Alex Julian
Filed in: | F1

Ferrari confirmed that they are going to restructure their sporting division. The sporting director Stefano Domenicali will become director of the Gestione Sportiva, a role that had been held temporarily by CEO Jean Todt. Domenicali will take up his new position from January 1, 2008.

Jean Todt

The news follows Honda’s announcement that Ferrari’s former technical director Ross Brawn, who had been on a years’ sabbatical, is to join the Japanese squad as team principal.

In other adjustments at Ferrari, technical director Mario Almondo will become operations director for the Italian squad. Aldo Costa, who had been responsible for the team’s chassis department, will take up Almondo’s previous role, while Gilles Simon was named engine director.

Ross Brawn

Further details concerning the Ferrari reshuffle will be confirmed before the end of the year.

Source:Formula 1

Source: Ferrari announces new management structure

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I make "typos" (a.k.a. spelling mistakes) all the time. Even though WordPress has a built-in Jacuba spell checker, like all such programs, it's an idiot savant– that doesn't recognize the word "Jacuba." If you misspell a word, but it's a legitimate word (just out of context), the hidden school marm says nought. And its doesn't work on the headline bit (i.e. this morning's Freudian header about the "Dodge Durange"). All that said, if I was a highly-paid copywriter carefully crafting laudatory prose for a glossy Car and Driver insert on the "world's first two mode [why no hyphen?] SUV," I'd make damn sure I correctly spelled the ALL CAPS text underneath the arrows pointing to the vehicle's seven salient features. And you'd kinda hope that if I did miss something, the next guy up the literary food chain would catch it. No such luck here: "LOW ROLLING RESISTENCE TIRES." An indication of GM's quality control? Perhaps. Oh, and Jacuba caught it. 

[Thanks to Arcata Eye for the tip.]

Source: GMC Yukon C&D Ad Faces Stiff Resistence [sic]

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SLK55

 

Ex-husband,
Kevin Federline, has asked the courts to prohibit Britney Spears from
driving with their kids in the car. She is back at the wheel, but
looking very worried. The pop princess has had her hand on her forehead
and a serious look on her face as she waited at a red light in her
brand new 180 mph Mercedes SL65 AMG. She is in hot water after recently
being photographed going through a red light with the children in the
car.

source:britney now.com

Source:

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Last night, Hyundai took the wraps off its highly anticipated Concept Genesis Coupe at the Los Angeles International Auto Show (click here). Today we bring you a set of live images from the presentation so you can get a better idea of the concept that will form the base for a production model (details & pics here) which will go on sale in the US in the spring of 2009.

Talking about models, we spotted this cute brunette photographer standing right next to the car. Strangely, all the guys standing underneath weren’t paying any attention at all to the “poor” girl despite her lovely smile and kick-ass body. Shame on you gentleman, that’s all I have to say – btw, does anyone have her phone number, for professional reasons of course…

Source: Hyundai Genesis RWD Coupe: Live Image Gallery From The LA Show

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Honda took the wraps off its innovative, yet butt ugly, FCX fuell-cell powered vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The production version of the FCX prototype, which was introduced two years ago, will be offered for lease to a limited number consumers in Southern California, U.S., with the first delivery taking place in the summer of 2008. Though full details of the lease programme will be set closer to launch, Honda did announce that current plans are for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month (approx €410), including maintenance and collision insurance.

The FCX Clarity utilises Honda’s V Flow stack in combination with a new compact lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle’s electric drive motor. The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle’s main power source providing a range of 270 miles (approx 430 km). -Continued after the jump

Press Release - Dynamic styling and performance herald major advances for fuel cell vehicles; limited marketing to begin next summer

Honda today unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle in summer 2008.

The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, zero-emission, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on an entirely new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, and powered by the highly compact, efficient and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack. Featuring tremendous improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency – and boasting a low-slung, dynamic and sophisticated appearance, previously unachievable in a fuel cell vehicle – the FCX Clarity marks the significant progress Honda continues to make in advancing the real-world performance and appeal of the hydrogen-powered fuel cell car.

Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California, U.S., with the first delivery taking place in summer 2008. Full details of the lease programme will be set closer to launch, but current plans are for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month (approx £290), including maintenance and collision insurance.

