown live between 3.35pm-4.15pm on the championship’s broadcast partner ITV’s dedicated www.itv.com /touringcars web page. Sunday’s three BTCC races plus much of the action from the supporting categories will also be shown live during a mammoth seven-hour show (11.00am-6.00pm) on the ITV4 and ITV4 HD TV channels as well as www.itv.com.

For a full Brands Hatch BTCC event timetable plus all the latest news in the run-up to the weekend visit the BTCC’s official website www.btcc.net

FeedJournal Basic

15

REA SIXTH-FASTEST IN TIGHT FRENCH QUALIFYING by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 6:41:07 PM

Castrol Honda rider Jonathan Rea took a provisional second row slot for Sunday's two 12th round World Superbike championship races at Magny-Cours in France after setting the sixth fastest time in this afternoon's first qualifying practice session.

Fresh from his race one victory in Imola, Italy last weekend, the 24year-old from Northern Ireland was in confident mood after this morning’s free practice, which he completed without resorting to softer race rubber.

Provisional pole position – and just three tenths faster than Rea, as the top 15 riders were covered by less than one second – was taken by series leader, Carlos Checa, who needs only three points from this weekend’s races to secure the 2011 World Superbike title. However, Rea’s Castrol Honda team-mate, Ruben Xaus was unable to compete in this afternoon’s session after crashing on his out lap in this morning’s free practice.

The Spanish rider suffered an uncomfortable muscle strain in his neck following a high-speed get-off and he was advised by circuit medical staff to sit out this afternoon. Xaus’s condition will be re-assessed before tomorrow morning’s second qualifying session.

Jonathan Rea– P6 1m38.957s It was quite difficult this afternoon because I was in and out of the garage quite a lot, trying to sort out little issues. We found a bit of rhythm towards the end of the session though and the bike felt OK, although we’re still struggling a little

HONDA TT LEGENDS ACHIEVE WORLD-FIRST WITH COMBINED ABS by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/29/2011 4:09:28 PM

in one sector. We need to make some changes to help that and, like last year, the long left at the bottom of the hill is causing some problems. I think I’m rushing in a bit and trying to scrub off speed with too much lean angle, so we’ll look at all that tonight. We had a good session this morning on the harder race tyre and we’ve got a pretty good idea how that&rsqu o;ll end up, but temperature will be quite critical here.

Ruben Xaus It was a very bad start to the day, just on my out lap for free practice this morning and I was coming up the hill to the fast left. When I closed the throttle, it felt like the gas didn’t shut off properly and I ran off the track, going quite fast towards the air fence. My neck is quite sore and the doctors advised me to take it easy this afternoon and not ride. I hope it is not too stiff in the morning when we will assess the situation again.

Ronald ten Kate– team manager Well the first thing is that we hope Ruben will be declared fit by the circuit doctors tomorrow so that we

can continue the progress with him.

On Jonathan’s side of the garage we still have some issues to resolve – some relating to riding lines and some to suspension and the new ride-bywire system. But we are not far away f rom the front so hopefully we can make some good changes for tomorrow. So far we are, once again, quite happy with the new system.

2011 World Superbike championship, round 12 – MagnyCours, France First qualifying results: 1 Carlos Checa (ESP) Ducati 1m38.652s 2 Eugene Laverty (IRL) Yamaha 1m38.664s 3 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati 1m38.741s 4 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki 1m38.860s 5 Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati 1m38.942s 6 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Castrol Honda 1m38.957s

The Honda TT Legends achieved a world-first last weekend, completing the Le Mans 24-hour aboard a Combined ABS-equipped CBR1000RR Fireblade to become the first team to run the system at World Championship level.

The Endurance World Championship contenders have been testing Combined ABS throughout the 2011 season, working towards a potential launch at the 8-hour race in Qatar in November. Development has gone so well that the team decided to bring forward the introduction of the system and run it during the ultimate challenge of the Le Mans 24-hour.

