Canadian GP this weekend
The first Grand Prix of the 2007 season
across the Atlantic will be run in Montreal at the Gilles
Villeneuve Circuit, constructed on a man-made island which
had been used in the 1967 Expo. Originally named the Ile
Notre Dame circuit, the circuit was renamed in Villeneuve’s
memory after his death in 1982. The location is one of the
loveliest in Formula One since the narrow track threads its
way through lakes and parkland. It is a narrow, medium-fast,
2.75 mile circuit with 13 corners. Some corners were eased
for 1979, a new corner before the pits was added in 1991 and
a chicane was added in 1994. And, it is possible to pass, as
opposed to Monaco!
With Alonso and Hamilton on top of the table as individuals,
and McLaren Mercedes leading the manufacturer’s
championship, there will be much at stake this weekend. It
could be an interesting race. By my reckoning it will be
starting at midnight (Sunday night or Monday morning, take
your pick).
I will be watching at Jameson’s Irish Pub, Soi AR, next to
Nova Park. Join me at around 11 p.m. for a couple of drinks
first.
It is also reported from usually reliable sources that
Toyota are finally (and not before time) tired of Ralf
Schumacher, one of the highest paid drivers on the current
grid. He lags well behind Jarno Trulli, both in points so
far, and in qualifying. The word is that Ralf has been told
to shape up or ship out. He has the two overseas legs in
Canada and the USA to prove he should be kept. Quite some
incentive bonus scheme!
It is also official that the FIA has dropped the mooted
charges against McLaren for “team orders” at Monaco, telling
(and arranging) Lewis Hamilton to come second. It really is
time that the FIA dropped this legislative nonsense. Team
orders have always been a part of motor racing, at all
levels. Do you really want to see your two car team take
each other out, while comfortably leading? Come off it! All
this rubbish began only recently when Ferrari told their
number two to let number one through. Loud screams all
round. Fangio won some of his world championships following
team orders. No screams. Ford won at Le Mans using team
orders. No screams.
I’m sorry, but if you have a team, then you make sure your
team entries support each other, not disadvantage each
other. You don’t need rocket science to work that out. But
apparently, the FIA needs it.
The ultimate Chev?
An enterprising company in the US, called N2A (No
2 Alike) is building this amazing “Chevvy”, called the 789.
Costs a bundle, even in the US ($135,000 - and up, depending
on options), but would have to be one of the ultimate
head-turners.
The production run is reputedly only 100 vehicles. It sits
on a Corvette C6 chassis, and the front is styled like a ‘57
Chevy, the side like a ‘58, and the rear like a ‘59. Hence
the designation 789.
It has the “hooded eyes” and chrome grille bar of a ‘57 Bel
Air, a mid-section and tri-toned interior that is
reminiscent of a ‘58 Impala and the “bird in flight” rear
tailfins of a ‘59. These three vehicles are all instantly
recognizable classics all over the world.
Now as long as they have also used the suspension of the C6,
it might just handle as well. A modern retro classic.
Chevvy 789
Is a Corolla hybrid
coming?
According to GoAuto in Australia, the next update of the
Toyota Corolla is likely to bring one of the biggest changes
in the car’s 40-year history, with the arrival of the first
petrol/electric hybrid model.
New
Corolla
A Corolla hybrid is a high priority with the development
team behind Toyota’s global best-seller, even if there is no
firm plan yet for the car expected in 2011.
Australians can definitely expect a diesel Corolla within
the life of the current car, which has just hit local roads.
Toyota Australia is also keen to introduce a V6 model above
the new 1.8 liter four cylinder sedan and hatch. The diesel
is probably coming in 2010.
Executive chief engineer of the Corolla family Soichiro
Okudaira says he wants a hybrid. “Maybe for the next
generation of Corolla, as new systems are coming,” he says.
“We cannot say when. I’m not sure. But my personal opinion
is that I would like to have it. There is no firm plan. It
is technically possible, but we have no plan yet.”
OK, that doesn’t really say much, but Okudaira-San has some
clout in the Toyota hierarchy, and this might be a ‘toe in
the water’ exercise to see if it is a popular concept.
Okudaira says the biggest problem will be cutting the cost
of the petrol/electric drive system so it is affordable for
Corolla customers.
Toyota
LS600h
Toyota is committed to a huge expansion of its hybrids. It
is already working on batteries that are lighter and cheaper
than the exotic nickel-metal-hydride units it now uses.
