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-- Ferrari is getting into the Christmas spirit by... towing Santa's sleigh with one of their F138 race cars.

GM's decision this month to stop manufacturing Holdens in Australia looks like the marketing equivalent of a car crash.

Jim Blanchard was horrified as he watched the Detroit 3 CEOs stumble through the congressional bailout hearings in November and December 2008.

Formula 1 cars are weighed during the Grand Prix weekend to ensure they comply with the minimum weight requirement of 640 kg. Teams use ballast to ensure the cars run at the minimum weight.

Ballast was once made of iron or lead. Nowadays, a much more advanced material is utilized: a tungsten alloy trademarked, Densamet.

Densamet is very good candidate for the manufacture of various balance and ballast components to allow engineers the opportunity to optimise vehicle handling. Ballast is normally located underneath the floor of the car as close to the ground as possible to maintain a very low Cg (centre of gravity).

Caterham F1 Team recently released photos of some of the ballast located inside their CT03-Renaults.

(Photo: Caterham F1 Team Twitter)

Here are two examples of ballast, the same size and volume. One is made of aluminium, while the other is made of Densamet.

Aluminium (Photo: Caterham F1 Team Twitter)

The aluminium ballast weighs around 800 g (1.8 lbs) -- easily light enough to lift with a few fingers.

Denasmet (Photo: Caterham F1 Team Twitter)

The Densamet tungsten alloy ballast weighs 9 kg (19.8 lbs). One needs the whole palm of his hand to hold it!

The steering wheels of current Formula 1 cars are not only handmade work of arts, but they are also highly concentrated pieces of advanced technologies.

Steering wheels are not purchased, but entirely designed and hand made by each team to suit the demands of their drivers and engineers.

Since there are no dashboards in the modern F1 cars, all the controls, switches and displays are located on the steering wheels, allowing the driver to make adjustments to the car performance and behaviour while driving at 300 km/h.

Drivers can modify the settings of the engine, the KERS, the DRS, the differential and the brake balance.

Although all steering wheels are different, most buttons and switches are common to all of them.

Steering wheel of the Ferrari F138. (Photo WRI2)

N: Puts gearbox in neutral
DIF: Adjust the settings of the differential
RADIO: To talk to the team by radio
DRINK: To drink during the race
PUMP: Activates reserve oil tank
REV: Set maximum revs of the engine
MIX: To change engine maps to save fuel, for example
TRQ: (Torque) Changes torque settings, changes torque delivery
BOOST:To increase power delivery to pass another car
CHRG: To make adjustments to the KERS
BP: Bite Point Finder, used to accurately measure the clutch bite point
OK: To acknowledge radio message
10 + : To change a selected value by increments of 10
1 -: To change a selected value by increments of 1
PIT: Set speed limiter in the pit lane

Steering wheel of the Lotus E21. (Photo WRI2)

Steering wheel of the Caterham CT03. (Photo WRI2)

Steering wheel of the Williams FW35. (Photo WRI2)

Steering wheel of the Red Bull RB9. (Photo WRI2)

Ferrari F138 (Photo WRI2)

Auto123.com Racing would like to wish a Merry Christmas to all its readers.

May the joy and peace of Christmas be with you today, and always.

Best wishes to all. And if you drive, please don't drink !!

Passion is a great motivator. Passion is also a driving force. I believe that so long as one has passion and heeds its call, they shall never be truly sad.

To channel this passion is to be powerful, determined, and comfortable with one's self. On Rob Dickinson's personal Web site, the man behind Singer Vehicle Design, he explains that he's glad he did not expend any energy in defining his band, Catherine Wheel. Because of his state of mind, this excellent band's moderate success was recognition enough and not a reflection on the singer/songwriter's talent or skill.

This is passion speaking. Confidence exuded.

In my time, I've had passion for music (I played in a band for a number of years) and for my true calling, the automobile. Rob Dickinson has had the same, but has been able to take both loves to a whole other level with passion and talent to go with it.

As a lover of vintage Porsches, it only made sense that when Rob's band disbanded and his solo career was burgeoning that he scratch the other itch and see where it would take him.

Where this venture lead and is taking Mr. Dickinson, I don't think he could have foreseen.



