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FIA: Renault guilty, but no penalty

Without explaining its reasons – yet – the FIA World Motor Sport Council today found Renault guilty of obtaining secret information from McLaren-Mercedes. The case centered on information purloined by a McLaren employee as he left that company to join his new employer, Renault. Renault has self-reported itself to both the FIA and McLaren when it discovered that the employee had brought floppy discs with McLaren information when he joined Renault.

The FIA announced that the reasoning behind the decision would be made available on Friday, and the transcript of proceedings published after that.

Though Renault was judge guilty of “brining the sport into disrepute,” no penalty was imposed by the Council. Inside word has it that the decision against imposing a penalty was based on the conclusion that Renault had not used the information.

A similar rationale had been used when McLaren initially appeared before the Council last year, charged with spying on Ferrari. The later penalty imposed by the FIA occurred only after it became apparent that McLaren had, in fact, used the stolen information.


Source:International Herald Tribune

Raikkonen wants to stay with Ferrari

Kimi Raikkonen says that he wants to spend the remainder of his career with Ferrari.

“Ferrari will be my last team, I’m not interested in going anywhere else. It suits me. I have two years on my contract and it may not be the last." That’s what Raikkonen told the British newspaper, the Daily Mail, according to a report on the BBC. Raikkonen, of course, won the World Driver’s Championship last year, in a Ferrari.

Raikkonen won out over McLaren’s upcoming star, Lewis Hamilton. Raikkonen attributed that, in part, to Hamilton’s inexperience in Formula One. “Hamilton made a mistake in China and then had something wrong with the gearbox, or whatever, in Brazil,” according to Raikkonen. Nonetheless, the Ferrari driver was clearly proud of his, and the Ferrari team’s accomplishment: "We won it fair and square. He [Hamilton] would say it wasn’t pressure that got to him, but it wasn’t an easy thing for him to do. Everyone is under pressure."

Since the end of the season, the focus of the media has been elsewhere. That suits Raikkonen just fine: “I wouldn’t say winning has changed my life but it is good to get what I have always dreamed of. If there is focus on Lewis getting prizes and Michael Schumacher testing with us, or where Fernando Alonso is going, I’m happy. I have a nice quiet life. I’ve got the trophy they probably all wanted. I’d rather take the world title than any other prize."




Source:BBC

Lexus sold 6000 LS600h; three times more than expected

When Lexus launched the luxury LS600h they expected to sell around 2000 units all around the world, mainly because the hybrid model is quite expensive: you need to pay more than $100.000 for a fully equipped car.

But just from the beginning, the Japanese maker had 1650 orders for the LS600h, and since the car was in July until now they sold 6093 units. The company says that a big part of this huge success is due to the marketing campaign very well organized.

The LS 600h combines a 5.0-liter V8 gas engine with combined massive, high-output electric motors and a newly designed large-capacity battery pack. It delivers a peak, combined output of more than 430 horsepower.

Smart Fortwo to be launch in USA in January 2008

The shortest, most compact automobile currently in production will soon be launched in the world’s largest automobile market, when the "smart fortwo" debuts in the United States in January, 2008. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG will introduce this latest vehicle to the US market at a press briefing in Washington, DC on December 4th.

The smart fortwo is the right car at the right time for Americans, who are facing volatile fuel prices, increased urban congestion and a mindset of environmental responsibility. It offers a high level of comfort, agility, safety and ecology, and the vehicle concept is extremely practical. American enthusiasm and demand for the smart fortwo is already strong, as more than 30,000 people from all 50 states have placed a $99 deposit to secure a vehicle.

Interest has come from a wide variety of consumers, including urban dwellers looking for something functional and easy to park; baby boomers in need of a second or third car for commuting or additional family members and first-time buyers looking for something affordable. 74 selected dealerships will sell the fortwo in major cities across the country.

Audi to unveil three new TT models by 2010

Audi will expand the TT line-up with three new models by 2010. There will be a Cayman-rivalling TTS in 2008, a BMW M3-chasing TTRS, and an all new twin turbo TT diesel coming in 2009.

The first to be unveiled will be the TTS. Coming in the summer of 2008, the TTS will be powered by the new four-cylinder turbo model running a version of the Audi S3’s four-cylinder turbo engine.

It’ll be available with either a six speed manual gearbox or an ‘S-tronic’ DSG automatic transmission, and as either a coupe or a roadster. All versions will get Quattro four-wheel drive.

The second to b unveiled will be the diesel version of the TT: the TT TDi. Set to be unveiled in 2009 in will be powered by a twin-turbo version of the 2.0-litre common rail diesel engine and will compete with the BMW 123d coupe.

The TT TDi will deliver 202bhp and almost 300lb ft of torque. It will also be capable of a 40mpg average fuel economy, and less than 150g/km of CO2. Also the 0 to 60 mph sprint will be made in under 6.5 seconds and will hit a top speed of 150 mph.

And finally the hottest TT in all the times will be the TTRS, a model powered by 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine producing a generous 343bhp. The TTRS will come to compete with the BMW M3.

The TTRS’ will have wider tracks than the standard car, run 20in alloy wheels and will borrow the RS4’s carbon ceramic brake discs too.

Porsche recalls 911 GT3 models

Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is having the control console for the TC-Off and PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) buttons replaced on 128 units of the 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 RS delivered to customers worldwide. This involves cars built between 28 September and 9 November 2007.

As a result of a defective control console, the Traction Control function regulating drive forces on the rear axle or the PASM system providing the sports control of damper forces may malfunction and fail to operate. No cases leading to complaints have become known so far.

The vehicles involved are required to undergo an inspection in the workshop lasting approximately 30 minutes. The campaign is naturally free-of-charge for the customers involved, who will be informed shortly.