A highly distinctive and sporting interpretation of the Mulsanne

The Mulsanne is a pure example of the Grand Touring Bentley combining coach-built elegance and hand crafted luxury with immense power and sportiness that together offer the world’s most exclusive driving experience. It is a luxury car that makes the joy of driving its central focus. In an era of mass production, it stands at the pinnacle of British luxury motoring.

With a 0-60 mph sprint time of just 5.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 5.3 seconds) and a top speed of 184 mph (296 km/h) the 505 bhp (512 PS/377 kw) Mulsanne has always offered thunderous levels of performance for an ultra-luxury saloon. Now, for customers seeking an even sportier look, feel and character to their Mulsanne, Bentley is introducing the Mulliner Driving Specification.

The Mulsanne’s beautifully balanced proportions convey a unique sense of dynamism and movement. These are reinforced by muscular haunches and sharply sculpted, gracefully flowing lines, hinting at the phenomenal levels of power and torque that are in reserve at all times.

For the Mulliner Driving Specification, new 21-inch, light aluminium alloy wheels with race‑derived, titanium fasteners, bright-finished rims and 265/40 ZR21 tyres, underscore the Mulsanne’s potent yet elegant stance while providing even more dynamic handling. Available in both painted and polished finishes, the 2-piece wheels are exclusive to the Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification and are also compatible with Bentley’s optional self-levelling wheel badges.

The Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification also has a unique design language which underscores its sporting character, setting it apart from other Bentleys.

The sporting motif is emphasised by a pair of sweeping wing vents made from cast, polished stainless steel. The vents cleverly emulate Bentley’s iconic ‘Flying B’ emblem which is engraved with the Mulliner script. The flowing appearance accentuates the impression of speed and movement and the black matrix grille integrated into the design provides an attractive contrast to the polished stainless steel.

For the new sportier Mulsanne, the Drive Dynamics Control system, which allows suspension and steering systems to be tuned to a preferred driving style, now has a unique ‘Sport’ setting. Operated by the rotary switch mounted next to the gearshift selector, the new ‘Sport’ settings provide enhanced grip, body control and steering accuracy without compromising ride comfort.

Inside the Mulsanne’s sumptuous cabin Bentley’s styling team have created a unique, driver-focussed look and feel for the Mulliner Driving Specification. In keeping with the tradition of sporting Bentleys, the leather hide on the front and rear seats and door casings features an intricate Diamond Quilting pattern, complemented by an indented leather headlining.

A new and unique hide perforation process, developed specifically for the Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification, produces perforations in exact diamond shapes with non‑perforated ‘tramlines’ in between. This allows Bentley’s seamstresses to produce perfect stitching every time without risk of distortion and means that it can now be combined with the optional seat ventilation system.

Throughout the cabin, Crewe’s craftsmen and women have ensured that even purely functional controls are beautifully executed. The unique ‘knurled’ or ‘coined’ surface finish of the cool-metal interior door handles, ‘Organ Stop’ air ventilation controls and gear lever provide a highly tactile experience while giving extra grip. The leather gear lever is also hand-finished with a Baseball-style cross stitch – another example of Bentley’s famed attention to detail.

For confident, spirited driving, the accelerator and brake pedals of the Mulliner Driving Specification are made from drilled alloy. Beautifully crafted, each one of the raised grips on the pedals is individually polished. As a finishing touch to the cabin, Mulliner treadplate plaques are applied to the vertical surface of the driver and front passenger door sills.

In common with all Mulsannes, customers of the Mulliner Driving Specification have the opportunity to create a truly unique car from a palette of over 100 paint colors, a virtually limitless choice of unbleached premium quality veneers (with two marquetry options) and a selection of 22 leather hides.

Commenting on the new Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification, Alasdair Stewart, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Sales and Marketing: “The Mulsanne represents the pinnacle of British motoring with unrivalled luxury and effortless performance. Now, the distinctly sporting accent of the new Mulliner Driving Specification provides an even greater degree of driving enjoyment without compromising the Mulsanne’s legendary comfort and refinement.”

Outstanding driving performance along with an elegant interior

Just as the Abarth 695 Tributo Ferrari is the utmost expression of Abarth’s sporty character and racing spirit, this new Limited Edition epitomises sheer elegance united to the comfort of a “GranTurismo”, but with the handling of a car fit to take to the road every day.

The new Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati is an exclusive convertible which blends the aggression and sportiness of a high-performance car with the refined, elegant aesthetics of a convertible. In keeping with Maserati’s standards, this new Limited Edition is distinguished by excellent handling and great sportiness, together with great attention to comfort, materials and detail.

The Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati features exclusive style details and special technical features developed by Abarth engineers in collaboration with Maserati. To start with, the 1.4 Turbo T-Jet 16v engine boosted to 180 HP and teamed with the electrically-operated manual Abarth Competizione gearbox with steering wheel controls, which enhances the performance of the engine with reduced gearshift times as well as guaranteeing an experience of superior comfort at the wheel.

