Honda to Exhibit the Honda New Small Concept at Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi

Honda New Small Concept

NEW DELHI : January 5, 2010 - Honda Siel Cars India Ltd. unveiled the Honda New Small Concept, a concept model for a new small-sized vehicle, at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi. HSCI also announced plans to begin sales of a new model in 2011 based on this concept model.

For the Honda New Small Concept, a wide platform with a stable center of gravity was adopted to create a highly efficient compact size with seating for five people. With the "Efficient Energetic Exterior" design, the dynamic design of the Honda New Small Concept with front forward fenders highlight the presence of the vehicle.

Honda is planning to introduce a new model based on the Honda New Small Concept in 2011, in India and also in Thailand.

Honda will strive to provide a new small-sized vehicle that is beyond the expectations of customers in rapidly growing markets and offer it at an affordable price by leveraging Honda's global parts sourcing network.

Images : Honda New Small Concept

[Source : HONDA]

Art And Science : Cadillac Premieres 2011 CTS-V Coupe

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

• New CTS Coupe design combines with V-Series performance
• 556-hp (415-kW) supercharged 6.2L V-8
• Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with paddle shift control
• Magnetic Ride Control and Brembo brakes
• New Saffron interior trim accent color
• On sale in early summer

DETROIT : January 5, 2010 – Cadillac today announced the 2011 CTS-V Coupe, which debuts at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It combines the new CTS Coupe’s dramatic design with the 556-horsepower (415-kW) supercharged V-8 engine from the CTS-V sedan. The result is a luxury sports coupe aimed at driving enthusiasts.


“The CTS-V Coupe marries our most potent and sophisticated technology with our most dramatic production design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “This combination of visual and technical attributes is designed to create a very compelling choice for luxury sports car consumers.”

The CTS-V Coupe begins production this summer. Its suite of technical and performance elements includes Magnetic Ride Control, racing-bred Brembo brakes and an available automatic transmission with paddle-shift control.

The V-Series Coupe includes a unique grille that doubles the car’s air intake volume, an important enabler for its high-performance capabilities. It is also visually identified by a raised center section of the hood that provides clearance for the supercharger, as well as specific front and rear fascias. Like the CTS Coupe, its exhaust is centered inside the rear fascia, but with unique twin outlets. The car rolls on 19-inch cast aluminum wheels, available in either painted or polished finishes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 performance tires.

The CTS-V Coupe’s rear track is nearly an inch wider than the CTS-V Sport Sedan, adding to the car’s aggressive stance and enabling an extra measure of handling capability. The current CTS-V Sport Sedan has quickly established itself among the world’s highest performing luxury sedans, becoming the first production four-door on street tires to break the legendary 8-minute barrier at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. The new V-Series Coupe’s sleeker shape and slightly lower mass ensure a similarly high level of performance.

Inside, the 2+2 cabin combines performance and luxury. A new Saffron interior trim color is offered, with contrasting microfiber seat inserts and stitching on the upper trim areas.

Form follows function

The CTS-V Coupe’s design is a clear visual statement of the technical precision and performance intent of the car.

The Coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS-V Sport Sedan, but its overall height is about two inches (51 mm) lower and its overall length is two inches (51 mm) shorter. The two models share only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille.

Key design features include:

• Classic hardtop styling, with no conventional B-pillar
• Touch-pad operation for the doors removes the need for conventional door handles
• Faster windshield angle (62.3 degrees) and a nearly horizontal backglass enable an aerodynamic profile
• Signature vertical lighting, highlighted with LED light pipes
• Signature center high-mounted stop lamp functions as a rear spoiler
• Aerodynamic roof-mounted antenna for OnStar and XM Satellite Radio

Supercharged powertrain

The CTS-V Coupe employs the LSA 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine also found on the CTS-V Sport Sedan. Rated at 556 horsepower (415 kW) and 551 lb.-ft. of torque (747 Nm), it is the most powerful engine offered in Cadillac’s history and propels the CTS-V Coupe from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The LSA engine features an intercooled Eaton supercharger system, premium aluminum-alloy cylinder heads and numerous details designed to ensure it makes its power as quietly and smoothly as possible. The supercharger, for example, has a unique, four-lobe rotor design that enhances quietness while also optimizing the performance parameters of the engine.

