What did we learn from the Chinese Grand Prix?

PHamilton and Webber on the podium

(Sorry this is a little late, but because of the Songkran water festivities, I couldn’t make the deadline for last week’s Automania column.)

Well the first thing we learned was that the Vunderkind Vettel (Red Bull) can be beaten. Despite a heroic qualifying lap he ended up running out of fresh tyres and had to accept being passed by Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) in the final stages of the race. A good win for the UK’s white hope.

The other drive of the day came from Vettel’s team mate Mark Webber who was written off by everyone when he did not even manage to get into the second round of qualifying, ending up starting 18th and finished third, only a few seconds behind Vettel.

The way the different teams handle the qualifying sessions is certainly open to question in Red Bull’s pit. They did not leave themselves enough time to bring Webber in to change to fresh ‘sticky’ rubber, despite seeing that his times were not quick enough to get into Q2. In fact, this way of leaving everything to the last minutes with a one-shot do or die effort cannot give consistent results. Any problems on the track in the dying moments will inevitably mean the drivers will be unable to make up the time. “Time” for team managers to think ahead and get one ‘banker lap’ in first.

The Chump of China had to be Jenson Button (McLaren) who drove into the Red Bull pit instead of his own. Was he looking to get two fresh sets of tyres, I wonder?

We also saw that Alonso (Ferrari) and team mate Massa are having a change of fortunes, with Massa outdriving the Spanish two times world champion three out of three this year. And while talking of Ferrari, the car is definitely not in the same ball-park as Red Bull or McLaren. Heads will roll in the red factory, and the color won’t just be paint.

The other driver of the day is young di Resta in the Team Poppadum, again out-qualifying and out-driving his experienced team mate Adrian Sutil, a driver who was previously held up as a ‘coming man’. Unless he perks up, he will be a ‘going man’.

Mercedes are climbing back up again, with Rosberg actually leading the race in the middle section, before being told to conserve fuel. Schumacher had another poor qualifying, but managed to get into the points again. Write off Ross Brawn and Co. at your own risk. Podium finishes are coming for the Mercedes team (or zere vill be heads rolling in Stuttgart as well as in Maranello).

The (Lotus) Renaults did not do as well as previously, and are likely to slip back as the bigger teams move forward. They have had their podiums, I am afraid. The name “Lotus” refers to plants rather than car companies.

There are those who are criticizing the new Drag Reduction System (DRS) which allows a slipstreaming car a chance of passing the lead car. This has resulted in much more passing and repassing, but the critics say this is “artificial”. I’m sorry, it is the same for everyone, and the DRS cannot be activated if the second car is more than one second adrift. So stay ahead. The situation actually reminds me of Formula Ford tactics, where nobody wants to be the lead car entering the final lap as you will be slipstreamed and beaten every time. However, I would like to see a broad yellow line on the track to show us viewers just where the DRS can be activated. It is a bit confusing at present.

Again I have to congratulate the Beeb. Great coverage and commentary, head and shoulders above the others. The loss of Eddie Jordan was no loss. The next GP is in Turkey in a week’s time. Much work will have been done on the Red Bull’s KERS, Ferrari will have been trying to fix the whine from the driver’s seat and Button will be studying a map of the pit layout.

How is our auto industry doing?

According to the latest figures, it is doing very well, with sources quoting almost 14 percent year on year increase, with just over 172,000 units last month, and the Q1 figures are a staggering 22.5 percent. Vehicles for export were also up, other than to places in turmoil such as the Middle East.

The bulk of the increase in domestic consumption vehicles was for A segment cars with engines below 1,500 cc. Passenger car figures were up by 43 percent for Q1. Of course the Bangkok International Motor Show in March/April did assist, with manufacturers getting ready to capitalize on the added interest that the show brings to the industry.

Unfortunately, Q2 will show the knock-on effect caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami in March. Although the local content of Thai built vehicles is very high, there are still some parts that are imported from Japan, and with the projected hold-up from drops in Japanese manufacturing, stocks may be limited during the second quarter.

But if you really want some figures to sit you back on your heels, Ford reported a 257 percent increase in February year in year. Fiesta alone made up 1,270 units, with the outgoing Ranger pick-up improved 66 percent year on year. The Focus sales were also up 29 percent. As in the US, Ford seems to have lifted its game and the future should be a Fiesta. While the new Ranger shown at the Bangkok International Motor Show is awaited!

The Shanghai Auto Show in fortune cookies

The largest auto market in the world is now China, passing the USA. Established auto manufacturers are scrambling to get joint ventures ratified in China, and even GM who was trying to sue for the total knock-off of their small car has kissed and made up and now firmly into bed with SAIC.

Chery J3.

But whilst we have been rather scornful of the Chinese auto products (as we did with the Japanese a few decades ago and the Koreans two decades ago), ignore the signs at your own peril. The Chinese are now producing vehicles for every marketplace, at a price to sell, with a quality that is much improved. The Chinese auto industry has been looking at what sells in the world marketplace and is bringing forth alternatives to, for example, the Toyota Corolla and the Mazda3.

Cheery Chery, whose initial toe in the marketplace was the Chery QQ, has brought out the Chery J3, which will be available in 2012, and several thousands of baht cheaper than the New Beetle Mk 2, or the Corolla or the Mazda3. Add to that vehicle, the Great Wall C50 and you are looking at the challengers to Toyota and Mazda from 2012.

Great Wall C50.

The J3 will become Chery’s third passenger car in Australia and is called the J3 - to avoid upsetting Audi with its own A3. We are also very likely to get this model in Thailand to run alongside the QQ.

The J3 is available in both sedan and hatchback body styles, with the latter close in size to Volkswagen’s Golf. Both are powered by a 1.6 liter dual variable valve timing engine with 93 kW and 160 Nm of torque, connected with a CVT auto.

Great Wall’s C50 is similar in size and obviously aimed at the Corolla market. This is a closely fought segment of the marketplace, but has the largest potential, and if the price is right… Have you had a look at the number of Tata dropside utes (pick-ups) around town these days? India will be the next to invade. You have been warned.

The new ‘male’ Beetle

Twelve years ago, VW brought out the ‘New Beetle’, which was more of a design/styling exercise, and really had no common DNA with the original ‘old’ Beetle. However, the public liked its retro looks and over one million have been produced, adding to the over 21 million units of the ‘old’ Beetle.

A male Beetle?

Sales have started to drop, so VW has produced what they have called the New Beetle Mk 2, which is touted by VW as being a much more masculine car. If they can sell that concept to the general public, then they should double the salaries of the ad-men. It looks so much like the last version it is difficult to spot them apart.

The testosterone is supposed to come from the larger tail lights and bi-xenon lights at the front. I am sure you are as underwhelmed as I am. Or perhaps we are all turning into lady-boys.

So if you can keep your excitement in your underpants, the New Beetle Mk 2 will be available late 2012 and prices will start at something below two million baht.

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I asked what is this sports car? Two liter, six cylinder, 220 km/h top speed, built 1967-70, and they made less than 350 of them. It was the Toyota 2000 GT and Kevin Maguire was first in, a few minutes before one of the other regulars Peter Eades. Well done both.

Toyota 2000GT.

So to this week. What car, allegedly “knocked up in a weekend” by a famous designer, is still available today, over 50 years later? The range of engines have changed, but it is one of the most desirable sports cars ever built.

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected].