Auto News 5

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts for the Paris motor show, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres. The show's media preview days are 27 and 28 September.

As manufacturers name yet more models and concepts for the Paris motor show, just-auto is keeping track of these announced world premieres. The show's media preview days are 27 and 28 September.

The first of two media preview days for the Paris motor show is in full swing, and just-auto continues to update the definitive list of all the new vehicles and concepts taking a global bow.

The first of two media preview days for the Paris motor show is in full swing, and just-auto continues to update the definitive list of all the new vehicles and concepts taking a global bow.

An updated list of world premiere concepts and production models which appeared at the Paris motor show's 27 & 28 September press preview days.

An updated list of world premiere concepts and production models which appeared at the Paris motor show's 27 & 28 September press preview days.

Proton Holdings Bhd was delisted from the Malaysian Stock Exchange following the successful acquisition of 90% of the equity by new owner DRB-Hicom Bhd.

Special Jaguar XJ Supersport has been built for hot laps of the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife

With all of the hoopla surrounding the unveiling of the revised MKZ at the

Ford has completed construction of its new 150,000 unit plant in Rayong, Thailand, raising its annual production capacity in the country to 445,000 units.

Toyota announces all-electric RAV4 EV SUV, developed with the help of Tesla

Used models must do 10,000 miles to recoup outlay, according to the experts at Glass’s

Vauxhall has announced the name of its new MINI rival ahead of its launch next year

Federal-Mogul and Robert Bosch have a number of key parts in the new Hyundai ix35. Along with the pistons, rings and bearings, Federal-Mogul provides bushings for the SUV's new six-speed automatic transmission.

When Miami Vice first aired, viewers could hardly believe the number of expensive automobiles involved in the making of the show. Sonny Crockett (Don Johnson) roared around in a black Ferrari Daytona Spyder, whilst his partner, Ricardo Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) cruised about town in a classic 60s Cadillac Coupe DeVille Convertible. In fact, by the third season, Sonny had successfully offloaded his Daytona and could be seen piloting a drop-dead-gorgeous Ferrari Testarossa!

Photo: Universal Television

Renting those as prop vehicles is a lot of money for a television production company to fork out, let alone one (in its first season anyway) facing the possibility of getting axed at any moment, if it didn't prove popular with audiences.

Of course, like much in TV & Film land, not everything is always as it first appears. Point of fact, that awesome looking Ferrari Daytona was actually nothing more than a replica built on an old Corvette platform, and the Testarossa was a cleverly concealed De Tomaso Pantera.

Oh, the Cadillac was real enough, but then again, we seldom saw that being driven at anywhere near the pace of the Daytona and Testarossa. And although a very nice car, you could have, and still can, purchase several of them for what those Ferraris are worth.
Ah, but that's the beauty of TV and Film production because, with a little bit of imagination and some careful control of the camera angles, the camera can indeed lie!

I know this only too well as I have in the past rented out some of my own vehicles for TV & Film production. In fact, I still do on occasion (mostly British vehicles and old Land Rovers in particular), and it's often surprised me what they've ended up becoming.

One became the Pope-Mobile in a film where somebody shot at the poor guy, and another old Land Rover left me only to return as a fully decked out Pilipino taxi complete with baubles & beads hanging above the screen and a sign declaring that the driver had a “single daughter”. I still have the vehicle if anyone wishes to truly stand out in the crowd, or if they need a little assistance in finding an eligible husband for their eldest daughter!

Photo: Universal Television

Continue reading The cars of Miami Vice

Eric McClure, the Nationwide Series driver injured in Saturday's race at Talladega, was released from University of Alabama Birmingham Medical Center, on Monday.

Emily Brandt, a team spokesperson wrote, on Facebook “Eric McClure, driver of the No. 14 Hefty/Reynolds Wrap Toyota, was released this evening from the UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was airlifted Saturday afternoon following a racing incident at Talladega Superspeedway.

He suffered a concussion and mild internal bruising and is expected to make a full recovery. This week he will follow up with specialists regarding his injuries.

McClure has said he will make himself available to the media in the Jim Hunter Media Center at Darlington Raceway on Friday, May 11, time to be announced.”