A pair of six-speed transmissions is offered in the CTS-V Coupe: a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with a dual-disc clutch and a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with paddle-shift control. Performance Algorithm Shifting is part of the 6L90’s programming and provides a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained high-performance driving. As with many Cadillac models, the driver needs only to slide the shifter into the manual “gate” to put the transmission into that more aggressive mode.

The paddle shift control requires no shift lever movement. Steering wheel thumb controls allow immediate and quick tap up/tap down gear selection.

Magnetic Ride Control

The V-Series reaches elite levels of road-holding performance, but also maintains the poise of a luxury car in “regular” driving conditions. The technical enabler of that dual-mode driving character is Cadillac’s landmark Magnetic Ride Control. It is standard on the CTS-V Coupe and is the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology. It uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology, rather than mechanical valves, to greatly accelerate response time and precision.

Electronic sensors at all four wheels literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions. This is of particular benefit for a high-performance car because it helps keep the car very composed during hard cornering, acceleration, braking and other dynamic maneuvers.

The Magnetic Ride shocks also enable a broader range of damping control to optimize the ride and handling for all driving conditions. In the CTS-V Coupe, an extra measure of control is offered, with two selectable modes (Tour and Sport), enabling the driver to tailor the suspension for grand touring or more spirited performance driving.

Braking and tire systems

CTS-V includes sophisticated braking and tire systems, in partnership with two companies renowned for high-performance technology: Brembo and Michelin. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.

Slotted and vented rotors enable strong initial braking force while optimizing heat resistance and eliminating fade. The brake rotors from Brembo employ a “dual-cast” technology that combines cast iron and aluminum, resulting in excellent performance and weight reduction. CTS-V also includes an electric parking brake, enabling more legroom for the driver, key for high-performance driving.

Michelin partnered with Cadillac engineers to develop its acclaimed Pilot Sport PS2 summer tire for CTS-V and its exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels. The tires support high levels of grip in track conditions, while also affording good performance on the road.

Interior amenities

Recaro performance driving seats are optional in the CTS-V Coupe and provide excellent support for spirited driving. These 14-way adjustable performance seats include pneumatic bolster controls in the seat cushions and backrests.

The CTS-V Coupe also includes an exclusive new Saffron color option for the interior, providing a contrasting color accent carried on the seat inserts, as well as the stitching, which highlights the craftsmanship of the instrument panel, center console, door trim and seats.

The steering wheel, seat inserts and shifter are covered in microfiber, providing the luxurious character of suede without suede’s inherent drawbacks of difficult care and moisture sensitivity. These accents are standard, elegant to the touch and help support high-performance driving.

The car’s integrated center stack is trimmed in Obsidian black material that is also applied to the center console and door trim. Just like every CTS, the V-Series includes a hand-stitched instrument panel, door trim and center console. Leading-edge infotainment features extend to the V-Series. They include a 40-gigabyte hard drive, advanced navigation system with a deployable screen and Bose digital surround audio, as well as factory-installed Bluetooth phone integration, all standard features on the V-Series.

Images : 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

[Source : GM-Cadillac]

Toyota unveils concept of New Compact Cars at the Auto Expo 2010 - Global premier of Etios Concept – World First, India First!

Toyota Etios Concept Hatchback

• Concept of Etios, Toyota's new strategic compact cars for the global market, launched today.
• Specially developed for Indian conditions, Toyota's new global strategic compact cars will be launched first in India and then across the world.
• Newly developed engine for sedan concept (1.5 L, petrol) and hatchback concept (1.2 L, petrol) showcased at Auto Expo 2010.
• Design concept - Bold simplicity
• New compact cars will come with the world famous Toyota quality that is never compromised and possess class leading style, comfort and cost of ownership

NEW DELHI : January 5, 2010 - Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (TKM) today unveiled the concept model of its soon to be launched new compact cars in India. Named as Etios concept, it incorporates the advanced technology and superior quality features that have been developed by Toyota specifically for India, by leveraging the world class innovation that Toyota is globally renowned for.