Again to improve performance, especially acceleration, the car is fitted with performance tyres on 17″ alloy wheels featuring a special “Neptun” design from Maserati. The ride and braking system have also been strengthened to cope with the extra power: Brembo 305 mm brake discs that can be dismantled with fixed four-piston caliper and special shock absorbers that guarantee performance in total safety.
And of course there is a “Record Monza” variable back-pressure “dual mode” exhaust, designed to improve engine performance and deliver an inspiring sound at 3,000 rpm and above, with tailpipes which have been modified to assume the hexagonal shape which has always marked out Maserati cars.
The car’s exterior features a body in Pontevecchio Bordeaux. This colour from Maserati is achieved with special three-layer paintwork which reflects light and accentuates the shine of the colour; it is also to be found on the door mirrors. The electrically controlled soft top is made of grey fabric.

The new Abarth adopts Xenon headlights with dipped and driving light functions for improved light emission and excellent performance in all weather conditions. These devices deliver three times the light intensity and duration of standard halogen-lamp headlights.

The customisation is just as complete on the inside. The interiors demonstrate both the attention to detail and the sportiness that characterise the two brands, starting with seats upholstered entirely in sand beige Poltrona Frau ® leather, with containment strips featuring single-layer padding, sporty but elegant and comfortable at the same time, and stylish details such as the number “695″ heat-printed on the headrest and the pista grey contrasting electro-welding, to match the bodywork. The dashboard and gearbox trim are distinguished by a special matt-finish carbon lining, further enhanced with the 695 logo, while the door panels and rear panels undergo the special UV-LUX treatment, which lends the trims an elegant pista grey “flocking” effect. The black leather steering wheel is characterised by leather inserts and tricolour hub and houses the “steering wheel gearbox” controls, while the instrument panel has been specifically produced by the Jaeger brand. Other details enrich the interior, such as the aluminium pedal unit and sill plate, the carbon fibre kick plate with customised “Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati” graphics and the plate with the car’s series number.

In accordance with the tradition of Abarth Limited Editions, the already extensive equipment of the Abarth 695 Tributo Maserati is expanded through accessories and merchandising designed to enhance the experience of the brand both on board and outside the car, as dictated by the DNA of Abarth and Maserati – more than just a car, a genuine philosophy of life. To take just one example, the Tramontano Tribute to Abarth Travel Pack, comprising two stylish grey leather travel bags.

by JW Hayes

Aston Martin reveals first images of 2013 Zagato

For Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, the V12 Zagato is “a celebration of both Aston Martin’s heritage and its future”. He continues: “Our relationship with Zagato stretches back more than 50 years. Together in that time we have created a series of very special cars. The first – the DB4GT Zagato – is a true icon: fast, beautiful and incredibly desirable. In the V12 Zagato I believe we have captured the spirit of that car and combined it with a confident twist of modernity to give it a character all of its own.”

Initial design concepts for the  Zagato were explored in early 2010. Inspired by Zagato’s bold and individual styling signatures Aston Martin’s Director of Design, Marek Reichman, and his Gaydon-based design team relished the challenge of shaping the car, creating a car that pushes the boundaries of Aston Martin’s design language, yet pays tribute to the DB4GT Zagato. Demonstrating Aston Martin’s ability to rapidly bring ideas to fruition the Zagato programme quickly gained momentum, the design team working hand-in-hand with engineers and artisans to complete the build of a pair of concept cars in the spring of 2011.

May 2011 saw the V12 Zagato make its world debut at the prestigious Villa d’Este concours. Entered in the Concept Cars and Prototypes class, the Zagato wowed the judges and the crowd, taking first place against impressive opposition. In June the Villa d’Este winner – along with the second prototype car – made the Zagato’s world racing debut at the gruelling 24 hour endurance race held at the Nürburgring. Both cars completed the ultimate durability test, continuing Aston Martin’s 100 per cent finishing record in this notoriously tough race.

After an overwhelmingly positive response from customers, the decision was made in July 2011 to build a strictly limited run of V12 Zagatos. Since then, Aston Martin’s design team has worked to refine the sports car’s detailing and aerodynamic performance while staying faithful to the original design concept. At the same time engineers based at Gaydon have been putting prototypes through the company’s rigorous development programme to ensure the V12 Zagato performs as well as it looks.

A work of art built by skilled craftsmen to be driven and enjoyed by the world’s most discerning car collectors, the V12 Zagato is a fitting tribute to its illustrious ancestor. On-sale now priced at £330,000 (plus local taxes) the production specification V12 Zagato will be showcased at the Geneva Salon International in March 2012. First deliveries are scheduled for Autumn 2012.

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A look at the top performers and history of Daytona International Speedway

Clint Bowyer (No. 15 5-hour Energy Toyota)

     ·         Two top fives, six top 10s

     ·         Average finish of 15.1

     ·         Average Running Position of 15.7, ninth-best

     ·         Driver Rating of 87.0, eighth-best

     ·         2,550 Green Flag Passes, 10th-most

     ·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.792 mph, seventh-fastest

Jeff Burton (No. 31 CAT Chevrolet)

     ·         One win, seven top fives, nine top 10s; one pole

     ·         Average finish of 17.8

     ·         Average Running Position of 16.2, 10th-best

     ·         Driver Rating of 83.8, 11th-best

     ·         54 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-most

     ·         2,927 Green Flag Passes, second-most

     ·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.946 mph, second-fastest

     ·         1,350 Laps in the Top 15 (53.7%), 10th-most

     ·         1,722 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Kurt Busch (No. 51 Tag Heuer Avant-Garde Chevrolet)

