From GMM
A notable absentee at the launch of McLaren's 2013 car on Thursday was technical director Paddy Lowe.
Ross Brawn confirmed recently that Lowe, initially in talks with Williams, had discussed a possible future move to Mercedes.
McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh told reporters at Woking, where
the wraps were taken off the evolutionary MP4-28, that 50-year-old Briton Lowe is staying put for 2013.
"The future is less certain," he admitted.
As for why Lowe is sitting out the launch, Whitmarsh said the technical director made the decision himself, to save the team the "embarrassment" of facing up to the recent controversy on the eve of McLaren's fiftieth anniversary.
Paddy Lowe "doesn't want to be a distraction. At his own election he felt it was inappropriate to be here," Martin Whitmarsh said.
"He'll be part of the team for the rest of this year," he added.
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| Paddy Lowe. (Photo: McLaren) |
McLaren has followed Ferrari's lead by switching to a novel 'pull-rod' layout for the MP4-28's front suspension.
Racing it in 2013 will be Jenson Button and new arrival Sergio Perez.
"The MP4-28 isn't merely a refinement of last year's seven-race winning car," McLaren said in a statement, "it's a deep and sweeping redesign of an already successful chassis in several key areas."
Surviving winter is often about preparing for the unexpected. That's why all drivers should carry an emergency kit in their car. You can assemble yours for less than $100, and without giving up too much -- if any -- space in your trunk.
Here are the must-haves...
Poor lighting
- A torch light can prove very useful on many occasions. Just make sure that the batteries haven't run empty because of the cold.
Engine issues
- Fill a small bottle with engine oil, and another with coolant. Make sure to use the same type of fluid (mineral or synthetic) that's currently found in your vehicle. It won't cost you a lot, but the payoff could be big. If you feel like your engine is overheating, checking the coolant level and adding some more is an easy thing to do. As for the engine oil, check the level every three gas fill-ups; if it's too low, that small bottle will come in handy!
- Jumper cables are great to boost a battery, especially on the coldest days.
- Should you wind up stuck in snow, mud or even a ditch, you'll be glad to have a tow rope. The only thing missing will be a kind spirit with a dependable truck to pull you out of there!
- Finally, an all-purpose socket wrench will tighten just about anything that comes loose.
Tire issues
- A tire pressure gauge is a must. Walk around your car and assess your tires before stepping inside. If one or several tires look under-inflated, check the pressure.
- It's common for tires to lose a few PSIs of pressure during the winter months. A small air compressor will help you add some. If there's a crack or leak, a compressor will allow you to inflate your tires enough to get to the nearest repair shop.
Body damage
- In case of emergency, your only resort here are tie-wraps and good ol' duct tape. If a body panel is damaged to the point of touching the ground or a tire, tie-wraps will help you secure the loose section until you find a repair shop. These items take little space in your winter survival kit, and they can prevent a world of nightmares!
Other important tools
- Warm blanket
- All-purpose gloves
- Tuque
- Candle
Ideally, a telescopic or folding shovel and a pair of traction aids should also find their way into your arsenal. However, they will cost you an extra $65 or so, bringing the final tally to about $160.
Safety
Road flares that maximize visibility and safety when you're stranded on the side of the road are a good idea for an emergency kit. A first aid kit can be extremely useful as well, especially after a crash.
Storing your emergency kit
Whether your own a brand new vehicle or an old jalopy, you'd be wise to keep all of these accessories in a dedicated storage tray or a 30L-40L hard bag. For added convenience, keep that tray or bag under the rear cargo floor, if possible.
Ready-made emergency kits
Want to save time and energy? Consider a ready-made emergency kit at your local hardware store. Some of these kits are quite comprehensive, but more often than not, they still lack certain items. Run down the list, and add what you believe is missing in order to be fully prepared should the unexpected happen.
An emergency kit in your trunk can go a long way toward ensuring safe, confident driving this winter. Also, remember to perform regular maintenance on your vehicle following the manufacturer's recommendations.
Grab a snack and a bottle of water, and you're all set to go.
Drive safely!
After he could not secure a WRC seat for this season, Petter Solberg will create his own team again to run a Citroen DS3 in rallycross.
The 2003 rally world champion, who could not retain his seat with Ford after last season after 14 seasons in the championship (including 13 wins), will run the X-Games this season, and also the Global Rally Cross or the Rallycross European Championship. Solberg began his career in rallycross, being norwegian champion back in 1995 and 1996.
Furthermore, Petter Solberg said he could enter the famous Pikes Peaks race, and even the Le Mans 24 Hours, but he did not give further details on this.
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| Citroen DS3 XL. (Photo: Citroen Racing) |
Kia today released the first official picture of its Cross GT Concept, which will be introduced at the Chicago Auto Show next week.
The automaker is staying mum about this new crossover, although we've been told that it's larger than the redesigned
2014 Kia Sorento.
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| Photo: Kia |
From GMM
Mere days before the pre-season test period begins, Adrian Sutil is still refusing to give up on his formula one comeback for 2013.
Once considered the hot favourite to return with his former team Force India this year, the long delay has caused some commentators to assume that German Sutil, 30, is now less likely to race.
But Sutil's manager Manfred Zimmermann insisted: "Basically, we still believe in the 2013 comeback."
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| Adrian Sutil driving the Force India VJM03 in 2010. (Photo: WRi2) |
He also admitted to
DPA news agency, however, that he is "not sure" if Sutil will have a cockpit to occupy for the forthcoming opening 2013 test at Jerez.
"At the moment we are waiting for the final decision, and of course we would prefer it sooner rather than later," Zimmermann said.
As for whether Timo Glock's shock departure at Marussia had contributed to the delay, Sutil's manager said the events are "unrelated", whilst acknowledging that the pay-driver situation was "significant for F1".
General Motors said it has appointed a new director of advertising for the Cadillac brand. Craig Bierley will succeed Molly Peck, who is becoming director of Chevy advertising.
Also in this episode: The Ashley Judd-Dario Franchitti divorce rocks the IndyCar world, and Mercedes-Benz has
On Wednesday, Toyota said it is recalling 752,000
Honda said on Wednesday that it will integrate support for Appleand#8217;s Siri personal assistant on the 2013 Honda Accord,
General Motors is moving its Performance Build Center, which let enthusiasts pay $5,000-plus to build the high-performance engine for their
Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said the Italian automaker would like to see the minority holder of U.S. affiliate Chrysler Group LLC sell out as soon as possible.
Volkswagen plans further temporary halts in production of the Passat in Germany in the coming weeks as a result of the weak European market.
GM said it will invest $200 million to expand its global powertrain engineering headquarters north of Detroit, and to shift work there from four other locations by 2014.
Earlier this week, Toyota pumped up the RAV4 buzz with the release of the
Fiat SpA will announce within a month a technical cooperation between its Ferrari and Maserati subsidiaries on engine work aimed at rebuilding the Alfa Romeo brand, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday.
Fiat SpA will announce within a month a technical cooperation between its Ferrari and Maserati subsidiaries on engine work aimed at rebuilding the Alfa Romeo brand, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said Wednesday.
It takes a certain kind of chutzpah for a German company that supplied the Nazi war machine to use a track that features the line, and#8220;I rode a tank / Held a general's rank / When the Blitzkrieg raged / And the bodies stank.and#8221;
News
30 Jan, 2013
The production-ready Alfa Romeo 4C has been spied ahead of its Geneva Motor Show debut
With the current economy the last thing you need is for your vehicle to break down. Whether your driving a reliable car or a busted up
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