Heikki Kovalainen joins Vodafone McLaren Mercedes

“We had a number of options open to us and as always we want to make sure that we have the most competitive driver line-up and I think that Lewis and Heikki will be a formidable combination,” said Martin Whitmarsh. “Both enjoyed great rookie seasons in 2007 and share a genuine passion for winning and being the best. Heikki made a strong impression and Lewis’ performance so far has been outstanding and speaks for itself. I am confident that they will push each other on track and work well together off track.

Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport commented: “Heikki is a talented driver who showed his skills during his debut season in Formula 1 this year. Heikki’s most impressive performance was at the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji where he finished second behind Lewis in extremely treacherous wet conditions. He is not only a quick driver but also one of the most consistent having finished in every Grand Prix except the last which puts him in the top five together with our drivers who covered most laps in 2007. Everybody in the team is looking forward to a very fruitful co-operation. Lewis and Heikki will form one of the youngest driver line-ups, and I am convinced that both will be very strong and at the same time co-operative competitors.”

26-year-old Heikki, who made his Formula 1 race debut last year with Renault, joins the team on a long-term contract and will commence his on-track programme in early January.

“I am so excited to join a team like Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,” said Heikki. “So far I have been blown away by the dedication and commitment to winning which is clear through the entire organisation and I am really excited about our joint future. As a Finn it’s an honour for me to follow in Mika and Kimi’s footsteps. I haven’t really spent a lot of time with Lewis so far but from what I know I think we will work well together and do our best for the team.”

Lewis who enjoyed the most successful rookie season in the history of the Formula 1 World Championship with consecutive podiums in his first nine races is looking forward to the 2008 season.

“As soon as the chequered flag went in Brazil I began to count down the days until Australia,” said Lewis. “I am really looking forward to 2008 and working with Heikki as my team mate. Together with the team we will do everything we can to ensure that our Championship challenge is as strong and focused as possible. My first year in Formula 1 was incredible and I was so fortunate to spend it with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes and I hope that Heikki will enjoy his first year with the team as much as I did mine.”

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes MP4-23 is scheduled to commence its on-track testing programme at an exclusive test at the Jerez circuit in Spain during the second week of January 2008. There are currently no plans for a launch presentation but the team will provide the media with photographs and further details about the car when it runs.

2009 Lexus RX 350 (and more) pricing announced

Lexus announced Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices (MSRP) today for the 2008 ES 350, LS 460, and IS model luxury sedans, and the 2008 RX 400h and 2009 RX 350 luxury utility vehicles.

The ES 350 entry luxury sedan MSRP will increase 0.3 percent, or $100, to $33,820. The IS entry luxury sport sedans will increase 0.3 percent overall, or $100. The IS 250 rear-wheel drive model with a manual transmission will carry an MSRP of $30,555, while the IS 250 rear-wheel drive automatic will have an MSRP of $31,725. The IS 250 all-wheel drive and the IS 350 models will have an MSRP of $34,185 and $36,005, respectively. The MSRP for the LS 460 flagship luxury sedan will increase 0.8 percent, or $500, to $62,000 for the LS 460 and $72,000 for the LS 460 L.

The 2008 RX 400h hybrid luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.2 percent overall, or $100, to $41,280 for the RX 400h front-wheel drive, and $42,680 for the all-wheel-drive model.

The 2009 RX 350 luxury utility vehicle MSRP will increase 0.3 percent, or $100. The front-wheel-drive RX 350 will have an MSRP of $37,500, while the RX 350 all-wheel drive will carry a base price of $38,900.

Mid-year price adjustments on the 2008 models are effective with vehicles arriving in the U.S. beginning December 18, 2007. RX 350 pricing changes are effective on 2009 models arriving at dealerships in early February 2008. MSRP does not include a delivery, processing and handling fee of $765.

2008 MotoGP entry list: Stoner #1

The provisional entry list for the 2008 MotoGP World Championship has confirmed that Casey Stoner intends to ride with the #1 plate next season.

The 22-year-old Australian claimed his and Ducati's first premier-class crown wearing the #27, but will - like Nicky Hayden before him - defend the title with the world champion's digit.

The #1 plate was absent from MotoGP from 2001-2005, when champion Valentino Rossi chose to retain his famous #46. The last rider to successfully defend the 500cc/MotoGP world title with the #1 was Mick Doohan in 1998. As expected, Hayden will return to the #69 for 2008.

Stoner's fellow Australian, Chris Vermeulen, will also change his racing number next year - the Rizla Suzuki star switching to a Barry Sheene inspired #7, which was previously taken by Carlos Checa.

Of the four class rookies, double World Superbike champion James Toseland will stick with his familiar #52, while double 250cc champion Jorge Lorenzo will revert to his old #48. Alex de Angelis will run the #3, last used in the class by Max Biaggi, while Andrea Dovizioso has inherited the #4 previously used by Alex Barros.

The entry list also confirms that Team Roberts is yet to secure its MotoGP future, while Ilmor - which disappeared from the grid after the opening round of 2007 - shows no signs of attempting a return. There are thus currently only 18 confirmed riders.

The only new title sponsors to appear on the list are Alice, which has acquired the naming rights for d'Antin Ducati, and Scot, which has merged with JiR to run Dovizioso.