     ·         10 top fives, 12 top 10s

     ·         Average finish of 16.3

     ·         Average Running Position of 13.7, fourth-best

     ·         Driver Rating of 96.0, third-best

     ·         56 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

     ·         2,719 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

     ·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.867 mph, third-fastest

     ·         1,693 Laps in the Top 15 (67.3%), second-most

     ·         Series-high 1,927 Quality Passes

Kurt Busch (No. 51 Tag Heuer Avant-Garde Chevrolet)
·         10 top fives, 12 top 10s

·         Average finish of 16.3

·         Average Running Position of 13.7, fourth-best

·         Driver Rating of 96.0, third-best

·         56 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-most

·         2,719 Green Flag Passes, seventh-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.867 mph, third-fastest

·         1,693 Laps in the Top 15 (67.3%), second-most

·         Series-high 1,927 Quality Passes

Kyle Busch (No. 18 M&M’s Toyota)

·         One win, five top fives, six top 10s

·         Average finish of 17.6

·         Series-best Average Running Position of 12.3

·         Series-best Driver Rating of 98.7

·         66 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         2,507 Green Flag Passes, 11th-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.817 mph, sixth-fastest

·         Series-high 1,821 Laps in the Top 15 (72.4%)

·         1,918 Quality Passes, second-most

Landon Cassill (No. 83 Burger King Toyota)

·         Average finish of 26.0

·         Average Running Position of 14.4, sixth-best

·         Driver Rating of 86.9, ninth-best

·         Series-best Average Green Flag Speed of 187.060 mph

Dale Earnhardt Jr. (No. 88 National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 15.0

·         Average Running Position of 15.3, eighth-best

·         Driver Rating of 87.1, seventh-best

·         64 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-most

·         2,563 Green Flag Passes, ninth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.784 mph, ninth-fastest

·         1,501 Laps in the Top 15 (59.7%), fifth-most

·         1,657 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Carl Edwards (No. 99 Fastenal Ford)

·         Four top fives, six top 10s

·         Average finish of 17.9

·         Average Running Position of 17.0, 13th-best

·         Driver Rating of 83.2, 12th-best

·         53 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-most

·         2,785 Green Flag Passes, fifth-most

·         1,450 Laps in the Top 15 (57.7%), eighth-most

·         1,918 Quality Passes, second-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet)

·         Six wins, 12 top fives, 19 top 10s; three poles

·         Average finish of 15.5

·         Average Running Position of 14.3, fifth-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.4, fourth-best

·         1,479 Laps in the Top 15 (58.8%), seventh-most

·         1,521 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 29 Budweiser Chevrolet)

·         Two wins, five top fives, nine top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 15.4

·         Driver Rating of 86.3, 10th-best

·         67 Fastest Laps Run, second-most

·         2,732 Green Flag Passes, sixth-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.791 mph, eighth-fastest

·         1,316 Laps in the Top 15 (52.3%), 12th-most

·         1,526 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet)

·         One win, six top fives, nine top 10s; two poles

·         Average finish of 17.0

·         Average Running Position of 13.0, second-best

·         Driver Rating of 87.5, sixth-best

·         2,469 Green Flag Passes, 12th-most

·         1,612 Laps in the Top 15 (64.1%), fourth-most

·         1,680 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Matt Kenseth (No. 17 Best Buy Ford)

·         One win, four top fives, 11 top 10s

·         Average finish of 17.4

·         Average Running Position of 15.3, seventh-best

·         Driver Rating of 89.0, fifth-best

·         Series-high 68 Fastest Laps Run

·         2,415 Green Flag Passes, 13th-most

·         1,497 Laps in the Top 15 (59.5%), sixth-most

·         1,608 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Ryan Newman (No. 39 WIX Filters Chevrolet)

·         One win, two top fives, three top 10s

·         Average finish of 22.0

·         Average Running Position of 16.6, 11th-best

·         Driver Rating of 82.9, 13th-best

·         2,709 Green Flag Passes, eighth-most

·         1,371 Laps in the Top 15 (54.5%), ninth-most

·         1,560 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Mobil 1/Office Depot Chevrolet)

·         Three wins, seven top fives, 12 top 10s; one pole

·         Average finish of 16.7

·         Average Running Position of 13.6, third-best

·         Driver Rating of 98.2, second-best

·         66 Fastest Laps Run, third-most

·         Average Green Flag Speed of 186.835 mph, fifth-fastest

·         1,617 Laps in the Top 15 (64.3%), third-most

Daytona International Speedway Data

Race #: 1 of 36 (2-26-11)

Track Size: 2.5 miles

Race Length: 500 miles (200 laps)

Banking/Corners: 31 degrees

Banking/Straights: 3 degrees

Banking/Tri-Oval: 18 degrees

Driver Rating at Daytona

Kyle Busch                   98.7

Tony Stewart                 98.2

Kurt Busch                    96.0

Jeff Gordon                  89.4

Matt Kenseth                 89.0

Jimmie Johnson            87.5

Dale Earnhardt Jr.         87.1

Clint Bowyer                  87.0

Landon Cassill             86.9

Kevin Harvick                86.3

Jeff Burton                   83.8

Carl Edwards                83.2

Note: Driver Rating compiled from 2005-2011 races (13 total) at Daytona.