How the FCX Clarity got its name
Honda chose this name to express the idea that the company is creating a fuel cell vehicle that will offer a clear solution to the challenges of the future, helping society achieve sustainable mobility.

How the FCX Clarity works
The FCX Clarity utilises Honda’s V Flow stack in combination with a new compact and efficient lithium ion battery pack and a single hydrogen storage tank to power the vehicle’s electric drive motor. The fuel cell stack operates as the vehicle’s main power source. Hydrogen combines with atmospheric oxygen in the fuel cell stack, where energy from the reaction is converted into electric power used to propel the vehicle. Additional energy is also generated through the capture of kinetic energy from vehicle braking and deceleration (known as regenerative braking), which is stored along with surplus energy from the fuel cell in the lithium ion battery pack, and is used to supplement power from the fuel cell, when needed. The vehicle’s only emission is water.

Honda V Flow FC Stack
The V Flow FC Stack features an entirely new cell structure that achieves a higher output of 100kW, smaller size and lower weight, with a 50 per cent improvement in output density by volume, and a 67 per cent increase in output density by mass, compared to the previous Honda FC stack.

V Flow FC Stack (Vertical Gas Flow Cell Structure)
The new V Flow FC Stack introduces a cell structure in which hydrogen and air flow vertically, and gravity is used to facilitate more efficient drainage of the water by-product from the electrical generation layer. The result is greater stability in power generation. The new structure also allows flow channel depth to be reduced by 17 per cent – a major contributing factor in creating thinner cells and a more compact stack.

Wave Flow-channel Separators
The V Flow FC Stack incorporates wave flow-channels for the hydrogen and air, with horizontal coolant flow channels weaving between them. The wave flow channels provide greater flow length per channel than straight channels, while the resulting turbulent flow within the channel promotes improved hydrogen and air distribution. As a result, the hydrogen and air are spread over the entire electrode layer, making more efficient use of the compact electrical generation layer and achieving approximately 10 per cent higher generating performance than with straight flow channels. The horizontal coolant flow also ensures more even cooling over the entire electrical generation layer, allowing for a reduction in the number of cooling layers to half that of previous stacks. While the previous stack had one cooling layer for each cell, the new stack needs only one cooling layer per two cells. This results in a 20 per cent reduction in stack length and a 30 per cent weight reduction, which is a major breakthrough in compact, lightweight stack design.

Improved startup capability at low temperatures
Improved water drainage due to the V Flow cell structure facilitates better output immediately after startup. The reduced coolant volume and single-box design made possible by the wave flow-channel separators result in heat mass 40 per cent lower than previous stacks. As a result, startup is now possible at temperatures as low as -30° C.

Honda V Flow fuel cell platform
The FCX Clarity’s revolutionary new V Flow platform packages the ultra-compact, lightweight and powerful Honda V Flow fuel cell stack – 65 per cent smaller than the previous Honda fuel cell stack unit – in the vehicle’s centre tunnel, between the two front seats. The compact size of the new V Flow FC Stack allows for a more spacious interior and more efficient packaging of other powertrain components, which would otherwise be unattainable in a sleek, low-slung sedan.

The FCX Clarity boasts numerous other significant advances in the performance and packaging of Honda fuel cell technology, compared to the current-generation FCX. These include:

• a 20 per cent increase in fuel economy (about 2-3 times the fuel economy of a petrol-powered car, and 1.5 times that of a petrol-electric hybrid vehicle, of comparable size and performance);
• a 30 per cent increase in vehicle range – to 270 miles (approximately 430 km);
• a 120 per cent improvement in power-to-weight ratio, in part due to around a 400-pound (approximately 180kg) reduction in the fuel cell powertrain weight, despite a substantial increase in overall vehicle size;
• a 45 per cent reduction in the size of the fuel cell powertrain – nearly equivalent, in terms of volume, to a modern petrol-electric hybrid powertrain;
• an advanced new lithium-ion battery pack that is 40 per cent lighter and 50 per cent smaller than the current-generation FCX’s ultracapacitor;
• a single 5,000-psi hydrogen storage tank with 10 per cent additional hydrogen capacity than the previous model.

FCX Clarity design
More than just a fuel cell vehicle – the FCX Clarity portrays Honda’s vision of the future of car design and performance, freed from the constraints of conventional powertrain technologies. The FCX Clarity’s four-door sedan platform features a short-nose body and spacious cabin with comfortable accommodation for four people and their luggage. Major powertrain components – including the electric motor, fuel cell stack, battery pack and hydrogen tank – have been made more compact and are distributed throughout the vehicle to further optimise space, comfort and total vehicle performance.

