F1 driver market still awaiting next moves

F1 Driver Market still Awaiting Next Moves

Rubens Barrichello (shown) and rookie Nico Hulkenberg will drive for it in 2010

 Expect Williams F1 to confirm on Monday that veteran Rubens Barrichello and rookie Nico Hulkenberg will drive for it in 2010, but thus far, there have been no more definitive moves in the driver market.

Newly crowned world champion Jenson Button still has not re-signed with Brawn GP, and suggestions persist that McLaren-Mercedes might steal him to partner Lewis Hamilton as Heikki Kovalainen's replacement. McLaren has still not done a deal with Kimi Räikkönen, though the Finn insists that he does not have any other F1 options after agreeing to leave Ferrari at season's end with a year remaining on his contract.

As reported previously, Timo Glock

looks Expect Williams F1 to confirm on Monday that veteran increasingly likely to leave Toyota to join Renault alongside Robert Kubica. That will leave Romain Grosjean without a job and spell an end to the era of the team employing drivers who have a management deal with or are protégés of former boss Flavio Briatore.

With the established top drivers spurning Toyota, and Glock and Jarno Trulli both leaving, the Cologne-based team is now linked with Kovalainen, who McLaren is certain to drop.

SEMA show: Lexus loves Las Vegas

The Lexus IS 350 C by Fox Marketing gains a host of suspension mods and a supercharger.

Look for several Lexus cars in Las Vegas, two with F-Tuned bodies, four from various tuners and one genuine LFA supercar making its U.S. debut after last week's worldwide reveal at Tokyo.

The LFA likely will be the white one (as opposed to the black one; there ain't too many of these around) that we drove a month or two ago on the autobahn and for three glorious laps around der Nordschliefe. The car was impressive, man. If you have a spare 400 grand, we recommend it.

IS 350 C by Fox Marketing

Brian Fox took an already fine Lexus IS convertible and added a ProCharger C-2 Blower, iForged Spring wheels, F-Sport Big Brakes 14-inch, six-piston calipers, Yonaka SPECII 36-way adjustable coilovers, custom lip molded front spoiler, IS F front fenders, IS F side skirts, 2-inch fender flares, a rear bumper flare and a SEIBON carbon rear wing. Oh, and that howling green paint job. If the lights go out in the Las Vegas Convention Center, you will be able to find your way to the exits by the glow of this car.

IS350C by VIP Auto Salon and JTuned.com

A somewhat milder tune but a good one, with semi-screaming matador red paint.

O-60 magazine and Design Craft Fabrication IS 350C

If there is to be controversy on the Lexus stand, it surely will be about this car's Ings+1 exterior body kit. Notice the official shot is from the rear three-quarters? If you go by the car, have a look at the sloping

Snout and let me know what do you think?

The Lexus IS 350 C F-Sport by TRD gets 19-inch wheels and a brake upgrade 
  

IS 350C F-Sport by TRD

TRD's F-Sport contributed the 19-inch wheels, the upgraded brakes and the lowering gear for this ride, while Five-Axis did the ground effects kit. But it's all overpowered (in a good way) by that PPG “orange glow” three-stage candy paint. Wow! If it was legal to drive this around the swimming pool at the Rio, we would.

GS 350 F-Sport by TRD

See above but put it on a GS. And cancel the

  poolside cruise.

IS 300 by David Huang

Huang claims 1,000 hp and, this being SEMA, where anyone can claim anything, we won't question the figure. But we will be happy to drive it around Las Vegas to verify. Or maybe at LVMS. Or Nellis.

Acura LMP2 race car to compete at Le Mans next season

The British Strakka Racing team has made a deal to purchase an LMP2-class Acura ARX-01b prototype from Fernández Racing and will campaign it in 2010. Strakka, which ran in LMP1 with a Ginetta-Zytek in 2009, will run the car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the Le Mans Series in Europe. The Fernández team, which won the 2009 LMP2 championship in the American Le Mans Series, looks certain to close its doors after team boss Adrian Fernández stated that his organization has no hope of finding a deal to keep it going--at least not before a self-imposed Nov. 1 deadline.