Qualifying/Race Data

2011 pole winner: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (186.089 mph, 48.364 seconds)

2011 race winner: Trevor Bayne (130.326 mph, 2-20-11)

Qualifying record: Bill Elliott (210.364 mph, 42.783 secs., 2-9-87)

Race record: Buddy Baker (177.602 mph, 2-17-80)

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Final 2011 Top 12 at Daytona International Speedway

Note: Driver Rating from races at Daytona International Speedway from 2005-2011.

Daytona 500 Tidbits

• The 2012 edition will be the 54th running of the Daytona 500.
• Although the first Daytona 500 was held in 1959, it has been the season-opener only since 1982.
• 518 drivers have competed in at least one Daytona 500; 306 in more than one.
• 35 drivers have won a Daytona 500.
• Youngest Daytona 500 winner: Trevor Bayne (02/20/2011 – 20 years, 0 months, 1 days)
• Oldest Daytona 500 winner: Bobby Allison (02/14/1988 – 50 years, 2 months, 11 days)
• Eight drivers have won more than one Daytona 500, led by Richard Petty with seven victories.
• The eight drivers who have won the Daytona 500 more than once: Richard Petty (seven), Cale Yarborough (four), Bobby Allison (three), Dale Jarrett (three), Jeff Gordon (three), Bill Elliott (two), Sterling Marlin (two) and Michael Waltrip (two).
• Dale Earnhardt leads the series in runner-up finishes in the Daytona 500 with five; Kurt Busch leads all active drivers in Daytona 500 second-place finishes with three.
• Dale Earnhardt finished in the top 10 in 16 of his 23 Daytona 500s.
• Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty each had 16 top 10s in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver.
• Dale Earnhardt had 12 top fives in the Daytona 500, more than any other driver.
• Only 13 drivers have an average finish of 10th or better in the Daytona 500, six of those competed in the Daytona 500 only once.
• Clint Bowyer has a 12.2 average finish in six appearances, the best of the active drivers who have competed in more than one Daytona 500.
• Lee Petty, who won the inaugural Daytona 500, and Trevor Bayne, 2011 Daytona 500 champion, are the only two drivers to win the Daytona 500 in their first appearance.
• 28 of the 35 drivers who have won, participated in at least two Daytona 500s before visiting Victory Lane.
• Dale Earnhardt competed 19 times before winning his only Daytona 500 (1998), the longest span of any of the 35 race winners.
• Six drivers made 10 or more attempts before their first Daytona 500 victory: Dale Earnhardt (19), Buddy Baker (18), Darrell Waltrip (16), Bobby Allison (14), Michael Waltrip (14) and Sterling Marlin 12).
• The most Daytona 500s all-time without a victory was Dave Marcis (33 races).
• Mark Martin (27) leads active drivers without a victory.
• Six drivers posted their career-first victory with a win in the Daytona 500: Tiny Lund (1963), Mario Andretti (1967), Pete Hamilton (1970), Derrike Cope (1990), Sterling Marlin (1994), Michael Waltrip (2001) and Trevor Bayne (2011).
• Three other drivers posted their career-first victory in (point-paying) qualifying races: Johnny Rutherford (1963), Bobby Isaac (1964) and Earl Balmer (1966).
• A driver has won back-to-back Daytona 500s three times. Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95)
•  Kevin Harvick’s 0.020-second margin of victory over Mark Martin in the 2007 Daytona 500 is the 12th-closest overall since the advent of electronic timing in 1993, and the closest in a Daytona 500.
• 26 of the 53 Daytona 500s have been won from a top-five starting position.
• Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 500 from the 39th starting position in 2009, the deepest a race winner has started.
• Nine have been won from the pole. The last to do so was Dale Jarrett in 2000.
• 16 Daytona 500s have been won from the front row.
• Danica Patrick will become the third female driver to compete in a Daytona 500 joining Janet Guthrie and Shawna Robinson.

• Driver Ratings for Winners – Pre-Race Daytona 500 Driver Ratings heading into 2012 for past Daytona 500 winners (past 6 years)

Driver – Year – Driver Rating

• Drivers who have won the Daytona 500 in more than one car manufacturer:

Driver – Manufacturer (Number of wins in that manufacturer)

• Drivers who have won the Shootout at Daytona and the Daytona 500 in the same season:

Driver – (Year)

At Daytona International Speedway

History

• Groundbreaking for Daytona International Speedway was Nov. 25, 1957. The soil underneath the banked corners was dug from the infield of the track and the hole filled with water. It is now known as Lake Lloyd.
• The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona was a 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1959.
• Richard Petty won his 200th career race on July 4, 1984 at Daytona.

·         Lights were installed in the spring of 1998. However, the July race was delayed until October that year due to thick smoke from wildfires. The second Daytona race has been held under the lights ever since.

Notebook

• There have been 129 NASCAR Sprint Cup races since the track hosted its first race in 1959: 53 have been 500 miles, 49 were 400 miles and four 250 miles. There were also 23 qualifier races that were point races.
• Fireball Roberts won the inaugural pole at Daytona.
• Bob Welborn won the first race at Daytona, the 100-mile qualifying race for the Daytona 500.
• Lee Petty won the inaugural Daytona 500 on Feb. 22, 1959.
• Fireball Roberts won the first 400-mile race at Daytona, the 1963 Firecracker 400.
• 53 drivers have posted poles at Daytona.
• Cale Yarborough leads all drivers with 12 poles at Daytona.
• Bill Elliott leads all active drivers with five poles at Daytona.
• 54 drivers have won at Daytona.
• Richard Petty leads all drivers in victories at Daytona with 10.
• Jeff Gordon has six victories at Daytona, more than any other active driver.
• The Wood Brothers have won 15 races at Daytona, more than any other car owner.
• 17 full-length races at Daytona have been won from the pole; the last to do it was Kevin Harvick in last year’s Coke Zero 400.
• A driver has swept both races at Daytona only four times, most recently by Bobby Allison in 1982.

NASCAR in Florida

• There have been 169 NASCAR Sprint Cup races in Florida.
• 165 drivers in NASCAR’s three national series have their home state recorded as Florida.
• There have been nine race winners whose hometown is Florida in NASCAR’s three national series:

A hip pocket concept for your city car

“You’re not going to take your steamer trunk as if you were going on a lengthy vacation if all you want to do is a little shopping at your local supermarket!” – No, Swiss automotive visionary Frank M. Rinderknecht isn’t hiring out as an experienced travel consultant these days who has seen much of the world. Rather the man from Zumikon near Zurich is simply pointing out that usually all of us automatically do the right thing when we move around: we lug around as little ballast and unnecessary items as possible. And it is precisely this from an economic and ecological standpoint sensible behavior that Rinderknecht echoes with his new Rinspeed Dock+Go Concept car on two and sometimes three axles. The concept will be on display for hands-on inspection at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.

It is specifically this third on-demand axle that is the crucial point of the innovative modular mobility system the Rinspeed boss has devised. “Dock+Go” was built – in the traditional sense – by Peter Kägi and his company 4erC. The concept draws its irresistible charm from easy-to-dock single-axle “backpacks on wheels.” These so-called “packs” carry out their assigned tasks depending on current need. But the best thing is: they cleverly solve the much-debated operating range problem that electric vehicles suffer from. Neither unnecessary space nor superfluous weight is being transported. This truly creates “mobility à la carte.”

Any electrified city speedster could serve as the basis for “Dock+Go.” For demonstration purposes Rinderknecht selected a two-seat smart car as the basis. Different “packs” can turn the electric flea into the dream car of every pizza delivery driver – complete with a built-in isothermal box. Or they allow winter sports enthusiasts to comfortably stow their gear. In Geneva, Rinspeed will also show off a rolling “sound pack” which multimedia and infotainment specialist Harman has filled with the latest high-end sound solutions in order to guarantee a first class acoustical experience.

Yes, this car truly always saves the best for last: and in this case it is a generous helping of operating range if the 100 kilometers that are usually on tap in electric vehicles simply are not enough. An “energy pack,” fitted with a range extender or additional batteries, powered by a fuel cell or equipped with a combustion engine, provides the crucial extra kilometers to reach more distant destinations. The simple and equally clever trick of the latter is: the docked third axle drives the rotating second axle and in doing so also recharges the on-board batteries of the city speedster. The world’s first Variohybrid – as Frank M. Rinderknecht calls his range donor – is born. And to top it all off, when the pack with auxiliary batteries is docked and the vehicle is not in use, the pack will even provide electricity to the owner’s private residence or serve as a buffer for the public energy grid, in effect turning it into a “smart grid.”

Rinspeed’s automotive visions live not only on the quality of the ideas behind it, but also and in particular on their sharp implementation. That’s because one key element of Frank M. Rinderknecht’s credo is that a car must provoke emotions and visions, especially if it is to serve as a vehicle for communicating new technologies and innovative materials. And there is a lot to see on the “Dock+Go” in that respect, contributed by large corporations and small but brilliant specialists alike in order to effectively showcase “Dock+Go,” which is currently going through the Swiss patenting process.

An immediate eye-catcher is the silver outer skin from AkzoNobel with a finish that resembles sparkling ice crystals. It ties in with the Goodyear low-rolling-resistance tires in size 205/40-17 mounted on 7.5-inch AEZ rims, whose decorative silver covers are attached to red fasteners with rubber bands. At night the chrome-blue accent striping on either side stands out immediately, developed by Lumitec based on an electroluminescent 3D-flexible film. Anyone with a message for their environment can broadcast it using the innovative “Identiface” feature. This display-based surface, developed by MBtech, replaces the front grille, which on an electric vehicle serves virtually no purpose. Thanks to internet connectivity “Identiface” can display the owner’s Facebook pages, news from around the world, the manufacturer’s badge or even the offer of a ride from point A to point B.

The interior is dominated by black and red. The high-tech Schoeller yarns have strong natural thermoregulation, good insulation and a high capacity for absorbing moisture. They keep comfortably warm in winter and remain pleasantly cool in summer. Premium automotive textile manufacturer Gaenslen&Völter spun them into soft, supple upholstery that provides that special feel-good factor. And wherever plastics are used, it is in the form of high-grade man-made materials, such as the creatively and stylishly embossed synthetic leather that is supplied by Hornschuch, a specialist in this field. The transparent roof and its distinctive grass inlays – as well as a number of other interior materials – were contributed by Studer. The view ahead is dominated by a 12.1-inch monitor. It belongs to the multimedia equipment and is part of the intelligent infotainment system developed from Harman. The platform features the latest integration technologies for smart phones, adaptive navigation and the cloud-based Aha-platform
with a flexible Human Machine Interface (HMI) and gesture control in order to bring digital contents intuitively, easy and safely into the car. This gesture-controlled system makes operation of the contents child’s play and the four cameras integrated into the vehicle body make dents from parking maneuvers things of the past.