The Combined ABS system ran smoothly throughout the demanding race, which saw the Honda TT Legends place fifth in a field of 62 teams to rise to ninth in the 2011 Endurance World Championship standings.

Honda pioneered the introduction of ABS on road-going motorcycles and the manufacturer has already experienced racing success at national level when a Combined ABSequipped Fireblade ridden by Karl Muggeridge won the 2010 German Superbike Championship. The Honda HONDA page 18

HONDA RACING TEAM: BTCC RACE PREVIEW REPORT by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 10:36:09 AM

Both Honda Racing Team drivers Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden have pledged to go flat out for wins in the 2011 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend as they aim to protect their title advantage.

The pair are locked together at the head of the drivers’ standings with six races remaining but they both know that they can’t let up for their quest to land the most prestigious motor racing title in British motor racing.

Neal, a former two-time champion, explained: “Just because Gordon and I are leading the points, it’s not going

to change our attitude at all. We can’t let it because there are six races

to go and things can change quickly.

We need to keep attacking for wins.”

Neal and Shedden, along with the other turbo-powered cars in the series, have been fitted with 20 kilogrammes of extra ballast to handicap their machines and Neal says that the penalty has made things tough.

“Brands is a great track but we have the extra weight which is really going to hurt us. We have to cope with that as well as all the on-track rivals we normally have. This means we have to push to the limits every time we go on circuit just to keep up.

There will be no backing off.”

Scotsman Shedden says that they will work hard to protect each others bid on track and keep ahead of their rivals. “Both Matt and I want to win HONDA page 18

16

FeedJournal Basic

STUTTGART TO HOST WORLD’S BIGGEST AMATEUR GOLF TOURNAMENT by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/29/2011 2:03:13 PM

MercedesTrophy World Final 2011 From an initial field of 60,000 golfers, just over 100 remain and will compete in the World Final of the prestigious MercedesTrophy – the amateur golf tournament organised by Mercedes-Benz for its customers since 1989.

The world’s best amateur golfers from over 60 countries will gather in Stuttgart, where they will compete for glory at the Stuttgarter Golf-Club Solitude and the Golfanlage Schloss Nippenburg. At the end of the tournament, honours will be awarded to the best national team as well as the best player.

This year, a total of 29 national teams, consisting of three players each, will be competing for the coveted cup. Defending champions will be the team from the UK, which last year pipped China and South Korea to the title.

“Fascination and perfection are the values that our vehicles have embodied for the last 125 years,

values which the sport of golf also embodies like no other. We are pleased to offer our customers the opportunity to also experience these values as part of the MercedesTrophy World Final”, said Lüder Fromm,Director of Global Marketing Communications for Mercedes-Benz Cars.

He continues; “As a special highlight at the tournament, we will be showing the new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Roadster, which just celebrated its world premiere at the IAA, as well as the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, the most fuel-efficient SUV in its class.”

In addition to the three tournament rounds, the participants will also compete for two special prizes.

On the first day of the tournament, there will be a nearest-to-the-pin competition. At the hole, MercedesBenz will collect donations for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

As one of its founding members, Mercedes-Benz is an especially strong supporter of the foundation – donating not only funds raised at the MercedesTrophy World Final, but also donations collected at the

MercedesTrophy qualification tournaments around the world.

The “Drive to the Major” contest, on the tournament’s second day, will give participants a chance to win an incredible golfing experience.

Winners of the straightest drive competition will receive a trip to The Open Championship and a slot in the qualification tournament for the “Monday After Event” – a chance to play the actual course on the day after the Championship finishes. The winners will also be able to follow the tournament from the MercedesBenz VIP area.As the official automobile partner of the world’s oldest golf tournament, MercedesBenz is giving one of its customers the chance to play a round on one of the world’s most historic courses.