Toyota Etios Concept Hatchback

The concept cars were unveiled in the presence of Mr. Kazuo Okamoto (Vice Chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation), Mr. Akira Okabe (Senior Managing Director, Toyota Motor Corporation), Mr. Yoshinori Noritake (Chief Engineer, Product Planning for Passenger Vehicle, Toyota Motor Corporation), Mr. Vikram Kirloskar (Vice Chairman, TKM), Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa (Managing Director, TKM) and Mr. Sandeep Singh (Deputy Managing Director, Marketing, TKM).

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Kazuo Okamoto said, "We are very excited to finally showcase the concept of Etios, which has been newly developed specifically for customers in India. Our tagline of 'World First, India First' represents our choice of India for the global premiere of the Etios concept, following which exports to other countries will be evaluated. India will play a pivotal role in Toyota's global expansion plans and the time has come for us to strategically accelerate our growth here. Based on our 'Customer First' approach, our highest priority will be to make every effort to exceed the Indian customer's expectations and the introduction of the Etios concept today is the first step in this direction.

Toyota Etios Concept Sedan

Added Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, "In the past decade that Toyota has been in India, we have brought smiles to the faces of more than 4 lakh customers who own Toyota products. These customers are our biggest asset as we have learnt a lot from them and have utilized their feedback in designing our new compact cars. All preparations for the launch of Etios in India are on schedule, namely the construction of our second plant and the expansion of our dealer network. With the introduction of Etios, we will enter the mass volume segment. We are looking at a sales volume of 70,000 in the first year and will ensure that the customers of our new compact cars will have access to the world class quality standards that only Toyota can provide."

Elaborating on the Etios concept, Mr. Yoshinori Noritake said, "In the process of development of Etios, I have visited many Indian cities and homes to understand the market and interact with customers. The Etios concept will cater to the basic needs of this market - highest standards of quality at competitive prices. Toyota's new compact cars have been designed to offer innovative styling, roomy interiors, superior ride comfort and best in class mileage at competitive prices. The design concept of 'Bold Simplicity' represents the pursuit of the perfect combination of functionality and affordable luxury. More than 2000 engineers in India and Japan have worked in close collaboration for four years to ensure the perfect blend of local design sensibilities and unmatched global quality standards that is Etios. "

Mr. Sandeep Singh added, "We are very proud that India is the lead country for Toyota's new compact cars. We understand that the Toyota brand in India represents quality that is never compromised, advanced technology, durability and reliability, all of which are essential features in our soon to be launched new compact cars. With the introduction of Etios, we hope to attain a sizeable market share in India in the shortest possible time. To ensure maximum accessibility to our customers, we will expand our sales/service network to about 150 dealers by the end of 2010. This is the beginning of our marketing campaign for Etios. Next would be the exhibition of Etios and other models in 10 major cities for Indian customers to see and experience Toyota's legendary quality standards."

[Source : TOYOTA]

Spyker to file final Saab bid by Thursday

Spyker CEO, Victor Muller will make a third bid for Saab on this Thursday

AMSTERDAM : January 4, 2010 - Spyker Cars NV will rebuild Saab around the 9-3, 9-5 and 9-4X models if it buys the Swedish brand from General Motors Co., Spyker CEO Victor Muller says. Plans for a Saab 9-1 entry-level car would be put on hold.


Muller said Saab would maintain its headquarters, engineering and production in Trollhattan, Sweden, under Spyker's ownership. Trollhattan would produce all Saab cars except the 9-4X, which would be produced in GM's assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

Muller made the comments in an interview with AOL Autos.

He said Saab would press ahead with the launch of the new 9-5 sedan this spring.