Strakka is yet to announce the deal officially, but its future direction has become an open secret. It 


informed Zytek, the LMS organizers and the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the Le Mans organizer, of its plan for next season.


Rising sport-scar star Danny Watts will continue to drive for Strakka in 2010, despite effectively being a Ginetta-Zytek works driver in 2009. Strakka has secured his services with what the team described as a “long-term contract.”


Watts, 29, described his new deal as an “ideal career move” and “a very easy decision to make.”
“Strakka is an ambitious team with firm plans for the future,” said Watts, who will continue to drive with Nick Leventis in 2010. “I want to be part of an organization that knows where it’s going and how to get there.”


Honda Performance Development, which has run the Acura prototype program since it debuted in 2007, has yet to confirm its plans for 2010. It is unlikely that the team’s LMP1 prototype program will continue

Johnson keeps winning in NASCAR playoff

Johnson keeps winning in NASCAR playoff

Despite their 90-point championship lead and grudging self-acceptance as NASCAR's best team, driver Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus refuse to say they are locks to win their fourth-consecutive Sprint Cup. And, of course, team owner Rick Hendrick is right there with them, parroting the company line

“The same things that got those other drivers behind in the Chase [for the Championship] can happen to us,” Hendrick said after his No. 48 Chevrolet team won Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Charlotte, N.C. “To me, we don't have enough points because so much can still happen in the last five races. I mean, we still have Martinsville and Talladega to get through. We're still too early in this thing to take anything for granted.”

But don't try to convince the 11 other Cup-eligible teams that have chased the No. 48 throughout the first half of the 10-race playoff. On Saturday night, Johnson led five times for 92 of the 334 laps in beating Matt Kenseth, Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Casey Mears, Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Kurt Busch.

Johnson did not always have the best car. Kahne led 67 laps, Gordon led 64, Denny Hamlin led 54 and Kenseth led 45. But when it mattered late in the race, when the cream came toward the top and the pretenders struggled, Johnson was clearly in charge.

“Chad made some great calls, and the guys had the car great at the end,” Johnson said. “Things worked out well for us.”

The 2.3-second win built Johnson's lead from 12 to 90 points over Martin and 135 over Gordon with races at Martinsville, Talladega, Fort Worth, Phoenix and Homestead looming.

“And that's why we're not looking ahead,” Johnson said. “You just don't know what's going to happen the rest of the year. Somebody could lose his brakes at Martinsville and take you out. And nobody has any control over what happens at Talladega. That's why we're keeping our guard up.

“I feel good about our chances as long as we're racing for the championship. I think we can win this thing if it comes down to the racing. But it's the unknowns that get you. It's the things you can't control, the punctured tire or the big wreck or something like that. We have the potential every time we go out, but sometimes that's not enough.”

The win was Johnson's second straight in this year's Chase, his third in its first five races, his sixth overall this year and 17th in the 55 Chase races since NASCAR implemented the playoff system in 2004. He took the lead for good with 14 laps left when he passed Gordon shortly after the night's last restart. Earlier, he led in segments of 30, two, 19 and 27 laps; he was among the top five at all 17 of the race's 20-lap scoring periods.

While Johnson headed toward another win and perhaps the Cup, several of his rivals took themselves out of contention. Denny Hamlin had an engine problem and finished 42nd; Carl Edwards was an engine-related 39th; Juan Pablo Montoya was a wreck-related 36th; Brian Vickers was 34th, and Martin and Greg Biffle finished 17th and 16th, respectively.

Vickers, Hamlin, Edwards, Kahne, Newman and Biffle were all but written off in the championship fight after last weekend's race in Fontana, Calif. They remain mathematically alive but have no realistic shot at the title. Montoya is sixth, 195 points behind, and is no longer considered a serious threat. With another mediocre finish or two, Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart will be done as well.

That leaves the Hendrick Motorsports trio of Johnson, Martin and Gordon to fight it out at, say, Phoenix and Homestead. Be advised: Bet against No. 48 at your own risk.