The full provisional 2008 MotoGP entry list can be seen below:


#1 Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
#3 Alex de Angelis RSM Honda Gresini
#4 Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Scot Team
#5 Colin Edwards USA Yamaha Tech 3
#7 Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki Motogp
#13 Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team
#14 Randy de Puniet FRA Honda LCR
#21 John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team
#24 Toni Elias SPA Team Alice
#26 Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team
#33 Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team
#46 Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team
#48 Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team
#50 Sylvain Guintoli FRA Team Alice
#52 James Toseland GBR Yamaha Tech 3
#56 Shinya Nakano JPN Honda Gresini
#65 Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki Motogp
#69 Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team
#TBA To Be Advised TBA Team Roberts
#TBA To Be Advised TBA Team Roberts

Toyota Aygo Platinum Edition

There is no more exclusive Aygo than the new Platinum, a version of Toyota’s award-winning city car that is brimful of premium quality features. But while the specification is high, the price tag marks the model down as an ideal New Year bargain.

On sale from January, Toyota Aygo Platinum benefits from £1,555-worth of additional equipment beyond the range-topping Aygo+, yet the price premium is just an extra £550. No maths degree is required to work out that that’s a deal worth more than £1,000 for every customer.

Luxurious features provided as standard include Alcantara and leather upholstery, leather trim for the steering wheel and gear knob and 14-inch Turbine alloy wheels with locking nuts. There is also Crystal Silver metallic paint – now exclusive to the Platinum model.

These items are in addition to the regular Aygo+ specification, which includes six airbags, electric front windows, tilt-adjusting steering column, remote central locking, removable rear parcels shelf, six-speaker sound system with CD player and AUX-in socket for connecting portable audio equipment, 50:50 split-folding rear seats and body colour-matched door handles.



Toyota Aygo Platinum is available in both three and five-door body styles, powered by Toyota’s ultra-fuel efficient 1.0 VVT-i petrol engine, which gives an official 61.4mpg in combined cycle driving. CO2 emissions of 109g/km mean that Toyota Aygo Platinum costs owners just £35 a year in Vehicle Excise Duty. A five-speed manual gearbox is standard, but optional MultiMode clutchless transmission can be selected, in conjunction with optional air conditioning.


On-the-road prices are £7,995 for the three-door model and £8,245 for the five-door.

FIA declares spy row closed

Biggest controversy of 2007 finally comes to an end

Following on from McLaren's letter of apology to the FIAover the ‘Spygate' saga that has rocked Formula 1in 2007, the sport's governing body has seemingly moved to officially bring an end to the matter.

McLaren, Ferrariand Renaulthave all been implicated in the row, with the former being fined a sporting record $100 million USD and excluded from the 2007 world constructors' standings back in September. The Woking-based outfit's 2008 contender was also due to be heavily scrutinised before being cleared to compete in next year's championship.

In its 13 September decision, the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) had instructed the FIA technical department to ‘conduct an investigation of the preparatory work by McLarenon its 2008 car with a view to determining whether that car incorporates any Ferrari confidential information, and report back before the WMSC meeting of December 2007'.

Now, however, it appears the issue may finally have been put to bed, following the FIA's response to McLaren's apology [click here].

An official FIA statement read:

‘In the light of McLaren's public apology and undertakings, the FIA President has asked the members of the World Motor Sport Council for their consent to cancel the hearing scheduled for 14 February 2008 and, in the interests of the sport, to consider this matter closed.'

McLaren apologise over spy saga

Woking concern makes formal apology to governing body over 'Spygate' saga.

In a letter to the sport's governing body, McLarenhas admitted that more Ferrariinformation had infiltrated the team than had at first been realised or revealed.

The Woking-based outfit was fined a sporting record $100 million USD for having been found in possession of confidential Ferrari data earlier this year, and excluded from the 2007 constructors' championship at a World Motor Sport Council hearing in September.

With its 2008 car now due to be heavily scrutinised by the FIAbefore being cleared to race in case it is deemed to contain any influences from Maranello, McLaren has taken the step of writing to the governing body to apologise over the matter – one that has rocked the sport to its core – and insist it will offer its full co-operation in any upcoming inspections.

A statement on the team's official website reads as follows:

‘As a result of the investigations carried out by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, it has become clear that Ferrari information was more widely disseminated within McLaren than was previously communicated. McLaren greatly regrets that its own investigations did not identify this material, and has written to the World Motor Sport Council to apologise for this.

‘McLaren has written a letter to the FIA, which in the interests of transparency it is publishing with this press statement. That letter speaks for itself, and the sentiments expressed in it are sincerely held by McLaren. McLaren has also written to the World Motor Sport Council to apologise that it has taken an FIA investigation to find this information, and have expressed our deep regret that our understanding of the facts was improved as a result of the FIA inspection rather than our own investigations.

McLarenhas recognised that this entire situation could have been avoided if we had informed Ferrariand the FIAabout Nigel Stepney's first communication when it came to our attention. We are, of course, embarrassed by the successive disclosures, and have apologised unreservedly to the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

‘To avoid even the possibility of Ferrari information influencing our performance during 2008, McLaren has offered a set of detailed undertakings to the FIA which will impose a moratorium on development in relation to three separate systems. During the course of these incidents, McLaren has conducted a thorough review of its policies and procedures regarding the recruitment and management of staff. The proposals arising from this thorough review have been disclosed to the FIA, and McLaren has agreed to demonstrate that all of these policies and procedures have been fully implemented.

‘McLaren wish to make a public apology to the FIA, Ferrari, the Formula 1community and to Formula 1 fans throughout the world, and offer their assurance that changes are now being made which will ensure that nothing comparable to what has taken place will ever happen again. McLaren have also agreed to pay the costs incurred by the FIA for their investigation.

‘McLaren now wishes to put these matters behind it and to move forward focusing on the 2008 season

The New Driver's Seat - Smart Car vs. Hummer