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Felipe Massa, Formula One's Sultan

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:30:16 -0700

For the third time in a row Felipe Massa showed everyone that the Turkish Grand Prix has a special place in his soul and won it. The "Sultan" managed to win after starting from pole-position and his victory sent Ferrari away leading the constructors championship, while he's now second in the drivers championship.

The podium was completed with Lewis Hamilton from McLaren that finished just 3.7 seconds slower and the other Ferrari race, world champion, Kimi Raikkonen that finished 4.2 seconds behind Massa.

The results of the Turkish Grand Prix, in Istanbul:

Here are the results of the Turkish Grand Prix:

1. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1 hr 26 min 49.451 secs
2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren +00:03.779
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 00:04.271
4. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 00:21.945
5. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 00:38.741
6. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 00:53.724
7. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 01:04.229
8. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Toyota 01:11.406
9. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull - Renault 01:15.270
10. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 01:16.344
11. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1 lap
12. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) McLaren 1 lap
13. Timo Glock (Germany) Toyota 1 lap
14. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1 lap
15. Nelson Piquet (Brazil) Renault 1 lap
16. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Ferrari 1 lap
17. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1 lap
r. Sebastien Bourdais (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 34 laps
r. Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) Williams - Toyota 57 laps
r. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Force India - Ferrari 58 laps
(rank: r = retired, nc = not classified)

Audi A4 Tuning by Rieger

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:28:19 -0700

Not many have tried to do tuning on the new Audi A4, but we have a good story for you. Rieger, a German tuner is one of the first to try. They've just got their hands on a new Audi A4 3.0 TDI and come out with both a body kit and some mechanical mods.

I'll start with mechanics and new specs, because I know people are usually attracted by power, before beauty. Rieger did some ECU tweaks and the 3.0 TDI engine is up at 300 hp from 241 hp (more than 20-percent increase in output). Now for the looks, the body kit includes redesigned rear bumper with integrated air diffuser, side skirts and a front lip spoiler. Match these with gorgeous 20-inch alloy wheels and this baby is ready to rock.

Do you like it?

via AutoUnleashed

BMW 1-series cabrio, by AC Schnitzer

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:06:13 -0700

Though the BMW 1-series is not the best car I've ever seen, I'll have to agree that this cabrio looks good with a little AC Schnitzer flavor. These guys have developed an ACS1 Cabrio package that includes new front bumper, rear bumper with diffuser and side skirts,17- to 19-inch alloy wheels, and on inside a silver carbon fiber trim, aluminum pedal and shifter.

More to the deal, AC Schnitzer managed to come up with tuning packages for most of the 1-series models including 135i, 120d and 123d. For the two diesel versions the German tuner managed to increase output at 200hp and respectively 240 hp while for the petrol engine it reaches 360hp. They've used ECU tweaks and a new exhaust system to get these specs.

I think I have a reason to consider a BMW 1-series from now on. Do you?

Porsche Cayenne Baby ?

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:45:40 -0700

Porsche is obviously not the company to step back from building a baby-SUV and the spy photographers from AutoBlog managed to find them testing one at the Nurburgring race track in Germany.

It's a Porsche Cayenne Baby with a sharply raked D-pillar and some different cut lines around the doors, that will probably fight with the new Audi Q5. If Porsche brings it on the market with a reasonable price I'm sure they'll have buyers.

Do you like it? Would you buy one?

Harris Ford largest in Seattle metro area

Tue, 06 May 2008 22:58:25 -0700

We don't usually talk about car dealerships unless they've done something bad, but this one is a little different. Harris Ford is the largest dealership in the Seattle metro area, that may be able to get you a great deal for a Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Taurus, Edge or Taurus X.

However they're not only going to sell you a car, but will offer you a whole lot more services like a service appointment, finance application or quick quotes. There is also a Seattle Ford dealership blog maintained by this Seattle Ford dealership. The fact they are writing their own blog shows their innovation and desire to connect with their customers.

Want to read more about Harris Ford? Here's their Seattle Ford Dealers page!

As a quick note, if you will ever use them I would be extremely happy to hear your feedback and comments about Harris Ford.

Sponsored Review

Audi Q5 - S Line already out

Mon, 05 May 2008 03:54:05 -0700

Barely a couple of weeks after announcing the new Audi Q5, the S-Line version has been revealed. Honestly I wasn't expecting it so soon, but the Germans know their stuff so here it is.

The new Audi Q5 S Line doesn't have much to offer when it comes to engine modifications but the interior and the exterior have a few things to say for themselves. 19-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels that will take away the idea of an off-road drive, are available and it has a new front grille that matches those air vents near the fog lights.

