No GP this week
After having a couple of GP’s on the trot
(Monaco and Nurburgring), there is a break of two weeks before
the next GP in Canada on the 12th of June, and then there is
the US GP one week later again.
However, it is a good time to see just what
we learned from Monaco and Germany. The first is that despite
there being some action in the latter part of the race in
Monaco, it is a silly circuit for today’s F1 cars. It’s
too confined for passing manoeuvres. It may bring all the film
stars and other wannabees, but I want to see motor racing.
Sure, Heidfeld and Webber did manage to finally get past the
struggling Alonso, who was lapping something like four seconds
slower that the two Williams drivers were capable of, but up
until the last 10 laps they were lined up like Brown’s cows.
Ferrari
took comfort in the fact that Michael Schumacher set the
fastest lap (again), but despite the race pace, he came in
7th, and that only after a desperate move on his team mate
Rooby Baby (which did come off) and a failed lunge at his
brother’s Toyota in 6th. Ralf was reported as saying that
his brother was “crazy”, while Michael retorted that he
was a racer, and would try and pass at all times. It’s just
a pity he left it till the last lap! But then again, see my
remarks on the whole Monaco circuit.
And so to the race in Germany on the
‘de-toxed’ Nurburgring, and a lucky win for Alonso in the
Renault. This GP certainly had its share of action! Both Kimi
Raikkonen (McLaren Mercedes) and Mark Webber (BMW Williams)
paid the price of overdriving. Raikkonen flat-spotted his
right front tyre with some over-energetic braking, which in
turn produced a visible vibration through the car. The team
decided he should hold on till the end, but the suspension
collapsed with one lap to go, whilst he was in the lead. No
podium, no champagne and no 10 points.
Webber, on the other hand, has still not
learned that you never win the race at the first corner - you
only lose the race at the first corner. This was inexcusable,
as he was running heavy on fuel, with the strategy of staying
out on track and making fewer fuel stops. However, the fool
stop at the first corner resulted in a full stop. No podium,
no champagne and no 10 points (or any points) either.
David Coulthard (Red Bull Racing) was the
stand-out, even leading the race at one stage, but after a
drive-through penalty for speeding in pit lane, that put paid
to any chance of a podium finish.
Ferrari returned to the podium, with Rooby
Baby on the 3rd step. Michael Schumacher was 5th, after coming
back from 17th after Webber’s contretemps. Not a bad drive,
but he could not pass Felipe Massa’s Sauber, so the car was
not all that impressive.
New 3 Series
BMW just around the corner
The new BMW 3 Series (the E 90) was
displayed at the Bangkok International Motor Show in March
this year, and it is scheduled to be released later this year.
Still not available for testing, but some models got to
Australia for assessment, and I present the following which
comes from GoAuto down-under. This comes in the main from
their tester Marton Pettendy.
“Despite the panning BMW’s current, E46
3 Series received in 1998 for being too big, too heavy and
lacking the dynamic attitude of its E36 forbear, the current
Three went on to become the most popular ever.
New
3 Series BMW
“So it would have been easy for BMW to
rest on its laurels, wrap the E90 in a new set of metal
clothes, bolt in a new engine and extra technology from more
expensive models in the range and ship it out to showrooms.
(However, that is an oversimplification of the real situation
- Dr. Iain.)
“The E90 is much more than its relatively
conservative exterior suggests. First, the all-new bodyshell
is 25 per cent stiffer - no mean feat given the current model
feels as solid as any BMW - which plays no small part in the
new model’s even greater impression of refinement and
quality.
“Slightly larger in all key areas,
BMW’s new compact sedan is a little more comfortable for
taller occupants - especially those residing out back, where 3
Series remains the small premium sedan benchmark for
stretching space.
“The fact all this extra interior space
and body rigidity comes with no weight penalty is commendable,
and shows BMW listened to the criticism levelled at its
predecessor. It also allows the substantial gains achieved in
the area of engine performance to be maximized in terms of
real-world acceleration and fuel consumption.
“In 3.0 litre 330i guise, however, the
new magnesium-alloy R6-series engine is a cracker. With an
extra 20kW of peak power on tap thanks to its 7000rpm redline,
it feel substantially quicker in a straight line, while the
standard six-speed auto does an even better job at ensuring
instant, satisfying acceleration is always at hand.
“That fuel consumption remains a
relatively frugal 9.0 litres per 100km (interestingly, the
same figure quoted for the 325i auto!) is also highly
commendable.