TOP 10 FINISHERS
1. Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet
2. Matt Kenseth, Ford
3. Kasey Kahne, Dodge
4. Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet
5. Joey Logano, Toyota
6. Clint Bowyer, Chevrolet
7. Casey Mears, Chevrolet
8. Kyle Busch, Toyota
9. Martin Truex Jr., Chevrolet
10. Kurt Busch, Dodge



POINTS LEADERS
1. Jimme Johnson, 5,923
2. Mark Martin, -90
3. Jeff Gordon, -135
4. Tony Stewart, -155
5. Kurt Busch, -177
6. Juan Pablo Montoya, -195
7. Greg Biffle, -268
8. Ryan Newman, -288
9. Kasey Kahne, -331
10. Carl Edwards, -341
11. Denny Hamlin, -372
12. Brian Vickers, -485
Next race: Oct. 25, Martinsville, Va.

Mopar times four: Drag Challenger, luxury Ram and two crazy Jeeps head for SEMA

Mopar times four: Drag Challenger,
luxry Ram and 
two crazy Jeeps head for SEMA

In a telltale sign that Chrysler is rediscovering some mojo, the Mopar squad is bringing four eye-catching rides to the SEMA show next month that play to its base of enthusiasts who like gutsy sheetmetal--and who like to drive it fast and go anywhere.

Front and center at the Las Vegas spectacle will be a 556-hp Dodge Challenger, a luxuriously--yes, luxuriously--appointed Dodge Ram and two Jeep Wranglers, one of which turns into a mobile campsite.
“The aftermarket is not an afterthought in our design studio,” said Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's design chief and CEO of the newly created Dodge car brand.


The Mopar Dodge Challenger 1320:

takes its name from the 1,320 feet on a quarter-mile drag strip. As the moniker implies, it's based on the Mopar drag pack, which is a stripped-down, lightweight racing version of the Challenger. It draws power from a 426-cubic-inch Hemi V8 paired with a six-speed manual and Hurst shifter. The Hemi's growl is augmented by custom side pipes for more rumble.
This muscle car rides on Mopar police wheels, which are widened in the rear. It also gets a four-corner coil-over kit, and carbon-fiber parts include the hood, hood scoop and front spoiler. Dodge also dips into the Viper parts bin for the seats. The package is capped by yellow, almost green paint and black graphics.


The Mopar Dodge Ram Bianco:

is based on a Hemi-powered Ram 1500. This luxury truck gets a Mopar carpet in the bed, body kit and fender flares, as well as a hard tonneau.
It's lowered with a Ground Force kit that also enhances handling. The truck rides on 22-inch wheels, and other fittings include a cold-air intake and dual exhaust.


The Mopar Jeep Wrangler Overland:

transforms a Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon into a go-anywhere campsite, and its name is a nod to the history of Jeep. The rear seats are removed for more cargo space, a tent is mounted to the cargo rack and the seats are water-resistant.
The off-road experience is bolstered by an American Expedition Vehicles three-inch suspension lift and full traction rear sway bar. The truck rides on 35-inch tires. Other features include AEV steel bumpers and more lights for nighttime driving in the desert or the wilderness.


The Mopar Jeep Lower Forty:

is hallmarked by crazy 40-inch tires mounted on 20-inch forged aluminum wheels. It's based on a Wrangler Rubicon, and the idea is to raise things without disrupting the center of gravity, thus there's no suspension lift.
The windshield is chopped three inches and it gets a 10-degree rake. There are custom fender flares and a carbon-fiber hood. The truck also gets a roll cage, Katzkin two-tone leather seats and a custom cargo rack. Power comes from a Hemi V8 that worked with a six-speed Getrag manual transmission

The 2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

MANAGING EDITOR ROGER HART: 

This is the best SUV in the world. Why? Because it doesn’t really drive like an SUV. From a pure philosophical point of view, I really dislike this thing. Porsches should be sports cars, race cars, things that capture your imagination and take you places in such a way that other vehicles are merely transportation. But not an SUV.