The instruments were again supplied by – who else? – VDO. Also brand-new is the steering wheel from the German-Japanese Takata Corporation with integrated “parking space” for a smartphone, which serves as a second monitor when docked. This is made possible these days by a driver airbag that thanks to vacuum technology requires reduced installation space.

But Rinspeed Dock+Go Concept offers more than just style; it also serves up a high level of technical sophistication. The recently developed high-strength, lightweight door frames come from Austrian steel manufacturer Voestalpine. Weber Fibertech built the extremely lightweight liftgate insert with function integration, the high voltage electric heater including the futuristic air vents were supplied by German specialist Eberspächer. No compromises can be made when it comes to handling huge amounts of energy safely, a fact accounted for by the extremely robust electric plug connectors from TE Electronics. Apropos plug connectors: recharging the car no longer requires it to be plugged in. Instead the vehicle simply rolls onto an induction field from SEW Eurodrive for non-contact charging.

Rinspeed Dock+Go is a clever mobility concept, implemented rich with emotions, enhanced with technical delicacies and intriguing enough for Swiss insurance giant Zürich Versicherung to commit to the cause. Who wouldn’t think of a series production in this context? No wonder that dynamic Frank M. Rinderknecht, one of the flagships for Swiss watch manufacturer C.F. Bucherer, is toying with this possibility. Rinderknecht on this issue: “Yes, we have been in productive talks with potential manufacturers for some time now.” Düsseldorf-based consulting company A.T. Kearney at any rate has already devised a manufacturing and marketing concept for the series production.

Busch survives spins, rallies for Shootout win

Kyle Busch rallied from two near-disasters to win Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout with a slingshot move past Tony Stewart a few yards from the finish line at Daytona International Speedway.

Starting from the back of the field in a backup car — necessitated by a wreck in Friday’s practice — Busch won the season-opening exhibition race for the first time. His winning margin over Stewart was .013 seconds, the closest in Shootout history, in a green-white-checkered-flag finish that took the race seven laps beyond its scheduled distance.

Kyle Busch edges Tony Stewart for the win

Marcos Ambrose recovered from a pair of wrecks to finish third, followed by Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin. Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya completed the top 10.

Busch’s victory was the first in a NASCAR racecar using electronic fuel injection, which was introduced to the Sprint Cup Series this season.

Stewart had just taken the lead on Lap 74 of a scheduled 75 when a violent wreck in Turn 4 sent Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 Chevrolet barrel-rolling through Turn 4 and sliding on its roof toward the entrance to pit road.

Gordon was following Kyle Busch on the backstretch, and contact between the cars turned Busch’s Toyota onto the apron. Busch made a dramatic save for the second time in the race, but Gordon slid up the track into the Chevrolets of Kurt Busch and Jamie McMurray.

As all three cars contacted the outside wall, Jimmie Johnson’s Chevrolet nosed beneath the right rear bumper of Gordon’s car and turned it upside down. The wreck left 11 cars on the lead lap and sent the race to overtime.

“With Gordon behind me, I don’t know what the deal was there — I’d like to talk to him about it,” Busch said. “When we came off (Turn) 2, he had me sideways, and then all the way down the backstretch, I was still sideways — left, right, left, right, everywhere — then we were off into 3 and he turned me sideways again. He was on the left side of my bumper instead of the right.”

The first of the close calls for Busch, on Lap 48, strung the field out, leaving a 10-car pack fighting for the lead. Busch’s Toyota twice turned sideways off the bumper of Johnson, and twice Busch saved the car from calamity despite running onto the apron in Turn 2.

“Stab and steer, stab and steer,” Busch said of the technique that bailed him out of trouble. “That’s what you do. And some brakes. There are brakes involved, too. I thought I was clear… and I tried going down slowly, and Jimmie just must have been there a little bit, turned me sideways and got me on the apron — scared everybody half to death, including me.”

The complexion of the race changed dramatically on Lap 55, when a chain-reaction wreck that started with contact between the cars of polesitter Martin Truex Jr., Ambrose and Joey Logano clobbered those three vehicles and eliminated Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kevin Harvick and Matt Kenseth.

The resulting fourth caution of the race bunched the field for a restart on Lap 62, with Greg Biffle in the lead, followed by Hendrick Motorsports teammates Gordon and Johnson and reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Stewart.

Rule changes NASCAR instituted during the offseason changed the character of racing at Daytona. Though Busch and Stewart hooked up for the final two-lap dash, drivers spent the vast majority of the race drafting in packs. To Stewart, it was a significant improvement.

“I had fun racing at Daytona again, which I haven’t had for a while,” Stewart said. “This is better than having to sit there and stare at the back of a spoiler for 500 miles.”

The race was barely eight laps old when contact from David Ragan’s Ford turned Paul Menard’s Chevrolet and ignited a multicar wreck that also damaged the cars of Kasey Kahne, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Montoya, Michael Waltrip, Jeff Burton and Gordon.

Earnhardt, who had led the first three laps, had just regained the top spot on Lap 8 and was out in front when the wreck erupted behind him. The crash sidelined Menard, Ragan and Waltrip and knocked Hamlin and Kahne off the lead lap. Burton also fell of the lead lap during the first 25-lap segment when he pitted under green with a cut tire.

