The Audi R8 LMS

Audi Sport Italia receives the Audi R8 LMS with chassis number 101. The symbolic handover of the first customer car was made on Tuesday in the Audi Forum Neckarsulm. Emilio Radaelli, Team Manager of Audi Sport Italia, accepted the R8 LMS from Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

“In the future our new customer sport program represents Audi Sport’s third business field alongside our factory programs in the DTM and in sport prototypes,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “2009 is a test and development year during which we aim to collect as much experience as possible with the R8 LMS. We are delighted to be able to do this with teams with which we are familiar and have established a solid partnership over the years.”

In the 2009 season, Abt Sportsline, Argo Racing, ORECA, Phoenix Racing and Team Rosberg also trust the new GT3 sports car from AUDI AG. Audi Sport will start the delivery to customers for the 2010 season from fall 2009.

The six customer teams plan to race in five European GT3 championships as well as in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring for which Audi Sport has developed an endurance version of the R8 LMS.

Twelve R8 LMS sports cars will be in action in more than 40 events at almost 30 European circuits throughout the 2009 motorsport season. “This allows us to collect a lot of experience which will flow into the development of the R8 LMS,” says Oliver Straube who is responsible for marketing of the R8 LMS at Audi Sport.

With the GT3 race version of the R8, Audi Sport developed a racing sports car specifically for use in customer sport with the GT3 race version. Pure “factory” entries are not planned with the R8 LMS.

The assembly of the race cars including the body shells is made by quattro GmbH in Heilbronn-Biberach in a factory hall specifically for the customer sport program. The Audi factory in Györ, Hungary, deliver the V10 engines.

The new Audi R8 LMS competes in GT3 race series for the first time over the Easter weekend (10 to 13 April). The French GT Championship and the ADAC GT Masters start at the same time at Nogaro (France) and in the Motorsportarena Oschersleben (Germany).

2009 Schedule

FIA GT3 European Championship (Phoenix Racing, Team Rosberg)

05/03 Silverstone (GB)
05/17 Adria (I)
06/21 Oschersleben (D)
09/13 Algarve (P)
10/04 Paul Ricard (F)
11/14 Dubai (UAE)

ADAC GT Masters (Abt Sportsline, Argo Racing, Phoenix Racing, Team Rosberg)

04/13 Oschersleben (D)
05/10 Assen (NL)
06/07 Hockenheim (D)
07/05 EuroSpeedway (D)
08/23 Nürburgring (D)
09/20 Sachsenring (D)
10/18 Oschersleben (D)

French GT Championship (ORECA)

04/13 Nogaro (F)
05/10 Dijon-Prenois (F)
05/31 Magny-Cours (F)
07/05 Val de Vienne (F)
09/06 Albi (F)
10/04 Paul Ricard (F)
10/18 Lédenon (F)

Italian GT Championship (Audi Sport Italia)

05/31 Vallelunga (I)
06/07 Magione (I)
06/21 Mugello (I)
07/19 Misano (I)
09/06 Imola (I)
09/27 Mugello (I)
10/18 Monza (I)

Belgiam GT Championship (Phoenix Racing)

04/26 Zolder (B)
05/10 Spa-Francorchamps (B)
06/06 Spa-Francorchamps (B)
07/11 Spa-Francorchamps (B)
08/22 Zolder (B)
09/20 Algarve (P)
10/11 Zolder (B)

Long distance championship Nürburgring (Phoenix Racing)

04/04 Nürburgring (D)
04/18 Nürburgring (D)
05/02 Nürburgring (D)
06/13 Nürburgring (D)
06/27 Nürburgring (D)
07/18 Nürburgring (D)
08/29 Nürburgring (D)
10/03 Nürburgring (D)
10/17 Nürburgring (D)
10/31 Nürburgring (D)

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When the Credit Crunches

The pen is proving mightier than the control pad as new research out today reveals credit-crunched Brits are favouring the humble crossword over modern games. Nearly nine out of ten UK adults (86 per cent) say they find traditional crossword puzzles more stimulating than modern “brain training” games.

To celebrate the return of the modest crossword, Chevrolet, the value-for-money car manufacturer, has created a giant mobile puzzle on a Captiva car which has driven across the country to give the nation’s crossword lovers a chance to complete against each other in the huge 3D challenge.

The research commissioned by Chevrolet of over 1,000 UK adults illustrates that the growing crossword trend seems to be fuelled by the change in economy, as three quarters of those polled (76 per cent) claim that the credit crunch has encouraged them to find better value ways to occupy themselves.

Despite the crossword being close to a hundred years old, 42 per cent of Brits still enjoy one weekly, as eight out of the ten polled (82 per cent) consider crosswords to be a great form of education, completing them to keep their minds sharp. 89 per cent claim that the puzzles help expand their vocabulary, with 84 per cent believing that crosswords improve their general knowledge, deemed by Brits as the most important life skill after strong communication skills.

Adult puzzlers in Britain spend the equivalent of a full working week doing crosswords every year, with those from the North East being the most die-hard in their pursuit for completion, spending 61 hours a year on their favourite game. North Westerners and those from East Anglia are almost as hardcore in their passion to puzzle, spending just an hour less a year solving them.

Les Turton from Chevrolet, comments:
“It comes as no surprise that people are turning to better value products and activities like crosswords, as we are all more aware of looking after the pennies. The accessibility and challenge of a crossword provides cost effective entertainment and brain stimulation.”

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Jaguar XJ 358 - Arden AJ14

Arden is expanding its exclusive range of accessories for the Jaguar XJ 358. From now on there is a modern front-end conversion and a sporty-elegant rear diffuser available.

The new front look is given a sporty touch by two spoiler lips installed at the side under the fog lights, but is dominated by the LED daytime running lights shining brightly in the air inlets. These lights bracket the newly designed central stainless steel grille, which is made of the same high-grade material as the current Arden radiator grille. The finishing touches to the new look are provided by the well-known, TUV-tested Arden Jaguar Leaper.

When the Jaguar makes the impressive appearance seen in the rear view mirror disappear by powering past, there is still the view of the powerful rear-end to enjoy. Here, the new Arden diffuser guarantees increased downforce without losing the elegant design. The additional grip generated this way contributes to more sporty and safer driving behaviour.

The classic appearance of the XJ 358 is consolidated by the “Zelem One” rim, and underlined by the rear muffler that fits exactly into the diffuser.

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All-new Honda

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight goes on-sale March 24 with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price1 (MSRP) of $19,800 for the Insight LX, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

The distinctively styled, five-passenger, five-door dedicated hybrid vehicle is powered by an Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA™) system comprised of a 1.3-liter i-VTEC® gasoline engine and a 10-kilowatt electric motor that together contribute to an EPA-estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 40/43 miles per gallonn2. The Insight features the Ecological Drive Assist System (Eco Assist™), an innovation that can further enhance efficient vehicle operation while providing feedback related to individual driving styles.

“The all-new Honda Insight brings the cost of entry for hybrid technology within closer reach of an entirely new car-shopping audience,” said Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda. “In addition to making good environmental sense, hybrid technology is now entering a new era where it can also make financial sense for a broader range of customers.”

A sleek exterior blends design elements from the original 2000 Insight’s highly aerodynamic side profile with a front-end design similar to the hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity, a marquee environmental product for Honda. The interior offers a roomy passenger environment with a configurable rear seating and cargo area that benefits from 60/40 split fold-down seats.

Major features standard to the Insight LX include front, front-side and side-curtain airbags; an anti-lock braking system; a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT); Eco Assist; automatic climate control; tilt and telescope steering column; manual driver’s seat height adjustment; power windows; a four-speaker AM/FM audio system with CD player and auxiliary audio input for external digital music players; and much more.

A more premium version of the Insight is also available. The Insight EX, with a MSRP of $21,300, adds to the Insight LX features with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®); alloy wheels; cruise control; steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters; an upgraded audio system with six speakers; USB audio interface3; a center console with armrest and storage compartment; heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals; and much more. Exclusively available on the Insight EX, the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System4 (6.5-inch screen) with voice recognition provides routing and guidance to individual addresses and more than 7 million points of interest within the continental United States. Models equipped with the navigation system also include Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® for hands-free operation of compatible mobile telephones, along with related steering wheel-mounted controls for voice activation of navigation and hands-free telephone systems.

A 4-cylinder engine with intelligent variable valve timing and a DC brushless electric motor forms the foundation of the IMA hybrid system. The electric motor, positioned in-line between the engine and the transmission, adds power during acceleration and in certain cruising situations, and recaptures energy from the vehicle’s forward momentum during braking (regenerative braking).

The Insight’s IMA system has the capability to operate exclusively on electric power in certain low- to mid-speed cruising conditions. It can also provide cylinder deactivation during deceleration and an idle-stop feature when the vehicle is stationary. With a 10.6-gallon fuel tank, the Insight delivers an estimated maximum driving range exceeding 400 miles. Models for sale in California and states that have adopted the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ZEV standards receive an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) emissions rating.

The Insight introduces Eco Assist to help drivers achieve improved real-world fuel economy. Eco Assist is a feature designed to help drivers optimize fuel efficiency for their given set of driving conditions. Pressing the ECON button can further enhance the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems: throttle control, CVT operation, idle-stop duration, air conditioning and cruise-control operation (EX only). Eco Assist also provides feedback about driving style via a 3D-appearing background within the speedometer. The background changes colors from green to blue to reflect how efficiently or inefficiently the driver is accelerating or braking (green = efficient). The driver’s results are continuously tracked as fuel-economy ratings are shown per drive cycle and on a lifetime basis in the form of plant-leaf graphics that appear in the Multi-Information Display (MID). Up to five leaves can be ‘earned’ as the driver demonstrates a fuel-efficient driving style. A real-time score is shown in the Eco Guide MID screen.

Standard safety features on all Insights include dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags; front-side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); side-curtain airbag system; anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution (EBD); driver’s and front-passenger’s active head restraints and a front body designed to mitigate pedestrian injuries. All new Insights also feature Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, which provides improved frontal-crash compatibility between vehicles of different size and ride height.