Advanced materials and components
In keeping with its theme as an environmentally-advanced automobile, the FCX Clarity features seat upholstery and door linings made from Honda Bio-Fabric – a newly-developed, plant-based material that offers CO₂ reductions as an alternative to traditional interior materials, along with outstanding durability and resistance to wear, stretching, and damage from sunlight.

Designed to appeal to forward-thinking customers seeking the ultimate in zero-emissions, alternative-fuel vehicle performance, the FCX Clarity is also equipped with a full complement of advanced safety, comfort and convenience features. These features consist of a state-of-the-art navigation system with hydrogen station locations, a rear view camera, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS), a premium sound system, climate controlled seats and Bluetooth™ connectivity.

Other improvements, such as shift-by-wire, electric power steering (EPS), and a newly designed instrument panel with easy-to-read display of hydrogen fuel consumption, further improve its customer appeal and ease of operation.

CO₂ emissions
The FCX Clarity’s only emission is water. CO₂ emissions related to the production of hydrogen vary by source; however, well-to-wheel CO₂ emissions using hydrogen reformed from natural gas – the most widely used method of production today – are less than half that of a conventional petrol vehicle. With the production of hydrogen from water by electrolysis, CO₂ emissions can be further reduced and ultimately approach zero if the electricity is generated from sustainable sources, such as solar, wind, hydro and wave power.

In the area of solar technology, Honda has developed its own solar cells, with half the CO₂ emissions in the production stage compared to conventional crystalline silicon cells; and has begun mass-production and retail sales of this technology in Japan for both commercial and residential use. These panels are also used to generate electricity for the Torrance R&D refueling station in California.

Fuel cell leadership
For 40 years, Honda has worked hard to reduce the environmental impact of the car, including efforts to reduce emissions, boost fuel efficiency and, now, many industry-leading efforts to advance the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle – a technology and fuel that Honda believes may hold the ultimate promise for a clean and sustainable transportation future. Honda’s pioneering achievements in this area include the first U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification of a fuel cell vehicle (2002); the first lease of a fuel cell vehicle (2002); the first fuel cell vehicle to receive an EPA fuel economy rating (2002); the first cold-weather customer (2004); the first and still only individual retail customers (2005, 2007); and the first and still only fuel cell vehicle to be eligible for a U.S. federal tax credit.

Source: LA Show: Honda FCX Clarity Fuel-Cell Production Model

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Yet another cool-looking green Honda?

Yes, following on from the news that Honda’s sexy CR-Z hybrid hot-hatch has got the production green light comes the spanking hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity fuel-cell car. Unveiled late last night at the Los Angeles Motor Show, the production ready four-seater FCX Clarity is an all-new package that’s lighter, vastly more efficient, roomier and – the crucial bit, this – far more affordable.

Honda chose the Clarity name ‘to express the idea that the company is creating a fuel cell vehicle that will offer a clear solution to the challenges of the future, helping society achieve sustainable mobility’. Soundbitey, sure, but the challenge is there. This is Honda’s zero-emission gauntlet, thrown down at the energy giants, that says ‘we’re ready, why aren’t you?’

A clever marketing gimmick or a powerful message about the future of the car? Tell us what you think by clicking ‘Add comment’ below

Source: Honda FCX Clarity

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Jaguar proudly announced the debut of the new 2009 XF sedan at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The XF represents a striking departure for the brand, with an aggressive stance and sharp lines conveying modernity and sensuality. This defines a new direction for the company, and is an evolution of the C-XF concept car unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit at the beginning of this year.

“The XF clearly demonstrates the forward-looking focus that now defines the Jaguar brand,” said Wayne Burgess, XF Senior Design Manager. “The new XF looks like no other Jaguar, yet it defines the new design language the company will be adopting for all future models.”

Jaguar is also making a move towards more innovative technologies. The XF is Jaguar’s first usage on a sedan of F1-style paddles for sequentially shifting the 6-speed automatic transmission. Gears may also be selected via the innovative JaguarDrive Selector™. The new XF will be available in the US with a 4.2L V8, which may optionally be equipped with a supercharger. In naturally-aspirated form, the XF delivers 300bhp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The supercharged version delivers 420bhp and 408 lb-ft of torque. The XF will be available in American showrooms in March of 2008.