“Everybody was real racy and I just got into the back of Menard,” Ragan said after exiting his car. “You get a good run, and you’re pushing a little bit, and I guess he was pushing whoever was in front of him. And when you’ve got the meat in between the sandwich, you usually get wrecked.”

McMurray was at the front of the field when NASCAR called the competition caution after Lap 25. Gordon, undeterred by minor damage to his car, was second, followed by Harvick, Kyle Busch and Ambrose.

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
Feb. 18, 2012

2012 Bud Shootout Results.pdf

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Stand out from the crowd – MINI style

The MINI Clubvan Concept brings apparently conflicting profiles together into a single package, paving the way for an innovative vehicle concept without parallel in the premium small car segment. The MINI Clubman-based concept car, scheduled for its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show 2012, combines the driving fun for which MINI is renowned with increased load-carrying capability. The MINI experience will therefore find its way into new areas of life, the brand’s distinctive character gaining new popularity among target groups not previously on the MINI radar.

The closed-off load area behind the front seats and the opaque rear side windows of the new concept set it apart most strikingly from the MINI Clubman. The Clubvan uses its broader skill-set to open up new usage possibilities – both business and leisure. Where a business’s customers, product range and operating environment demand a particular style for its vehicles, a premium model can make the perfect delivery solution. For example, a car in the mould of the MINI Clubvan Concept would fit excellently into the fleet of a fashion designer, art gallery owner or event caterer. And its abilities as an all-rounder also tick the right boxes for a photographer with a stack of camera, tripod and lighting equipment to ferry around during the week – and bulky sports and leisure gear to pile on board at the weekend.

The MINI Clubvan pulls off the trick of blending enhanced practicality and a well-judged lifestyle focus with natural ease. This ability is based on the impressive adaptability that goes to the heart of the MINI brand’s heritage. Calls for maximising the load capacity of the classic Mini began as early as 1960, just a year after the car’s birth. And they were soon heeded. With its 10-centimetre-longer wheelbase, separate load compartment and split rear doors, the Morris Mini Van was perfectly equipped for commercial use. It also provided the basis for the fully glazed, four-seat Morris Mini Traveller, one of the precursors of today’s successful MINI Clubman. And so, more than 50 years on, the MINI Clubvan Concept sees history repeating itself – albeit in a slightly different order.

Two seats, five doors, endless usage potential
Limiting the car to two seats creates the capacity its owners will need on a day-to-day basis, as well as opening up a whole new world of customisation potential. The load compartment of the MINI Clubvan Concept embodies the car’s fresh and rigorous interpretation of the principle used in the classic Mini – of providing the maximum amount of interior space on the smallest possible footprint. The load area reaches from the split rear doors right up to the partition grille behind the two seats. The totally level floor makes full use of the interior’s depth, and that allows the concept car’s load capacity to exceed the maximum achieved by the MINI Clubman.

Six attachment loops recessed into the load compartment floor use elasticated straps to hold items of varying lengths, heights and widths in place – without the risk of them sliding around. Added to which, the partition grille, which is fixed securely to the car body, ensures that items stowed in the load compartment cannot find their way into the front seats, even under extremely heavy braking. The lower section of the partition is made from solid aluminium, while the upper section consists of a silver-coloured stainless steel honeycomb grating. The side walls and floor of the load compartment are trimmed in high-quality anthracite-coloured cloth. The anthracite roof liner, meanwhile, extends along the full length of the interior. This uniform colour scheme emphasises the pure-bred, practicality-oriented character of the MINI Clubvan Concept.

The generous levels of space on board the concept car can be exploited in a variety of ways. Commercial users will be particularly pleased to discover the scope for configuring the load compartment to personal requirements. For example, tools and goods can be stored neatly and securely in made-to-measure drawers or shelving units. 12-volt plug sockets in the rear area of the load compartment provide additional practicality.

The MINI Clubvan Concept comes with British Racing Green exterior paintwork, which extends to the roof, C-pillars and exterior mirror caps. As is usual for vehicles charged with transportation tasks, the rear side windows of the Clubvan are opaque. Polycarbonate sections – their outer surfaces painted in the car’s body colour – and heavily tinted glass for the rear doors make it difficult to see into the load compartment.

by JW Hayes

Deliveries of the MP4-12C are now underway in North America

The arrival of the MP4-12C marks the launch of McLaren Automotive in North America. McLaren plans to launch a new model or variant in the North American market each year, expanding its lineup and reaching new enthusiast audiences.

This video was shot in five locations across the United States in some of the key markets where McLaren has dealerships. Additionally, footage was shot on location at McLaren’s port of entry in Baltimore, MD. The footage includes the MP4-12C rolling off the cargo vessel Taisko which had just arrived from the United Kingdom.

McLaren Automotive is represented by 10 dealerships throughout North America. There are nine dealers located in the United States: McLaren Greenwich, McLaren Philadelphia, McLaren Tampa, The Collection McLaren (Miami), McLaren Dallas, McLaren Chicago, McLaren Newport Beach, McLaren San Francisco, and McLaren Beverly Hills. McLaren Toronto represents McLaren Automotive in Canada. The base MSRP for the 12C is $229,000 in the US.