“So while the new 330i is substantially
quicker thanks to more horsepower at higher revs, it’s only
marginally more tractable in everyday driving because of its
superb new six-speed auto. And while that’s a positive, the
apparent loss of some of the previous 3.0-litre engine’s
characteristic exhaust and induction ‘bark’ is most
certainly not. The 330i auto’s 6.6-second claimed 0-100km/h
acceleration figure is impressive.
“Of course, BMW’s 3 Series
volume-seller will be the 320i Executive, powered by the same
110kW/200Nm four-cylinder, which in E90 guise gains 5kW of
peak power over the 318i it replaces and benefits in terms of
flexibility from Valvetronic and double-VANOS valve control
systems.
“Ride quality on the base model’s
205/55 16-inch tyres was exceptionally supple, increasing to
firm on the lower-profile alloy-shod tyres and bordering on
harsh on 17s with optional sports suspension.
“Of course, the availability of upstream
options like active steering and keyless starting is a boon
for 3 Series buyers, but there’s no sign of the 7 Series’
electronic park brake and we can’t help thinking the
start/stop button is a gimmick that will soon wear out its
welcome.
“We lament the loss of a spare tyre in a
country like Australia - but minor details like the greatly
improved dual-zone climate control, temperature adjusters for
rear air outlets and improved DSC (with a host of useful brake
technology advances) make this easier to bear.
“While we’re not convinced E90 is as
big an advance over its predecessor as the E46 was over E36,
it’s clear BMW has spent its development dollars where it
counts most. Roomier, more refined, more powerful and safer
without sacrificing handling, weight, driveability or fuel
economy, the new 3 Series has advanced enough in the critical
areas to remain the best premium compact sedan available.”
(I think we can deduce from that brief
report, that the tester liked it! Dr. Iain.)
Mitsubishi
still in deep doggy doo
According to Auto News in the US,
Mitsubishi Motors recorded $5.8 billion in losses for the
fiscal year ended March 31, its second straight year in the
red. Their report said that as the scandal-ridden Japanese
carmaker struggles to regain customer trust and sales, the
company stated that Tokyo-based Mitsubishi Motors Corp had
racked up a Y215 billion ($2.64 billion) loss the previous
fiscal year.
This has all come on the back of Mitsubishi
Motors sales having plunged after it acknowledged five years
ago that it had systematically hidden car defects to avoid
recalls.
To attempt to stop the sales slide,
Mitsubishi have tried shoring up sales with attractive revival
plans, centring on warranty and finance (a 10 year warranty in
Australia, for example, and extending loans to buyers with bad
credit in the United States). Despite these, Mitsubishi Motors
does not see itself returning to profitability in the next
year, forecasting Y64 billion loss for the fiscal year to
March 2006.
Mitsubishi has earlier this year hoped that
DaimlerChrysler (one of the shareholders) would bail them out,
but the Germans turned their corporate back on the struggling
Japanese company.
Mitsubishi Motors has recently announced
minor deals with other companies to help its latest recovery
plan, including a deal to supply SUV’s for French automaker
PSA Peugeot Citroen, and another to supply small cars for
Nissan Motor Co, their Japanese rival.
This is an unfortunate result of head office duplicity, as
the Mitsubishi cars are just as good as those from other
manufacturers. An expensive lesson that Mitsubishi will take
years to recover from.
Autotrivia
Quiz
Last week, I asked what company was the
first European company to deliver more than one million cars
in one year, which it did in 1962, 40 years after Ford had
managed that milestone! It was in fact VW, as many of the
readers knew. Thank you all, there were so many of you I
cannot acknowledge every one.
So to this week. What was the name of the
concept car that Ford engineers took to Watkins Glen in 1962?
Clue: it was a two seater and mid engined.
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be
the first correct answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
Audi at the
border
A friend of mine in Bangkok, Andrew Wood,
known for his wicked sense of humour, sent this down last
week. I thought it was good enough to share.
Five Germans in an Audi Quattro arrive at
the Italian border. The Italian Customs Officer stops them and
tells them “It’sa illegal-a to put-a five-a people in a
Quattro.”
“Vot do you mean dis is illegal?”
replied the German driver.
“Quattro means-a four” said the Italian
official.
“Quattro is just ze name of ze
automobile,” the Germans retorted unbelievingly. “Look at
ze dam papers. Zis car is designed to karry five persons.”
“You canta pulla that-a one on me!”
replied the Italian customs officer. “Quattro means-a four.
You have five-a people in-a your car and you are therefore-a
breaking the law.”
The German driver replied angrily,
“Dumkopf! Call your zupervisor over. I vant to speak to
someone mit more intelligence!”
“Scuzzi?” responded the Italian
officer, “He can’ta come. He’s-a busy with-a two guys in
a Fiat Uno.”