It is also working on more advanced powertrain systems taken
from the exotic all-wheel-drive unit just fitted to its new
luxury Lexus LS 600h flagship. Mind you, if you’ve got the
money to buy one of these, do you really care about the fuel
consumption?
A diesel-powered Corolla is apparently much closer, even if
Toyota Australia missed the cut for the introduction date to
coincide with the 10th-generation car this year.
An engine has been developed for Europe, where the new
Corolla hatch is called Auris and aimed at much younger
buyers. It could easily be picked up for local use. Toyota
is also looking at the 2.4-liter V6 used in a Corolla-based
car, the Blade, in Japan. Now that would be a pocket rocket.
A V6 Bangkok taxi!
Natter Nosh and Noggin
The monthly car enthusiasts meeting will be at Jameson’s
Irish Pub on Soi AR next to the Nova Park development. The
car (and bike) enthusiasts meet on the second Monday of the
month, so this time it is Monday (June 11) at Jameson’s at 7
p.m. This is a totally informal meeting of like minded souls
to discuss their pet motoring (and motorcycling) loves and
hates. Bring along any magazines, photos of old vehicles,
old girlfriends or the latest Spyker road car (or an AMG
Mercedes, or just bring a photo) for us all to go Ooh over.
There are a number of collectible cars in the glass showroom
on Sukhumvit Road. Perhaps we should visit with a brick
while someone causes a diversion?
Toyota makes $1,200 per
car. US automakers lose money!
The Harbour Report in the US tots up just how
long it takes each manufacturer to make a car and how much
profit (or loss) is involved.
Guess what! Toyota and Honda came out best, whilst Chrysler,
GM and Ford did not do well at all.
So how long does it take for Toyota to build your car? And
that is starting from scratch in pressing the body shell,
assembling engine and transmission and then assembling the
entire car. The answer is under 30 hours! Order it today and
pick it up at lunch tomorrow! Toyota’s total manufacturing
hours per vehicle, while leading the way among the
participating companies at 29.93 HPV, was not as strong as
its 2005 performance of 29.40. Honda was second at 31.63
HPV.
The manufacturing productivity gap among North American
automotive manufacturers continued to narrow as quality
advances and more flexible labor agreements drove major
improvements, according to The Harbour Report (TM) North
America 2007, the annual study released by Harbour
Consulting.
The larger gap in financial performances of the
Detroit-based and Japan-based automakers reflect domestic
companies’ higher incentive costs, legacy costs and their
slower response to shifts in consumer choices more than any
large competitive disadvantage on their factory floors.
“Improving productivity in the face of lower production is a
huge accomplishment, but none of the domestic manufacturers
can afford to let up,” said Ron Harbour, president of
Harbour Consulting.
DaimlerChrysler (and now Chrysler), Ford and General Motors
still have a wider variation in capacity utilization among
their assembly plants, while they continue to work on plant
flexibility. By closing plants in the next two years, all
three domestics should see improvement on capacity
utilization. Others, such as Toyota, which had its assembly
plants running between 95 percent and 108 percent of
capacity, are leveraging their design, engineering and
manufacturing organizations to increase flexibility and use
common parts and processes.
The other differentiator is profitability. Toyota and Honda
each earned a pre-tax margin of more than $1,200 on every
vehicle they sold in North America. In contrast, Chrysler
Group lost $1,072, while General Motors lost $1,436 and Ford
lost $5,234 on each vehicle sold in 2006.
This reflects a variety of factors, including the large
difference in health care and pension costs, lower average
revenue, as well as higher costs of rebates and low-interest
rate financing required to trim inventories.
Whilst all of the above is true, the poor bottom line
remains so because of the fact that the Big Three continue
to make vehicles that the buying public does not want, and
then have to spend big to try and coax them to buy with
price cuts and incentives. On the other hand, Toyota and
Honda have enough cars in their ranges to cater to the
general public, no matter how quickly tastes change.
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked which car company built their
test track on the roof of the factory? The answer was the
FIAT factory at Lingotto in Turin, in which regular
contestant Peter Eade got in first.
So to this week. One of the most enduring engine designs
came out just after WW I and stayed in production until
1963. It was a six cylinder, wet-liner engine of just under
2 liters and had a single overhead camshaft. Originally it
produced a whopping 35 bhp, but by the time it was phased
out it was giving more than 100 bhp. Clue: the last car this
engine went into, eventually was given a V8.
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
