| Aussie muscle
Youve got to appreciate how refreshing a car like this is. When it comes to performance oriented cars, I find myself so caught up in whats going on with the usual suspects like BMW, Mercedes and Audi, that I forget whats going on elsewhere in the world. Its kind of like a wildcard that rears it head and asks to be evaluated against the current benchmarks. Thats how I see it anyway. See the gallery During the presentation before my test drive, someone asked the GM representatives who they feel the competition is for the new Lumina is. They just sort of mumbled the word BMW through closed lips and changed the subject. I guess its a given. Especially locally. When a big power rear-wheel drive car is released, it will naturally be compared to the Germans. So how does it compare? Well first of all, it comes in a lot cheaper.
EU issues safety warnings on several cars
AN ALERT has been issued over several motor vehicles in the European marketplace, which have been deemed as dangerous to the consumer. The authorities in Cyprus were notified of a potential problem through RAPEX, the EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products. The BMW R1200 GS motorbike whose combination of a cross-spoke rim and tyre pressure monitoring system may produce a slow and also a sudden loss of air pressure. Sudden loss of air pressure means that the vehicle can no longer be controlled safely. An alert has also been issued over the Honda SCV100 LEAD scooter, originating from India. The product is said to pose a risk of injury because the nuts of the wheel hub may be insufficiently tightened, which could cause instability of the vehicle when ridden. The passengers airbag of the Japanese Suzuki Ignis 1.3 and 1.5 litre cannot deploy properly in a crash due to production failure, while thermal strain on the front fuel-cooler support on German Volkswagen Passats could cause it to break.
Bmw Sauber F1 Team: Test in Valencia Day 3
Willy Rampf, Technical Director: "We are pleased with the first test of the F1.07. No doubt that the car has much potential. After the roll-out on Tuesday, we were able to start working on the different systems during the following days.
This included the set-up of the quick shift gearbox as well as checking the hydraulic and the cooling systems. During the past two days we focused manly on the set-up of the car. It was good to see that the car reacts with good correlation to our simulations. This confirms that we have a solid basis for the ongoing development."
Robert Kubica:
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.07-01 / BMW P86/7 V8
Test kilometres today: 405 km (101 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:12.099 min
Timo Glock:
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.06-05B / BMW P86 V8
Test kilometres today: 441 km (110 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:13.005 min
Programme:
The final day of the first pre-season test of the BMW Sauber F1 Team was very productive.
Another BMW/Citroen/Peugeot Engine
The engine co-operation between the BMW Group and PSA Peugeot Citroen has moved forward with the announcement of a 1.4-litre unit. It's basically the same as the 1.6 already used in both turbocharged and naturally-aspirated form in, for example, the MINI and the Peugeot 207. The lower capacity is due to a reduced stroke (which in turn suggests the ability to rev higher) but the variable valve lift and timing remain in place. The 1.4 will be used in the entry-level MINI One mentioned in our recent feature. As with the 1.6, all the parts are created at the PSA plant in Douvrin, which is also where engines intended for use in Citroens and Peugeots are assembled. The parts for the MINI engines are transported to Ham Hall for assembly there. Once the process is fully up and running, production of the three engines combined is expected to reach one million units per year, 20% of them being 1.6-litre turbos.
Glock impressed by new BMW
Following a two-year break, Timo Glock is back in the world of Formula One racing as the official test driver of the BMW Sauber F1 Team. In his opinion, the team's starting drivers have a good chance this year of achieving podium positions with the new BMW Sauber F1.07. .
Shipwreck costs SA R500m
A container shipwreck off the English coast has cost South Africans R500m, although the 39 BMW motorbikes onboard the doomed ship were insured! South African individuals and companies have suffered losses of up to R500m after the container ship MSC Napoli ran aground off the south-west English coast at the weekend, spilling dozens of containers onto the shoreline, Beeld reports. The ship was headed for Cape Town. The Mediterranean Shipping Company’s Glen Delve said more than 80 percent of the 2,323 containers on the vessel had cargo destined for South Africa. The ship would have docked in Cape Town on January 29. BMW South Africa’s Guy Kilfoil confirmed the cargo included 39 BMW motorcycles valued at R4,5m, which had been destined for South African customers and dealers.
Out Loud: Car adverts focus on the wrong things
For the past couple of days, Ive been helping my sister look for a new car. Having had hers for about seven years, she and the car have agreed that its really time they parted ways.
Of course, the embarrassing sounds the car makes and other persisting mechanical problems have made the break-up even more pressing, with the owner extra-determined, or should I say obsessed with, getting herself a new one.
My sister is definitely spoilt for choice, given the increasing bouquet of vehicle models on our streets spurred by the booming economy and television and print adverts, so I was surprised when she voiced her doubts, rethinking whether she indeed needs the stylish, fast and very luxurious car shes been yearning for.
Look at all these people stuck in traffic with their BMW 1 series and Toyota RunX, she pointed out on our way to work this morning.
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