Having said that, there is so much Porsche in this thing that the folks in Stuttgart can almost be forgiven. Almost.

I know all about how much money this thing made for Porsche and that it allowed for the development of other products. This thing flat out flies, considering it is such a big heavy vehicle, all two and a half tons worth.

I really like the center cluster in the dash with all of the pertinent info, copying--for the most part--the dash layout of the 911. The ignition on the left side is another nice little touch.

Few people really need such a vehicle, but if you have the bank account and need/want an SUV, this is really the only one to think about.

MOTORSPORTS EDITOR MAC MORRISON: Labeling the Cayenne as the world’s best SUV is accurate--if your definition of “best SUV” is that it defies the laws of physics when it comes to ride and handling in light of the high weight and relatively high center of gravity. From a purist driver’s standpoint, there’s no other choice, er, substitute, as Porsche would say. I’ve driven many Cayennes over the years since Porsche introduced it, and each time I laugh at its sheer audacity. How dare it perform so well? You throw this car into corners and it doesn’t roll, it just sticks and goes. And this latest Turbo S has enough power and torque to suck the lane markings right off the road. The SUV eats highways and backroads alike for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

However, this is an incredibly steep price to pay for a relatively compact SUV that doesn’t offer loads of interior room. I understand as well as anyone that these kinds of purchases are hardly rational, but I see a difference between dropping this kind of money on a 911 Turbo as opposed to an SUV. For as great of an engineering achievement as the Cayenne is, it’s still nowhere near as much fun to drive as a similarly or even more inexpensively priced performance car. You could almost have two Corvette Z06s for this price, and that’s just one example. You could have two Cayman S-es, a Nissan GT-R and a BMW M3, a Corvette ZR-1 and a decent but normal SUV for domestic duty, two 911 . . . the combinations are endless. When you think about it that way, it suddenly puts some real perspective on things, no? Even if you do have loads of cash to burn.

One other note: Carbon-ceramic brakes? Not sure I’d go for them here. They squeal from time to time, which I can live with, but the somewhat soft brake pedal makes it hard to modulate them smoothly, especially when you are just cruising sedately around town and not getting any real heat into them. And at $8,840 for the option, I could live easily without them. But there I go, trying to make logical sense of this beast. That’s always a mistake in this class.

2009 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S

In Fleet: Aug. 10-17

Base Price: $125,775

As-Tested Price: $139,070

Drivetrain: 4.8-liter turbocharged V8; AWD, six-speed automatic

Output: 550 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 553 lb-ft @ 2,250-4,500 rpm

Curb Weight: 5,192 lb

Fuel Economy: (EPA/AW) 14/12.3 mpg

Options: Porsche ceramic composite brakes ($8,840); moonroof ($1,190); XM satellite radio ($750); Bluetooth phone interface ($695); trailer hitch without hitch ball ($630); light comfort and driver memory including automatic headlamps, courtesy lights on exterior mirrors, dimmer controlled interior lighting, self-dimming interior and exterior mirrors, programmable homecoming illumination, driver memory ($610); universal audio interface ($440); front and rear floor mats interior color ($140)

Tokyo auto show: Lotus Exige Scura special edition gets debut

Lotus will reveal the Exige Scura at the Tokyo auto show this week, a special-edition speed demon that's lighter, bolstered with performance refinements and wrapped in black exterior packaging.

Scura translates as “dark” in Italian, and that is derived from the high-gloss phantom black triple stripes that run the length of the car, giving it a menacing yet sporty look. The rest of the exterior is coated in a “soft-feel” matte black finish.

Lightweight carbon-fiber parts slim the Scura by about 22 pounds. Lotus's launch and traction-control features are standard. That's the outside, but lurking beneath is a supercharged 1.8-liter motor that makes 257 hp. The car can run to 60 mph in four seconds and can clock a top speed of a 152 mph.