The 9-4X crossover, which shares mechanicals with the Cadillac SRX, would be introduced late next year or early in 2011. A new 9-3 would go on sale in 2012.

GM would continue to produce engines for Saab, and Saab would use GM parts in vehicles such as the 9-4X and 9-5, Muller said.

Saab's relationship with GM “would last for years,” Muller told AOL Autos.

He said he has abandoned plans to trim Saab's U.S. network of dealerships from the current 218 stores down to 137 outlets.

Spyker could use Saab's all-wheel-drive technology, plus other components from Saab's parts bin, Muller said, adding that selected Saab dealerships could sell Spyker cars.

He declined to indicate whether Saab can break even on sales of 100,000 units by 2011 or 2012, as had been previously reported. Saab sold 93,295 units in 2008, and sales this year could fall as low as 60,000.

Spyker, which is backed by Russian and Arabic investors, lodged a renewed fast-track offer to buy Saab on Dec. 20. Money-losing Spyker made 43 luxury cars last year.

GM has extended a Dec. 31 deadline to sell or close Saab until Jan. 7, giving Spyker more time to come up with financing to buy the brand.

GM has said it is still in talks with potential bidders for its Swedish unit.

Merbanco Inc., a Wyoming-based investment group, has been named in the media as another Saab bidder.

Saab said it will restart some production lines after a holiday break on Jan. 11 for its new 9-5 model and cabrio.

"We have the orders and we have to deliver them as usual. We also have the orders for the 9-3 and others. The factory has to continue again," Saab spokesman Eric Geers said on Dec. 30.

[Source : Reuter via Automotive News Europe]

GM Sales in China Jump 66.9% in 2009 to All-Time High, Continue to Lead the Industry

2010 Buick Regal - Chinese Market Version

• 1,826,424 units sold in 2009, achieving year-end market share record of 13.4%
• Builds on forward-looking strategy of rolling out new products with improved fuel economy
• Ongoing expansion and investment position GM for long-term success

SHANGHAI : January 4, 2010 – GM and its joint ventures in China announced today that their domestic sales jumped 66.9 percent in 2009 to a record 1,826,424 units. Based on bullish sales of Buick, Chevrolet and Wuling vehicles, the GM China family achieved an estimated market share of 13.4 percent, another year-end record and an improvement of 1.3 percentage points from the end of 2008.


The strong year-end results were possible in part because of record December sales by GM’s Shanghai GM and SAIC-GM-Wuling joint ventures and the addition of sales from its new FAW-GM joint venture.

Modern products

“We are proud of our performance in 2009,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “Chinese consumers responded enthusiastically to our lineup of modern, fuel-efficient and stylish products, validating our strategy of rolling out a steady cadence of great vehicles that are leaders in their respective segments. This is part of GM’s global strategy of focusing on designing, building and selling the world’s best products.”

In 2009, as part of GM’s aggressive product launch strategy, GM and its joint ventures in China introduced several new and upgraded models to keep up with strong industry demand, including the new Buick LaCROSSE and New Regal turbo series; the Chevrolet Cruze; and the new Cadillac SLS and SRX. In addition, GM continued to bring to China its latest technology such as the new 1.2-liter engine in the Chevrolet Spark and ECOTEC 1.6-liter DVVT engine in the Chevrolet Cruze. Both powertrains made the list of the 10 best engines in China for 2009.

Growing investment

GM and its joint ventures continued increasing their investment in China to help position themselves for long-term success. To provide better service to local customers, Shanghai OnStar initiated in-vehicle safety, security and communication services. It welcomed its first subscriber in China on December 20. In addition, the GM China Science Lab was launched and PATAC opened its new vehicle safety lab. Shanghai GM broke ground on China’s largest proving ground in Anhui province, SAIC-GM-Wuling opened a new engine plant in Qingdao, and GM China moved to new offices in Shanghai, sharing space with the GM International Operations headquarters and the Center for Advanced Research and Science.