SVD
Singer Vehicle Design was officially founded in 2009, but Rob was already working on a car beforehand. This same car and I were able to meet at the Quail in 2010 during Monterey Car Week. Texas was her name and deeply in love I fell at that very moment. But enough about that, let's talk about a Porsche 911 that has been dutifully restored, tuned and customized by Singer Vehicle Design.

It all starts with a customer-supplied 1990-'94 Porsche 911 of the 964 generation. It is important to understand that Singer does not sell cars. It reconstitutes and breathes new life into an older car. Consider them as an A-Z tuner of what they consider to be the "most important sports car on the planet and worthy of such celebration for its iconic status and the genius of the company and the men that created it."

The Car
It starts with a complete deconstruction; stripped chassis on a rotisserie then additional reinforced welding. From here, the ultra-sexy carbon-fibre body panels are fitted and then painted. Some damn fine looking front 9"x17'' and rear 11"x17'' Fuchs wheels (painted or not) are rolled on and racing side stripes stuck on for the perfect final exterior touch.
The cabin is reconstructed from dashboard to rear deck, from door to door. A fully integrated roll hoop (upholstered in padded leather) is affixed behind the seats, and then all surfaces that come into contact with the occupants are swathed in the finest materials possible.

The key element here is that all of the new stuff is period correct. The interior recalls that of the Porsche from the '60s and '70s and that includes the seats, steering wheel, and overall décor.

Under the rear bonnet goes a 270-horsepower 3.6L H6 for starters. A 5-speed manual Getrag G50 transmission does gear duty. Optionally, a 360-horsepower 3.8L H6 and 6-speed box can be spec'd at extra cost.

Photo: Olivier Delorme

Obsessive attention to detail
I've grossly understated the amount of work that goes into each and every Singer Vehicle Design reconditioned Porsche 911. By Rob's estimates, Singer stops counting after 4,000 hours have been devoted to the car; a mind-blowing number to be sure.

That time is not wasted on trivial things. They are invested in meticulous fit and finish, matching and even surpassing what the best automakers (luxury included) can do today. The attention to detail makes the head hurt and I'm convinced that when these cars were painstakingly designed, many Advils and Excedrins were consumed.

The final product belongs in an art gallery as opposed to a crude garage. Each gap is perfect; all body panels align with precision. We witnessed one of the workers install a window crank system -- I had no idea such a banal thing could be made to look so important. In all seriousness, I've never witnessed craftsmanship such as this.

The present and the future
The shop itself, located in Sun Valley, CA, is very underwhelming, in stark contrast with the cars being assembled within its walls. It shares its outer footprint with a body shop that is littered with rusted, mangled classic cars and trucks all over the front parking lot. This is proof that one should never judge a book by its cover...

What started out as a low-key venture has become one of the most appreciated and practically worshiped tuners of Porsche cars. Those in the know know that Singer makes a classic 911 like few others.

Unexpectedly, in the interview, Rob touched on the future and the fact that he'd be open to expanding his craft to another car. I could not get him to specify a make or model, but I'm thinking something British would make the most sense given his roots... Time will tell.

Photo: Olivier Delorme

View the uncut version of the interview here.

The Brazilian government will gradually roll back tax breaks on cars next year amid worries from producers that higher duties could hit sales in the South American country.

I live in Denver and own a couple of large dogs, which means that I am more or less required by law to own a Subaru.

U.S. safety regulators upgraded an investigation into more than 250,000 Mercedes-Benz C-class cars for possible failure of the rear lights.

Kacy Marrs was working at a Chick-fil-A when he first met Brad Fanshaw three years ago. Fanshaw is

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I had two days to check out the 2014

Editor's note: When the C7 Corvette stomped the competition in our

Polestar isn't the only Volvo tuner out there, and it's about to face some stiff competition from Stuttgart's Heico Sportiv.

Lynda King hung up her phone and apologized. "That was a guy from Georgia," she said. "He wants a yellow one for his hotel. Some kind of 'welcome the troops' thing."

The U.S. auto industry has come full circle, from boom to bankruptcy to boom, and Detroit's road from reckoning to revival was shorter than expected.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, they say. Mercedes-Benz might disagree right about now.