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Source: Jaguar XF – This is Sporting Luxury

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Drew Phillips
Concept Cars, LA Auto Show, Economy, Chevrolet

After GM’s introduction of three compact cars at the 2007 New York Auto Show - the Beat, Groove, and Trax - they left it up to the public to decide which one would be produced. Well, more than 1.8 million people worldwide voted on GM’s online survey, and one has beaten down the competition. At the 2007 LA Auto Show, Bob Lutz announced that a vehicle based on the Chevy Beat concept will go into global production outside the North America in mid-2009. Production will begin in South Korea where the car was originally created at GM’s design studio in Bupyeong. GM is still undecided as to whether the Beat will be eventually sold in the United States.

Gallery: Chevy Beat Concept

PRESS RELEASE:

LOS ANGELES – A vehicle based on the Chevrolet Beat concept, which swept through auto shows around the globe and the Internet earlier this year, will go into global production, Chevrolet announced today at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show.

An online poll that attracted more than 1.8 million voters helped influence the decision to take the concept to production. The distinctly styled A-class car will be initially targeted to markets outside of U.S. and Canada, starting in mid-2009.

“The people have spoken. The vote count tripled all previous GM online consumer surveys, telling us the Beat resonated with customers all around the world,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. “Chevrolet was overwhelmed by the positive reaction to each of the ‘triplets,’ but the Beat was the clear winner.”

The production model will carry the spirit of the expressive Beat concept, offering compact, city-friendly dimensions and a small-displacement engine that delivers excellent fuel economy. It adds further depth and breadth to Chevrolet’s global lineup, which is sold in more than 90 countries, giving the brand a leadership position in the segment – the fastest-growing automotive segment in many regions around the world.

“Fuel solutions and great-looking cars are at the core of Chevrolet’s values, and this new production model aligns perfectly with those tenents,” said Peper. “It will be truly global, built around the world for a variety of diverse markets.”

The Beat and the other concepts highlighted in the online survey were developed primarily at GM’s Design Studio in Bupyeong, South Korea , with input from GM’s global network of designers and GM’s Korean partner, GM Daewoo. As South Korea is a primary market for this exciting new car, production will begin there.

Beat beginnings

Conceived to evoke the mood of a speedy micro import tuner, the Beat concept debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show, along with two other concepts, Groove and Trax. All were designed to appeal to young car buyers in urban markets, infusing the energy, diversity and excitement of urban life into cars that deliver good-looking fun, fuel economy and value.

The Beat concept was designed and built leveraging GM’s Global Product Development process, created from best practices around the world that integrate design, engineering, powertrain and manufacturing organizations to ensure each vehicle program meets its quality, timing and business targets, yet is responsive to the needs in regional markets.

As part of its global product development process, GM is growing the skills and capabilities of its design and engineering centers around the world, using key tools and technologies, such as a global virtual design and engineering network, that allow engineers and designers to collaborate with each other worldwide.

The production car based on the Beat concept incorporates these resources, bringing to market quickly a right-sized car, with a right-sized ecological footprint at the right time.

Source: LA 2007: Chevy Beat concept tops public polls and will go into production

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As F. Scott Fitzgerald famously opined, the rich aren't like you and me. Ipso facto. What would you be like if you could do anything you wanted to do from childhood, without ever having to acknowledge (never mind deal with) the consequences of your actions? If you could simply walk away from school, job, marriage, even your home town and start again? It's no wonder that the children of the super-rich are prone to drug addiction, failed relationships and depression. No sympathy? At the risk of trampling on PC notions (for the fiftieth time today), these "poor little rich kids" have more potential positive impact on society than people with less financial resources. All of which is my way of saying my heart goes out to Bill Ford. Clearly, Bill wants to make a difference in this world. Clearly, he doesn't understand his own limitations– because he's never had to. Turning over the corporate reins to Alan Mulally was the right thing to do for Ford, but, perhaps, the wrong thing for Bill. In the same sense, starting-up this new think tank is a bad idea. Ford needs to ground himself in reality, rather than drift off into the world of fantastic ideas. How do I know this? Bill's legacy at Ford speaks for itself. And the man who left it behind. 

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