In the closing stages of the Nationwide race McClure's car slammed into a SAFER barrier, on the inside of the track, after being struck from behind.

The impact caused such damage to his car that the roof had to be cut away to release him and there was a 19-minute red flag stoppage for safety and medical crew operations. McClure was awake and alert at the track, but, he was removed to the hospital nonetheless.

In an effort to take some distance with Toyota and some customers from BMW and Mercedes, Lexus has redesigned its GS model.

Lexus estimates that 30% of their present customer base will leave, sooner rather than later, to buy from the two German manufacturers - that's why they need to do something.

Photo: Lexus

"We want people to stop thinking we're just offering Toyota by-products," explains Kiyotaka Ise, head of states at Lexus since 2007. "We want to be known as a brand of its own, with character, luxury and comfort."

At the moment, however, BMW cars overshadow similar Japanese ones in that respect: Lexus has a lot of catching up to do, and they hope the GS is the solution to their problems. They hope it will redefine their image.

Such a feat is a big task for one model, especially if you are trying to please everyone.

"A design loved by everyone quickly becomes dull," Kazuo Ohara, another Lexus head of states, believes.

So don't expect the new GS to please everyone, because its design is bold.


_{Source: Automotive News}

From TOYOTA Racing

TOYOTA Racing announced that Hiroaki Ishiura is unable to take his place in the driver line-up of the No. 8 TS030 HYBRID at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

During the first tests of the TS030 HYBRID, Hiroaki experienced discomfort in his back due to the higher g-forces experienced in an LMP1 car.

After taking medical advice, Hiroaki informed TOYOTA Racing of his decision to withdraw from the team for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours and concentrate on regaining full fitness ahead of the 2013 season.

TOYOTA Racing is evaluating a potential replacement and will confirm its decision as soon as the change has been ratified by the ACO.

From GMM

Nineteen years of Formula 1 did not prepare Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello for his first taste of driving an IndyCar on a high speed oval.

The former Ferrari driver, who switched categories for the 2012 season after losing his Williams race seat, tested at the Texas Motor Speedway on Monday.

"Last night I went to sleep thinking about it and when I woke up I was on the other side of the bed, so I already was ovaling in my dreams," Barrichello said with a laugh.

"It was bloody fast," he is quoted by the Associated Press, "and very, very much different than anything I have ever tried.

"I've had places that in formula one that they say 'Oh, it's almost flat and it's a big corner and it's a big challenge'. But the walls were never so close," the 39-year-old Brazilian enthused.

Barrichello's teammate Tony Kanaan admitted it was "fun" and a rare sight to see his close friend "nervous" prior to getting into a racing car.

"It was quite exciting to see how excited he got, and how happy he got out of the car saying how awesome it is," he said.

Texas Texas test

Ganassi's Scott Dixon was the fastest driver on hand at the IndyCar Series' oval test held at the Texas Speedway on Monday.

Actually, it was an all-Ganassi front line as Dixon was only one of three teammates to lead the timesheet as the series had set this practice in order to further development of the DW12 on a 1.5-mile high-banked oval

Charlie Kimball was second fastest, 0.121s slower than Dixon, while defending series champion Dario Franchitti was third.

In the first of the Chevrolet-powered car was Will Power in fourth followed by Ed Carpenter (Carpenter), Graham Rahal (Ganassi) and his teammate Helio Castroneves.

From GMM

Getting the set-up right is a challenge Formula 1 teams are grappling with in 2012.

So far this season, four different cars have won the four Grands Prix, with Pirelli's difficult tires credited or blamed for the unbalance of power.

The key, according to Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn, is car set-up.

"We can't modify the setup between qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday," he is quoted by Brazil's O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper. "And they are very different challenges, especially with this year's tyres.

"It's one thing to get the car to be fast on one lap and quite another to make it fast and consistent over 70.

"Whoever can anticipate what will be required for the race and come to a compromise - maybe to the detriment of grid position - should have a decisive advantage in the race.

"But it's not easy to anticipate what happens on Sunday," insisted Brawn.

Photo: Mercedes AMG