Honda is a leader in developing cleaner, more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies, including the original Honda Insight, introduced as America’s first mass-produced hybrid car in December 1999. Honda is also a leader in the development of advanced alternatives to gasoline, including the zero-emission, hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity fuel-cell car, the world’s most advanced production fuel-cell automobile.

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Chevrolet ‘Cruze’s Ahead on Price

Keeping an eye on money has never been more topical, and the good news for Chevrolet customers is that the all-new Cruze will be true to the brand’s traditional value-for-money ethics despite its premium styling and build quality.

The newcomer, which has the stance of a four-door coupe, will start from just £11,545 on-the-road, and will arrive at UK Chevrolet retailers in July.

It will be offered with a choice of four engines – 1.6 (113PS) and 1.8-litre (141PS) petrols featuring variable valve timing for maximum performance and efficiency, plus two diesels, both 2.0-litres and with a choice of 125PS or 150PS power outputs. Automatic transmission will be offered on the petrol models.

The range will kick off with the 1.6 S, which enjoys a comprehensive list of standard equipment despite its value price tag. As well as remote central locking, the model features follow-me-home lighting, a feature normally reserved for premium cars, a quality CD-radio system, electric front windows, a fully-adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel, six airbags, ESC, upmarket soft-touch cabin materials, and premium blue-backlit dashboard dials. The 1.6S A/C model, at £11,995, also adds air conditioning.

The LS model, expected to be the best-seller in the range, starts at only £12,595 for the 1.6 manual variant and includes air conditioning as standard, plus other upmarket features such as 16-inch alloy wheels, a chrome edged radiator grille, front fog lights and reverse parking sensors.

Flagship of the range will be the LT, which comes in 1.8 petrol or 2.0-litre diesel guise, starting at £13,595. For that, you get a list of specification that’s truly befitting of a luxury car, including cruise control, climate control, an automatic anti-dazzle rear view mirror, an upgraded high-output stereo, electric rear windows, chrome detailing and 17-inch alloy wheels, plus the option of an integrated satellite navigation system.

The Cruze will also spearhead Chevrolet’s campaign in the 2009 World Touring Car Championship, which kicked off on March 8 in Curitiba, Brazil. The UK round of the WTCC takes place at Brands Hatch on July 19 – just in time to coincide with the car’s UK introduction.

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Audi R15 TDI: first “second” generation diesel racing sports car

AUDI AG is the world’s first automobile manufacturer to develop a “second” generation diesel racing sports car. Audi aims to underline its supremacy and consolidate its expertise in car technology once more at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans with the all-new Audi R15 TDI.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is particularly suited for this: Efficient and economical cars are especially required for the French endurance classic. Lightweight construction, environmentally friendly drive concepts and well-thought out aerodynamics are the focus of attention at Le Mans just as they are during the development of production cars. For this purpose the regulations intentionally give the engineers plenty of freedom.

Audi Sport fully exploited this creative freedom and put a new LMP1 race car on the track that differs significantly from all previous Le Mans sports cars. “The R15 TDI has many detailed technical solutions never seen before on a sports prototype,” explains Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “To a certain extent we followed entirely new routes.”

Highly efficient TDI engine

The heart of the R15 TDI is a newly developed V10 TDI engine producing more than 600 hp, with a maximum torque output in excess of 1,050 Newton meters and which reflects the latest version of the TDI Technology invented by Audi. The power unit is more compact and lighter than the twelve-cylinder engine used in the preceding R10 TDI model. The specific fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions could also be reduced. Innovations in the turbo-charging and fuel injection areas simultaneously ensure improved engine response. The R15 TDI is also equipped with a new generation of even lighter diesel particle filters.

The new sports car’s aerodynamics, which play a particularly important role at Le Mans, are extremely refined. Like the DTM 2008 championship winning Audi A4, the airflow around and through the car was optimized with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). Included among the many innovative detail solutions which can be spotted at first glance are a rear wing suspended from the top and a high nose.

Innovative vehicle electrical system concept

The vehicle electrical system in the Le Mans sports car is entirely new: A lithium- ion battery, as found in some hybrid vehicles, is used for the first time. It is lighter than the conventional battery and supplies a higher voltage.

The headlights fitted to the R15 TDI also benefit from the higher power. At Le Mans, Audi competes for the first time with a low beam unit comprised entirely of light emitting diodes, which represents the next generation of Audi LED technology for road cars.

Innovative approaches

Numerous innovative approaches are also hidden in the chassis and suspension of the diesel sports car. Due to the aerodynamic concept the front and rear suspension have been raised. Thanks to a longer wheelbase and the optimized vehicle weight the R15 TDI is significantly more agile than its predecessor.

Audi is the only automobile manufacturer to have won the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans with a diesel car. “With the R15 TDI we have created the base to be in a position to win also in 2009,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich.

The Audi R15 TDI celebrates its race debut in the 12-hour race in Sebring, Florida in the USA on March 21. Audi Sport Team Joest plans to field three cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 13/14.

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