The Exige Scura will be limited to just 35 copies. It will be called the Exige Stealth in Japan

Honda VT750C Shadow Aero

Honda VT750C Shadow Aero

He 's no surprise that the Shadow Aero has been one of Honda ' of selling middleweight cruisers of s the best, especially considering how available this is amazing retro cruiser. With a look you record characteristics of a swamp-749cc V-twin, the silencing of the bullet-style, the classic bumper, the spoked wheels, a ton of chrome, paint and five new gorgeous layout-you 'd expect on a bike twice this size. For twice the price. The Shadow Aero. Proof that when you choose a Honda quality and value is standard.
Hot performance and a cool retro look - that 'sa shadow of Honda VT750C Aero in a nutshell. Its V-twin engine of 745 cubic centimeters sophisticated produces plenty of power for effortless city or highway crossing, but doesn 't oppresses you with its size and makes it heavier the way big-bike broke can. And check out those bumper classic valanced, the seat of the soil off, ow-lance with detachable section of the passenger, wide tires that roll on wheels of hell, and the suspension that looks retro but feels the luxury of modern-day . Easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet. The right of Aero VT750C shadow of a bicycle is easy to like.

The adjustments to the shadow Aero account perfectly for a wide range of knights who sought the designation retro classic, low seat height of the engine V-twin power-packed and the manipulation of the fine - all at a price that the 'right of s for the times.



New for 2009

- Badges 3-D new fashion in the classic red and black of the dark sweet -.

- The new titanium metal / white, blue to pearl / metallic silver and black / Snakeskin pattern to join the traditional red and black colors of the dark sweet -.



Engine / Drivetrain

- The 745cc V-twin engine liquid-cooled produces impressive power over a wide range of RPM.

- The crankshaft features the long-stroke design along with high-mass ACG to produce the peak of the strong V-twin feel and low-RPM torque.

- Choose the answer roasted the throttle of the carburettor offers the constant-speed 34mm.

- Combustion chamber of Double-Plug the Three-Valve (see technology section)

- Two - two silencers in the bullet-style characteristics of the exhaust system to a classic style of the cruiser.

- The finned cylinders enhance appearance and give a look at the big-bike.

- The Aluminum radiator maintains consistent engine temperature for the best performance and long life of the engine. Mounted between the frame rails for enhanced appearance.

- Five-speed transmission of the Largo-relationship.

- The ignition with electronic advance offers a reliable and is maintenance-free.



Chassis / suspension

- Characteristics of innovative design of main frame, the backbone of steel pipe that alcangam behind the massive steering head to the back of the mold box of the engine to the simplicity and strength.

- Skirts large-diameter steel the characteristics of chromium resistant and responsive to the 41mm front fork and triple-clamp of the large billet-aluminum for a distinctive retro look. Delivery control of manipulation reliable, neutral and luxury travel of 4.6 inches of wheel.

- The big band of 4mm-thick fork mounted under the bumper out the stiffness.

- Double-choc Preload the adjustability of the rear of the five-position spring characteristics of the suspension and the attractive chrome caps, to provide 3.5 inches of wheel travel for a smooth ride, well-controlled.

- The tires of the Grand-section are mounted on traditional spoked wheels with wide rims of chrome. The front features a fat 120/90-17 tire that provides a wide footprint and matches the substantial style of the machine.

- The single front disc brake caliper with the twin-piston holds a 296mm drilled rotor between the pads bonded metal. The rear brake features a 180mm cylinder.

- The final-axis leads the system provides smooth, low-maintenance operation.

Honda VTX1300C

Honda VTX1300C Turn the fire up the big 1312cc V-twin of Honda 's VTX1300C and Soak in the throaty exhaust from two-in-two, silencers ball model. Then push the elbow in speed, connection beefy rear tire and experience what it 's like to be the baddest boy on the block. Custom molded wheels, shock absorbers pendillés and the right amount of chrome simply perform the mission profile of street-rod VTX 's,

while four brilliant new colors make sure your turn is beautiful too. Enjoy the tour!