In addition to the tournament itself, the finalists will also have the opportunity for a Driving Experience with current Mercedes-Benz models, such as the SLK 350 or the CL 500 as well as a guided tour of the state of the art Mercedes Museum.

LIGHTWEIGHT AND HIGHLY-EFFICIENT: THE NEW PORSCHE BIKE MODELS by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 4:50:54 PM

• New range of Porsche urban bicycles combines high performance with ride-anywhere capability • Porsche Bike S and Bike RS are available now, in three frame sizes, S, M and L, from Porsche Centres nationwide Using the principles of Intelligent Performance proven in its sports cars, Porsche has created the Bike S LIGHTWEIGHT page 17

CUSTOM & HOT ROD FESTIVAL 2012 by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/29/2011 6:19:28 PM

Beaulieu is pleased to announce that the 2012 dates for its popular Custom event will be 16 th& 17 th June. One of the newer events on the Beaulieu calendar, it has in four years, rapidly expanded to a colourful gathering of over 600 vehicles on the Sunday Drive-In day.

For 2012 the event is expanding under a new name, Custom & Hot Rod Festival, to include a custom motorcycle element as well as custom cars. Beaulieu is delighted to announce that the Custom Motorcycle Show, held for the first time in Bournemouth earlier this year, will be moving permanently to Beaulieu to join the event. Hundreds of world class custom motorcycles will be on show including over 70 bikes entering the AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building. There will also be hundreds of trade stands including custom bike dealers, custom accessories and hard parts, plus the Vendors and Merchandise Village

and a Ride-In on both days of the show.

Beaulieu’s Commercial Director, Stephen Munn said “All the popular elements of the previous custom shows will remain, including weekend camping with evening entertainment, a Saturday Ride-out, trade stands and the Ride-In for custom vehicles owners. With the new additions to the show, we can promise a great weekend at Beaulieu

for custom car and bike enthusiasts alike.”

Since the events inception by Beaulieu, custom car club Victory Wheelers has helped to jointly organise the weekend with the venue, with both organisations agreeing that the weekend element of the custom car show would be portrayed under the Victory Wheelers South Coast Internationals banner, although the event was entirely Beaulieu funded.

The whole show has been a very successful collaboration between the two organisations.

Unfortunately, due to Beaulieu’s wish to expand the show to include the custom bike element, and the Wheelers preference to associate the South Coast international brand with a custom car only event, the organisations have agreed to part company amicably after this year's event.

Stephen Munn said: “We have enjoyed working with Victory Wheelers over the past three years; and thank them for the help they have given us in shaping the event thus far. We wish them well for the future of South Coast Internationals.”

In response, Keith Ellis, current Chairman of the Victory Wheeler’s Club stated: ” Unfortunately, due to Beaulieu’s wish to expand the show to include the custom bike element and the Wheelers preference to associate the South Coast Internationals brand with a primarily hot-rod and custom car event, the organisations have agreed to part company amicably.’’

FeedJournal Basic

17

HONDA ANNOUNCES VT750S ‘SPECIAL EDITIONS’ by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/28/2011 6:47:03 PM

Honda (UK) is pleased to be offering two special edition versions of the classic and retro styled VT750S - the popular machine developed to deliver all-round riding enjoyment to a wide range of riders.

Both special editions feature gleaming ‘Championship White’ body work which enhances the timeless, cool appeal of this stylish model and provides a stunning contrast to its black-painted V-twin engine and luxurious chromefinished details.

In keeping with the retro look, the tank of the first special edition is adorned with the original Honda wing logo in red, and paying homage to Honda’s racing heritage also features a solid red stripe down its centre, flanked with smaller pin stripes.

The second special edition sports the tank stripes and wing logos in a bold ‘yellow/gold’ colour, reminiscent of Honda models from several decades ago.

Both variants are sure to evoke a sense of nostalgia within those familiar with Honda models from yesteryear, whilst also having strong appeal to younger riders who appreciate the retro styling which is so popular today.