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The Peugeot 208 GTi Concept re-generates an iconic legend

The first thing that attracts you with the 208 is the detailing of the signature LED headlamp design, which is prominently visible both day and night. Using Full-LED technology, the front directional indicators surround the main beam headlamps giving this concept car the impression of having an iris. The rectangular headlamp units, when used on main beam, appear to have a ‘feline pupil’ … a technological and precise expression that is fully identifiable with the lion Marque.

This precision continues with the integrated style components adorning the bodywork. Wheel arches have wing extensions, and bodywork with sills enhance the stance.

The first sensations are completely visual and evident as soon as the Peugeot 208 GTi Concept is revealed. Instantly characterised by being the performance icon of the 208, it features chequered-flag motifs that embellish the metal mesh of the grille, and the lower bar proudly affirms its origin by displaying the French ‘Le Tricolour’ flag or the Union Jack when in the UK.

Other distinctive exterior features include: double chromed exhaust tailpipes, aero lower bodywork spoilers and lower sill skirt extensions that all capture the signature badging. Placed within the grille is the brushed aluminium GTi Concept logo that can also be found on the rear quarter panels, as a salute to its illustrious predecessor – the legendary 205 GTi.

On the inside, the passenger compartment is a true GTi environment, with a characteristic sports leather stitched steering wheel, the treatment of which is replicated on the sides of the gear lever, double stitching in the seats and enhanced with LED backlighting to the surrounds of the high-tech instruments. The sports seats are trimmed with Nappa leather on the outer section, and cloth in the centre with an embossed tartan motif, and a leather head restraint.

The red perforated leather steering wheel continues the check motif, and has a pronounced lower flat section, which carries the GTi Concept logo set in an aluminium ring. To complete the sports interior, the fascia capping is dressed in Alcantara with grey stitching, the roof lining is entirely black and the pedals are aluminium. The centre console architecture and ventilation vents all feature a graduated red to black effect, and the chequered-flag theme is also present on the aluminium door crossbars.

The 208 GTi Concept takes its propulsion from the powerfully-compact RCZ THP 200 engine. Combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox, the 1.6-litre THP engine puts its driver at the controls of a machine that captivates the potential for a great driving experience. Like all 208s, a small steering wheel greets the driver and with the GTi Concept, this accentuates the dynamic capability of this car with the enhanced power available. With the raised instrument panel in line of sight, the information is clearly visible from the dials that have a brushed aluminium background and very precise graduations.

The GTi Concept also benefits from the improvements that characterise the 208, taking full advantage of its compactness and lightness, delivering road-holding that is both excellent and precise. To enhance the dynamic experience, it has a 36mm wider track, at the front and at the rear, and a rear roof spoiler to generate down force at speed. For optimum braking performance, the GTi Concept is equipped with four discs; 302mm diameter at the front and 249mm at the rear, set off by red-painted brake callipers.

2012 BMW 650i Cabriolet becomes the CLR 600 GT

The LUMMA CLR 600 GT, to be revealed for the first time at the 82nd Auto Salon exhibition in Geneva, is a BMW 650i – modified to perfection. With its perfectly formed aerodynamic package, together with an increase in power to 490 BHP (360 kW) and GTB-Monoblock 20” wheels this, the sixth Cabriolet from LUMMA Design, is utterly seductive.

The subtle aerodynamic package of the LUMMA CLR 600 GT is presented with great attention to detail. Alongside a front spoiler with LED daytime driving lights and side skirts, a rear diffuser is also included. The parts – produced in OEM quality – give the BMW Cabriolet a sporty appearance, which is underpinned by a noticeable power boost and improved vehicle dynamics.

Following numerous tests, LUMMA Design has developed modified engine electronics especially for the BMW TwinTurbo eight cylinder gasoline engine, which mobilizes the potential power of the V8 Powertrain. In place of the 408 BHP (300 kW) found in the series models, the eight-cylinder engine now produces 490 BHP (360 kW). In comparison to the series model (600 Nm), the maximum torque now lies at a powerful 720 Newtonmeters. The top speed has been increased to 160 mph. A flow-optimized muffler with four stainless steel tail pipes, each 90 millimeters in diameter, adds to the sound of the performance-enhanced eight-cylinder, providing a robust “sports sound.”

The wheel housings are embellished with LUMMA GTB Monoblock alloy rims with Vredestein Ultra-High-Performance 255/35-20 tires on the front and 285/30-20 at the drive shaft. Lowered by 20 millimeters, the 9 and 10.5 x 20 inch wheels in a racing spokes design, with their black surface finish, look even more sporty underneath the mudguardsfenders. An attractive contrast to the dark rims is provided by the painted yellow brake callipers.

LUMMA Design has designed the interior of the 650i Cabriolets to match the sporty and powerful exterior. Materials of the highest quality, traditional hand-crafted upholstery and impeccable workmanship form the basis for a perfect interior range. In the CLR 600 GT, sportiness meets exclusivity.

Using alcantara and leather, the automobile tuning company has embellished not only the seats, the door panels and the ergonomically shaped sports steering wheel – set of pedals made from aluminum, including foot rests, velour floor and trunk mats with a leather trim and interior trims in embossed carbon leather round off the range of elegant accessories from LUMMA Design.

With the world premiere of the LUMMA CLR 600 GT at the Auto Salon Exhibition in Geneva, BMW’s desire for a perfect, sporty cabriolet has been skilfully fulfilled by LUMMA Design.