Smooth, called butter-smooth grab this for your eyes and won 'ta let go V-twin with a powerful form and sensual sound. Want a bike that seem broad and disappears even better? So be prepared to fall in love with Honda VTX1300C. Its V-twin engine chilled by a 1312 cc liquid includes a pair of three-cylinder valve designed to deliver higher with a minimum of maintenance disputes, and oil provides the full benefits of a dry-sump drain without background external lines of oil. You get great performance and a very clean look.

he VTX1300 offers loads of V-twin torque plus a wealth of distinctive styling variations to suit your own tastes, all at prices that keep this winning value-loaded a perennial favorite.

New for 2009
- VTX1300C colors include Titanium, red and dark blue-black metallic and metallic.

 

Unique VTX1300C Features

- The wheels are custom melting profile performance-custom.

- Shock absorbers front and rear complement minimalist called street-rod VTX 'S.

 

Engine / gearbox

- The 52 degrees 1312cc liquid chilled by a V-twin torque provide strong low-end and mid-span, with sufficient power to move and cross relaxed.

- The power crankshaft includes a single-pin to accentuate the engine le 'character of s.

- The primary biaxial counterbalancers duels minimize harsh engine vibration without eliminating the powerful pulse transmitted by Design V-Twin VTX traditional la 'S.

- The support system of the engine uses carefully matched hangers to eliminate unwanted vibration, while preserving the powerful V-twin engine.

- Combustion chamber Dual-socket Three-Valve (see Technology Section).

- Setters-release valve screw and nut against Easy-to-service.

- Choose the crisp response of throttle carburetor offers the constant-speed 38mm (cv) at all engine speeds.

Chassis / Suspension

- The engine la 's power is armed with a tubular steel frame which gives the mass VTX a long, low, classic position.

- Large 41mm extended front fork provides 5.1 inches of plush yet responsive travel.

- The rear shock passed bichromate of potash duels with the five-position préchargent device adjustment system advanced internal valve for a comfortable tour.

- The front disc brake features a twin-caliber piston 336mm rotor with a stainless steel large diameter, and the brake disc rear features a single -
caliber piston rotor with a 296mm stainless steel, together they provide excellent stopping power.

New Images: Subaru Hybrid Tourer

Subaru has released additional images of its Hybrid Tourer concept, which the company will reveal at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show next week. The environmentally friendly design study is claimed to be a grand touring car with enhanced performance and safety attributes.

Click on the link below to see our previous news story, and be sure to check out our forthcoming highlight articles on this and all the other concept cars being unveiled at the show.

This is different

In a nutshell, that is the best way to describe a tiny, quirky concept called the Land Glider, which will be revealed by Nissan at the Tokyo auto show.



It’s part car, part motorcycle and totally zero-emissions. The Land Glider draws power from two electric motors in the rear that use lithium-ion batteries mounted under the floor. It also has a “noncontact” charging system that allows the vehicle to be charged wirelessly.



Enthusiasts would enjoy a feature that allows the vehicle to lean 17 degrees for better cornering. The driver turns and the Glider leans--at least that’s how Nissan explains it.



The footprint is quite small: 122 inches in length, 55.7 inches tall and 43.3 inches wide. It’s a concept, but Nissan hints that it’s a glimpse of the company’s vision for urban mobility.

Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson is axing two notable brands as it re-focuses on its core business.





The iconic American motorcycle producer said Thursday it will kill the 26-year-old Buell brand and will sell recently acquired Italian motorcycle company MV Agusta.





The announcement came as Harley revealed its third-quarter financial results, which saw its earnings and sales slip as it deals with global economic conditions.

Buell will wind down production by Oct. 30 and will sell off its inventory of motorcycles, accessories and gear. About 180 employees will lose their jobs, mostly in December. It will cost $125 million to close the brand.





Harley dealerships will continue to service and offer parts for Buell bikes, and warranties remain valid.





Buell was founded in 1983 and carved a niche for its motorcycles' designs and technology, while also finding success in racing. It's been a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley since 1998. It was founded by Erik Buell and has produced more than 135,000 motorcycles over its history.

Harley bought MV Agusta in August 2008 in an effort to expand in Europe. But 14 months later, it's reversing course, though during the brief ownership period the Italian company resumed production at its Varese factory and jump-started product development.