To maintain its growth, the GM China family continued to expand. In the middle of the year, GM launched an important new partnership with FAW, FAW-GM, which has given GM a presence in the light commercial vehicle segment. In December, GM and SAIC Motor announced the establishment of a new 50-50 joint venture investment company, General Motors SAIC Investment Ltd., to capture business opportunities in Asia’s emerging markets.

The joint global automobile partners of World Expo 2010 Shanghai, GM and SAIC, built their corporate pavilion. GM and SAIC will be jointly showcasing their vision for the future of urban transportation called “Drive to 2030.” GM will highlight its advances and leadership in vehicle electrification and connectivity technology.

Record Buick, Chevrolet and Wuling sales

Domestic sales by Shanghai GM rose 63.3 percent to 727,620 units in 2009. The passenger car joint venture was once again led by its original brand, Buick, which experienced sales growth of 59.6 percent year on year to 447,011 units. The Excelle, which sold 241,109 units, remained the brand’s bestseller for the sixth consecutive year. Further contributing to the resurgence of Buick in China were the New Regal, which generated sales of 79,930 units, and the new LaCROSSE, which generated sales of 43,429 units in just six months on the market.

Chevrolet sales in China likewise experienced strong growth, with 332,774 units sold – an increase of 67.1 percent from 2008. The Cruze, GM’s new global compact car, enjoyed great success in China, with sales of 92,190 units despite being on the market only nine months. In addition, the Lova had sales of 118,935 units.

In 2009, SAIC-GM-Wuling became the first automaker in China to sell more than 1 million vehicles in a year, increasing its domestic sales by 63.9 percent to 1,061,213 units. With sales of 596,630 units, the Wuling Sunshine set a Chinese industry record for annual sales by a single model.

FAW-GM sold 34,510 light commercial vehicles in the four months after its establishment in August 2009 and began construction of a new assembly plant in Ha’erbin.

According to Wale, “As China asserts itself as the world’s largest vehicle market, our domestic operations will be counted on to deliver solid results. We will continue to introduce cutting-edge products that are leaders in their segments in fuel economy, quality and styling.”

Wale expressed optimism about the 2010 outlook. “Despite the sales records in 2009, it looks as if 2010 will be even stronger. The industry outlook is strong and we expect more growth, albeit on a somewhat slower pace. It is our intent to keep up with that growth and make sure we defend our leadership position. GM has all the tools in place to have another great year in China.”

[Source : GM]

2010 Dakar : Stage 2 - Volkswagen driver Al-Attiyah takes lead at Dakar Rally

Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk - Volkswagen Race Touareg 2

With a stage victory to the top – the Volkswagen factory duo Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) decided the second stage of the Dakar Rally in their favour. After coming fourth today, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) in another one of the 300-hp Race Touareg cars powered by TDI diesel engines are ranking in second place overall with a gap of just 1m 19s.


The factory squad continued the solid team performance from the previous day: Maur?cio Neves/Cl?cio Maestrelli (BR/BR) secured third place on the special stage between C?rdoba and La Rioja, Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) fifth and Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz eighth place. This means that all five Race Touareg vehicles are among the top six in the overall standings of the world’s toughest rally.

The special stage that took the "Dakar” participants in a north-westerly direction featured quick gravel passages as well as jumps and lengthy bends. In addition, there were rougher and stonier sections on the agenda of this special.

Leg 2 Result : Cordoba to La Rioja - Connection 56 km - Special 355 km - Connection 276 km