The first retail unit of the all-new 2015 Ford Mustang GT will be sold at Barrett-Jackson Auction Company's event in Scottsdale, Arizona, on January 18th, 2014. Offered at no reserve, all proceeds will benefit JDRF, which funds type 1 diabetes research.

The 2015 Ford Mustang GT boasts the same 5.0L V8 engine as the outgoing model. However, new cylinder heads and a revised intake manifold help increase output to more than 420 horsepower along with 390 lb-ft of torque.

The winning bidder of the first 2015 Ford Mustang GT will get to pick the colour and desired options. The car will also bear the signature of every Ford employee who participated in the design and development.

The first 2015 Ford Mustang GT will likely fetch a remarkable sum considering that the final 2014 Shelby GT500 Convertible, for example, sold for $500,000. Meanwhile, the very first 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray raised $1 million.

Source : motorauthority.com

Photo: Ford

Pros: When it comes to crushing performance, world-class luxury, striking looks, and an absolutely track-ready package, the CTS-V Coupe from Cadillac is unrivaled in its price range. The most potent Cadillac model available, the CTS-V Coupe has driving enthusiasts in its sights thanks, in no small part, to a motorsports-validated powertrain, countless chassis and brake upgrades, and one-of-a-kind looks.

Fans of the CTS-V Coupe will note larger wheels, large centre-mounted chrome exhaust tips, a more aggressive fascia, and a distinctive bulged hood. The bulge is no empty threat.

Cons: Though the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe excels in all areas relating to speed, acceleration, and driving thrills, its power output, fuel consumption, and ability to collect speeding tickets may prove too extreme for some shoppers. Limited trunk space and rear-seat headroom ensure this rocket-propelled Caddy will not likely be used for family-hauling duty.


2014 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Price: The CTS-V Coupe is priced from $72,785 with options limited mainly to wheel choices, some premium colours, and available Recaro Front Performance Seats, which will relieve drivers of $3,910.

2014 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Fuel Economy: Combined fuel efficiency ratings for the 2014 CTS-V Coupe are rated at 14.8L/100km combined on models with the automatic transmission, and 13.1L/100km for models with the manual 6-speed gearbox.

Improvements and Changes: Changes are sparse for 2014, and limited mainly to a revised paint and cabin colour palette and some new trim materials.

Don't Miss: The premium Recaro Front Performance Seats. From the racing-seat experts at Recaro, these special perches are fitted to offer the support and driver stability that's key to dynamic motoring. Suede helps keep occupants firmly in place, as do the aggressive bolsters -- meaning the driver and front passenger are locked in during high-speed maneuvers. The bolstering can be dialed up and down as required so that during a peaceful cruise, the race-ready seats can be relaxed into a more comfortable form. The Recaro performance seats are heated and chilled, too.

2014 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe Powertrain: The Cadillac CTS-V Coupe comes just one way in the powertrain department: with 556 supercharged horsepower driving the rear wheels. The blown LSA V8 engine displaces 6.2L and includes a boost gauge so drivers can keep an eye on the operation of the output of the Eaton TVS Supercharger in real time. A Performance Traction Management system assists drivers in making full use of the available firepower.

Safety: The 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe helps drivers keep things under control with the StabiliTrak stability control system, potent Brembo brakes with advanced electronic functionalities, and a full traction-control system. A full perimeter of airbag protection, as well as a crash-optimized body structure offer protection should an impact prove inevitable. Further, the CTS-V benefits from Cadillac's exclusive OnStar technology that can summon emergency help at the touch of a button.

Comparables: Shopping the luxury coupe market? Be sure to consider the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe alongside similar models like the Infiniti G37/Q50 Coupe, Mercedes C-Class Coupe, Audi A5, and new BMW 4 Series.

Photo: Cadillac

Porsche chose Patrick Long, Richard Lietz, Nick Tandy and Michael Christensen to represent it in the new United SportsCar Championship (USCC).

Tandy and Litz are sharing the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR in the GT Le Mans category. Long and Christensen will be behind the wheel of the second factory entry, No. 912.

Patrick Pilet and Joerg Bergmeister will complete the pairings at the upcoming 24 Hours of Daytona.

Jon Bennett's Core Autosport acts as Porsche's official competition partner in the USCC.

Photo: Core Autosport