Also available in striking Pearl Heron Blue with Shasta White (Tri-

colour) and sophisticated Graphite Black colour schemes, the classic styling of the VT750S is complimented by the smooth performance of a thoroughly contemporary machine. All kinds of riders, including relative newcomers, appreciate its proportions and light, confidence-inspiring handling. The VT750S also packs enough punch to keep more experienced riders entertained and is versatile enough for a range of uses from daily commuting to quick weekend blasts for leisure and light touring.

Each of the special edition colour scheme VT750s are priced at £6,200

OTR, as is the current tri-colour machine, with the Graphite Black version available for £5,950 OTR. All four versions of this popular machine are available to order now from Honda (UK) motorcycle dealers across the country.

To find out more about Honda’s superb VT750S or any other model in the Honda car, motorcycle or power equipment range, visit your local Honda dealer, go to www.honda.co.uk or call 0845 200 8000

LIGHTWEIGHT continued from page 16

and Bike RS urban bicycle range, which combines the latest technology and highest quality materials with ‘ride anywhere’ capability.

The Porsche bike concept has been inspired by the company’s GT roadcar department, responsible for creating the ultimate lightweight Porsche sports cars including the 500hp 911 GT3 RS 4.0. The high performance ethos is evident in both Porsche-designed bicycles and is particularly most apparent in the appropriately named Bike RS. Porsche Bike S The Porsche Bike S features a 7005 Hydroformed Aluminium frame, carbon fibre front forks and an internally-geared Shimano 11-speed Alfine hub gear system with appropriately, a double-clutch system for smooth gear-shifting under heavy pedal loads.

DT Swiss wheels with smooth rolling resistance tyres, optimised for resistance to punctures and also to assist performance on wet or rough terrain, and Magura disc-brakes complete this impressive specification.

With a total weight of 11kgs it’s the perfect companion for either a longdistance cycle tour or city-based commute to work.

Porsche Bike RS Weighing 9kg with a newlydeveloped, carbon fibre monococque frame which provides high levels of bike stability and high quality damping properties, the Porsche Bike LIGHTWEIGHT page 18

SHOW CAR HINTS AT FUTURE DESIGN FOR FIVE-DOOR VOLKSWAGEN up!

MODEL by theoptimist (Car News and Reviews) Submitted at 9/30/2011 4:46:26 PM

Visitors to this month’s Frankfurt Motor Show got the biggest clue yet as to the look of the production fivedoor up!, in the shape of the cross up!, one of six small car family concepts that were displayed alongside the three-door city car model.

The cross up! previews the five-door up! but with the styling cues of an SUV, including suspension raised by 15 mm all round. The most obvious differences when compared with the standard up! are of course the additional doors and the styling of the C-pillars. While on the three-door car the shoulder line and windows ascend towards the rear near the Cpillars, on the five-door the two elements form a straight line, creating a more upright appearance.

Many of the styling elements on the

cross up! (such as the wheel arch and side sill extensions and the black side protection strips above the sills) will be familiar to those who recall the last-generation Polo Dune, sold in mainland Europe as the Cross Polo.

These styling cues give the vehicle a more rugged look, as can be seen in the eye-catching front bumper with silver cross-bar and integrated fog

lights. The front air intake is also modified, with a honeycomb grille that is distinctly larger, especially towards the bottom.

Underneath, there is robust silvercoloured underbody protection at both ends. Like the front bumper, the rear bumper also gets a silver crossbar. That colour is echoed in the matt silver roof rails and the light silver

door mirror caps, all offset by the eye -catching Tornado Red paint of the body, which can also be found surrounding the Volkswagen logo in the centre of the 16-inch alloy wheels.

On the cross up! study, the red theme continues inside the spacious interior where the seats have red centre panels, offset by grey side panels.

The dashboard panel and upper door trim panels are also body-coloured.

Other accents, such as the bezels of the air nozzles and the centre console, are designed in black piano paint, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel, gearlever and handbrake all have decorative coloured seams.