Pl	Driver	Car	Time
1.	N. Al-Attiyah	Volkswagen	4:01.55,0
2.	G. Chicherit	BMW	+ 1.8,0
3.	M. Neves	Volkswagen	+ 2.1,0
4.	C. Sainz	Volkswagen	+ 2.41,0
5.	M. Miller	Volkswagen	+ 2.44,0
6.	S. Peterhansel	BMW	+ 3.9,0
7.	C. Lavieille	Nissan	+ 6.14,0
8.	G. de Villiers	Volkswagen	+ 6.15,0
9.	C. Sousa	Mitsubishi	+ 6.20,0
10.	O. Terranova	Mitsubishi	+ 10.26,0
11.	R. Gordon	Hummer	+ 11.9,0
12.	L. Novitskiy	BMW	+ 11.31,0
13.	K. Holowczyz	Nissan	+ 12.10,0
14.	R. Leal dos Santos	BMW	+ 12.27,0
15.	N. Misslin	Mitsubishi	+ 12.31,0
16.	M. Barbosa	Mitsubishi	+ 13.24,0
17.	A. Cox	Overdrive	+ 14.33,0
18.	J. Roma	BMW	+ 15.13,0
19.	T. van Deijne	Mitsubishi	+ 15.43,0
20.	G. Spinelli	Mitsubishi	+ 16.3,0
21.	P. Thomasse	Buggy	+ 25.7,0
22.	S. Henrard	Buggy-VW	+ 27.6,0
23.	B. Errandonea	SMG	+ 27.58,0
24.	A. Mironenko	Overdrive	+ 28.21,0
25.	B. Garland	Isuzu	+ 28.45,0
26.	J. Azevedo	Mitsubishi	+ 31.5,0
27.	E. van Loon	Mitsubishi	+ 31.41,0
28.	P. Wallentheim	Isuzu	+ 33.18,0
29.	Y. Solovyev	SMG	+ 33.27,0
30.	J. Mitsuhashi	Toyota	+ 35.53,0

Leg 2 - Overall Standing

Pl	Driver	Car	Time
1.	N. Al-Attiyah	Volkswagen	6:16.39,0
2.	C. Sainz	Volkswagen	+ 1.19,0
3.	S. Peterhansel	BMW	+ 2.30,0
4.	M. Miller	Volkswagen	+ 5.28,0
5.	M. Neves	Volkswagen	+ 5.40,0
6.	G. de Villiers	Volkswagen	+ 7.17,0
7.	C. Sousa	Mitsubishi	+ 10.13,0
8.	J. Roma	BMW	+ 11.44,0
9.	R. Gordon	Hummer	+ 12.28,0
10.	C. Lavieille	Nissan	+ 12.50,0
11.	O. Terranova	Mitsubishi	+ 14.26,0
12.	K. Holowczyz	Nissan	+ 14.48,0
13.	L. Novitskiy	BMW	+ 15.4,0
14.	N. Misslin	Mitsubishi	+ 16.24,0
15.	M. Barbosa	Mitsubishi	+ 22.2,0
16.	R. Leal dos Santos	BMW	+ 22.44,0
17.	G. Spinelli	Mitsubishi	+ 23.22,0
18.	A. Cox	Overdrive	+ 23.27,0
19.	T. van Deijne	Mitsubishi	+ 26.19,0
20.	P. Thomasse	Buggy	+ 41.33,0
21.	S. Henrard	Buggy-VW	+ 41.58,0
22.	B. Errandonea	SMG	+ 42.51,0
23.	B. Garland	Isuzu	+ 45.56,0
24.	E. van Loon	Mitsubishi	+ 49.38,0
25.	M. Zapletal	Mitsubishi	+ 49.43,0
26.	A. Mironenko	Overdrive	+ 49.46,0
27.	Y. Solovyev	SMG	+ 51.27,0
28.	G. Chicherit	BMW	+ 55.32,0
29.	P. Wallentheim	Isuzu	+ 56.43,0
30.	J. Mitsuhashi	Toyota	+ 58.29,0

Images : 2010 Dakar Leg 2 Hi-light

Images : Leg 1 - Volkswagen Team

[Source : 2010 Dakar - Official, VOLKSWAGEN, X-Raid]

2010 Dakar : Successful "Dakar" start for Volkswagen

Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz(ZA/D) - Volkswagen Race Touareg 2

WOLFSBURG : January 2, 2010 - Volkswagen accomplished the first special stage of the 2010 Dakar Rally with a good team result – all five Race Touareg vehicles are among the top ten at the beginning of the rally.

Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) - Volkswagen Race Touareg 2

Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) reached the day’s finish in the best Volkswagen Race Touareg with a 2.07-minute gap in second place behind their Spanish compatriot Nani Roma in the X-raid BMW. The next Race Touareg followed in fourth place: Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) were 3.29 minutes behind the front runners, followed by last year’s winners Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) with a 4.31-minute gap in fifth place. Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) came eighth. The fifth Race Touareg, piloted by Maurício Neves/Clécio Maestrelli (BR/BR), completed the Volkswagen team performance in position ten.

Since several stretches of waters were inundated due to heavy rainfalls the organisers were forced to relocate the start of the first special stage by 52 kilometres. Its distance was thus reduced from 251 to 199 kilometres. At first, quick sections on firm soil were on the agenda. More twisty and narrow passages on stony ground, particularly allowing drivers with experience in classic sprint rallies to shine, formed the day’s finale.

Standings : After leg 01, Colón (RA)–Córdoba (RA); 199/684 km SS 01/total

Pos. ; Team; Vehicle; Leg 01; Total time
1 Nani Roma/Michel Périn (E/F) BMW X3 CC 2h 11m 15s (1) 2h 11m15s
2 Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz (E/E) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 2h 13m 22s (2) + 2m 07s
3 Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-P. Cottret (F/F) BMW X3 CC 2h 14m 05s (3) + 2m 50s
4 Nasser Al-Attiyah/Timo Gottschalk (Q/D) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 2h 14m 44s (4) + 3m 29s
5 Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (ZA/D) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 2h 15m 46s (5) + 4m 31s
6 Robby Gordon/Andy Grider (USA/USA) Hummer 2h 16m 03s (6) + 4m 48s
7 Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (PL/B) Nissan Pick-up 2h 17m 22s (7) + 6m 07s
8 Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/ZA) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 2h 17m 28s (8) + 6m 13s
9 Leonid Novitsky/Andreas Schulz (RUS/D) BMW X3 CC 2h 18m 17s (9) + 7m 02s
10 Maurício Neves/Clécio Maestrelli (BR/BR) Volkswagen Race Touareg 2 2h 18m 23s (10) + 7m 08s

[Source : 2010 Dakar - Official, VOLKSWAGEN]

Ford Racing introduced the next generation of racing Mustang in The New BOSS 302R

2011 Ford Mustang BOSS 302R

Forty years after its namesake became a road racing legend, the BOSS is back on track for 2010 with a new 5.0-liter V-8 engine. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Parnelli Jones’ 1970 Trans-Am championship in a Mustang BOSS 302 prepared by Bud Moore Engineering, Ford Racing is introducing the BOSS 302R, a factory-built race car ready for track days and road racing in a number of Grand-Am, SCCA and NASA classes.


“To keep pace with consumer demand, the Ford team has built modern versions of the most iconic performance Mustangs over the years,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. “From Shelbys to Bullitt, Mach and Cobra Jet, it is now time for BOSS to join the list of America’s most coveted Mustangs. The original BOSS 302 was a championship-winning legend and the new Mustang BOSS 302R will carry on the tradition. The Mustang was born to race from the start, and this new Mustang is bred to win.”

The Mustang BOSS 302R is a serialized off-road-only vehicle ready to race. Each base model will come with a 5.0-liter four-valve engine and a six-speed manual transmission with a roll cage, race seats, safety harness, data acquisition and race dampers/springs, and a Brembo brake and tire package, starting at an MSRP of $79,000.

And, with a special Grand-Am Homologation Package (M-FR500-BOSS R1), it will also be ready to compete in the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series (formerly known as KONI Challenge), starting with the season-opening race in Daytona on Jan. 29, 2010. As of today, five BOSS 302R race cars will be delivered to customers ready to race in Daytona. MSRP of the BOSS 302R1 is $129,000.

The Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge-ready Mustang BOSS 302R will feature a sealed high-output race engine with an upgraded cooling system, a close-ratio six-speed transmission with integral shifter, a seam-welded body, race suspension/KONI dampers and ABS brake tuning, race performance exhaust and a high-speed balance one-piece driveshaft.

The BOSS 302R follows in the very successful footsteps of its most recent road racing predecessor – the Mustang FR500C from Ford Racing. In 2005, when the Mustang FR500C debuted at Daytona, the first car was delivered on Wednesday of that week and won the KONI Challenge race on Friday.

In five years of competition since then, the Mustang FR500C has won three Triple Crown championships of driver, team and manufacturer’s titles in KONI competition including back-to-back (2008 and 2009). The FR500C has also seen success in FIA GT4 competition winning the 2007 and 2008 driver’s championships.

“We expect the BOSS 302R to continue the successful tradition of winning with factory-built production-based race cars from Ford Racing,” said Allison. “The FR500C and FR500S road racing Mustangs, and the Mustang FR500CJ (Cobra Jet) for drag racing have proven to be great cars for our customers, helping teams win races and championships. We believe that the BOSS 302R will provide that same sort of competitive product for our customers with the tradition you can only get from Ford Racing.”

Each Ford Racing factory-built production-based turnkey race car has won its competition debut.

“Racing has long served as a technical proving grounds for production engines,” said Allison. “What’s good enough for the streets is now good enough for the racetrack. The 5.0-liter block and architecture in the Mustang BOSS 302R is the same as the 2011 Mustang GT.”

“We have a great team on the BOSS 302R project,” said Andy Slankard, Ford Racing engineering supervisor and the lead engineer on the BOSS 302R project. “Between our partners at AutoAlliance International, where the Mustang is built, Team Mustang, Multimatic and the entire Ford Racing team, we have once again proven to be a leader in turnkey production-based race cars.”

Available through Ford dealers, a total of 50 BOSS 302R Mustangs will be built by Ford Racing. Delivery is anticipated in the third quarter of 2010.

[Source : FORD]

2010 Dakar : The race started to the Dakar Rally

2010 Dakar : 2010 Volswagen Race Touareg 2 at Starting Ceremony in Buenos Aires

BUENOS AIRES : January 1, 2009 - After a starting ceremony attended by more than 800,000 people in Buenos Aires, the competitors in the Dakar left Buenos Aires and headed to the first bivouac. This is where the first special stage will start tomorrow morning.


If they needed extra motivation to finish the entire rally, the collective show of affection spread along six kilometres gave the competitors a further reason to make it back to Buenos Aires. The 362 riders, drivers and crews who made up the official list of starters on completion of scrutineering were nevertheless deprived of the company of Javier Pizzolito who suffered the first bad luck of the Dakar: the Argentinean amateur’s bike set fire before it had even left the restricted enclosure. The remaining 361 drew on the energy of the crowds, something that some of them had already tasted in 2009. Obviously, these are thrills that the competitors never tire of. The Argentinean competitors, twice as many as last year, headed for the obelisk full of patriotic emotions. The others, who have travelled the oceans to experience this moment of communion, found it more difficult to gauge the extent of the phenomenon.

Boosted by this magnificent session of encouragement and applause, the vehicles enrolled in the Dakar then revved up for the first time on this edition, with a problem free journey out into the Pampa. To avoid a too early start when the stop watches will be set running tomorrow, the organisers set up a first bivouac at Colon, near to the starting point of the special stage. Today, a 317-kilomtre link stage on road was on the menu. It was hardly a perilous exercise for these adventurers who will be getting to grips with a 9,000 metre loop, in which they will have to tackle the sand dunes in Chile’s Atacama Desert. But today in Colon, the competitors are already asleep in their tents. The Dakar is underway.

Going through Calamuchita

In the first days of the rally, overtaking is sometimes tricky. To make things easier between the bikers and the car and truck crews, a doubled course has been designed with just a few kilometres less for the riders. While the course will be separated, the program remains similar with tracks that will seduce the sliding specialists. In the car class, experts will have noticed a tribute to the Argentinean leg of WRC that usually goes through the Calamuchita Valley. The steering wheel virtuosos will be able to express themselves.

[Source : 2010 DAKAR - Official, VOLKSWAGEN]