Order books for the three-door up! will open in October with the first models arriving in the UK in spring 2012. The five-door model will follow later in the year.

18

FeedJournal Basic

HONDA continued from page 15

TT Legends team will now continue to run Combined ABS for the remainder of the 2011 season – which concludes in Qatar– and into 2012.

Neil Tuxworth – Honda TT Legends team manager Our plan was always to develop ABS during the 2011 season and we’ve done a lot of work at various tests.

We were very confident that we were ready to go out and race it so we took the risk to use it at Le Mans. Honda has a long history of proving its technology in the ultimate competitive environment and what could be more testing that the Le Mans 24-hour race. We are over the moon with the performance and we had no problems with it whatsoever.

The riders were very happy and while

we’ll obviously keep developing the system, for this first time being used in World-level racing everything has certainly gone very well.

John McGuinness We had no problems with the Combined ABS system at all. It’s still in the early stages and there are lots of sophisticated parts on the bike, but the brakes were fantastic for the whole of the 24-hours. There are certainly no complaints from me. To get fifth place on the first outing for the system is mega and hopefully we’ll get on the podium with it at some stage.

Cameron Donald Having Combined ABS on the bike was definitely a benefit. I’m sure it got me out of trouble more than once, especially late on the race when

fatigue was kicking in. The system ran so smoothly throughout the entire race and I can’t wait to see how it will develop. It’s definitely an exciting prospect.

Keith Amor We didn’t really know what to expect when the team took the decision to run the Combined ABS bike. It’s pretty much brand new, so to come here and for the bike to last and do what it’s done is fantastic. 24 hours is a long time to race around here on any bike and to finish the race and place fifth on the new ABS machine is brilliant.

Honda has such a great chassis.

“I love the circuit though and every driver will say it’s one of their favourites. Every single corner is a challenge. There are fast corners out the back and there are crests where you take off and it’s all arms and elbows. The satisfaction of getting the lap right is incredible.”

The first of the weekend’s three races, which are shown live on ITV4, is scheduled to begin at 11.30am on Sunday, October 2. Fans can also follow Honda Racing on Facebook and Twitter for news and race results as the action happens w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / HondaRacingBTCC and www.twitter.com/hondaracingbtcc

The next instalment of ‘What Drives a Racing Team’ The third film in Honda Racing’s ‘What Drives a Racing Team’ documentary series is now live on http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=OEw5hyOo0Vo This instalment takes a look at the whole Honda Racing team.

Engineers, grid girls and team managers share their experiences of working with a championshipwinning outfit.

HONDA continued from page 15

the title,” says ‘Flash’ “If I can’t win it then I want Matt too. That means we respect each other on track and we won’t compromise each other.”

Shedden, too, says that the extra weight is going to make it an uphill fight during the three races on Sunday. The 2.6-mile Brands Hatch Grand Prix layout is one of the most challenging in the country and demands a good all-round car, he says. “We are noticing the extra penalty in all areas - on the brakes, under acceleration, in the corners, everywhere,” adds ‘Flash’. “We are getting to the limit of grip with the tyres because we are hauling so much weight around and we are only still in the title fight because the

LIGHTWEIGHT continued from page 17

RS offers the optimum dynamic performance across a variety of terrain, from an urban street to a country bridleway. Lightweight, high quality components such as a carbon fibre seat post, handlebars and stem are key features.

Equipment usually reserved for highlevel cycle racing is also part of the specification of the Bike RS, for example, the 20-speed Shimano XTR derailleur gearset is tried and tested by competitors worldwide. Other features include Magura hydraulic

disc-brakes and Crank Brothers wheels, optimised with the same lowrolling resistance tyres as the Porsche Bike S. Both the Porsche Bike S and Porsche Bike RS are available now, priced at £2,999 and £4,999 respectively from Porsche Centres throughout the UK.