On the inside, the three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in perforated leather got my attention and the Nappa or Alcantra seats with "S Line" embroideries on them.

When I say S Line I say power, which is what we didn't got this time. Let's hope Audi has something for the engines, too, in the near future.

BMW M1 Homage Video

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:39:43 -0700

Who didn't love the BMW M1 when it was first announced? I don't think we can get that many among us and I'm almost sure this is why BMW decided to come up with a Homage to the legendary M1 supercar to mark the 30th anniversary of the BMW M1.

It's a video taken at the 2008 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este and gives a very detailed view of what could be the new BMW M1 but there aren't even rumors that this beauty will be produced. It would be a great response to Audi's R8, don't you think?

via WCF

Renault Megane III

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:26:15 -0700

After showing us how the Megan Coupe Concept and the new Laguna Renault has been spied. The French from Auto Plus managed to get their hands on pictures with the new Megane III, an undisguised version.

The current (2006) facelifted Megane II looks pretty elegant and sporty but the third generation is extravagant at its best.

Renault Megane III has a lot to do with the new Laguna if we consider the restyled headlamps and the front grille. What we know so far about it, is that Renault is going to have a three door hatchback, a five door hatchback and a sedan on the new Megane III. Versions like a convertible or an estate, could be produced, too.

via autoblog.com

Audi RS6 Sedan

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:06:48 -0700

The new Audi RS6 Sedan has been spied by our friends from WCF and we can tell you that it has a lot to do with the Audi RS6 Avant that sports 580 bhp. The photographers managed to get high quality pictures of it testing in Germany and while the rear reminds a lot of the A4 (superb tailights) the front is the same as the avant model.

It will use Avant's biturbo V10 engine and will do the 100 km/h in only 4.6 seconds. The horsepower war has started.

Volkswagen Passat CC - the main market is in the U.S.

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:29:35 -0700

I'm not sure if the new Volkswagen Passat CC has a truly American design, but I do know that the German manufacturer is expecting to sell at least 60% of its units in the United States, or at least this is what Detlef Wittig, head of Volkswagen brand sales and marketing said in an interview with the Automotive News Europe.

Though Americans won't get the adaptive cruise control system and a few other technologies on their versions, like the European clients, Volkswagen is determined to sell 300,000 units worldwide. The price starts at $30,000 for the base model in the U.S.

The maine competitorsfor the new VW Passat CC are Mercedes CLS, Porsche Panamera or Audi A7.

I love the way it looks how about you?

Spirra by Oullim Motors

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:48:30 -0700

Proto Motors were the ones that built the first Spirra in 2005. Last year, Oullim Motors bought them and came out with two more versions: Spirra Turbo and Spirra S. They were using a turbocharged and respectively a supercharged 2.7 liter V6 engine with some 400 hp.

Last week during the Auto China Show in Beijing, Oullim Motors, came out with the production version, Spirra S. The hand made Spirra has a carbon fiber body that covers the space-frame chassis and will cost a whopping $100,000. The company wants to sell 100 units in 2008 and up to 300 in 2009.

Do you like it, because I'm not really impressed with both the design or the specs.

via Autoblog.nl

2009 Audi A3 Facelift

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:23:24 -0700

The 2009 Audi A3 facelift has been revealed these days and it includes those interesting headlamps with curved "wing" elements. It's on the same lines with the new design the company embraces, such as the Audi Q5 compact SUV. With the mods in place the new A3 is longer by 2.5cm while the S3 stays the same.

On the interior, there are improvements, too. It has restyled switches and controls with aluminum details, black dials on the instrument cluster and red needles.

It looks a lot sportier to me, like a mad bull, and goodies like the S tronic 7-speed dual-clutch transmission for some models or the new Audi Magnetic Ride system are there to enforce the whole view.

2009 Audi A3 should be available this summer and the price starts from 20,350 Euro.

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has 638 hp

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:59:33 -0700

News about the new Corvette ZR1 has emerged and all I can say is a "wow". The hand build LS9 6.2L supercharged V8 engine managed to exceed expectations and instead of 620hp it actually outputs 638 hp (476 kW). The LS9 engine, is actually the most powerful General Motor's ever had.

"The combination of large displacement and the new, four-rotor design broadens the effective range of the supercharger, allowing the engine to make more power at lower rpm and sustain it throughout the power band. The low-end torque is tremendous and the high-rpm charge from the supercharger is simply amazing." said Sam Winegarden, GM Powertrain Chief Engineer.

via WCF

BMW M-Zero is just a design

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:12:17 -0700

I'm not planning to make readers drool on the new BMW M-Zero ... Oh wait, this is just a design, not really a BMW concept and it's not going to get into production any time soon (if ever). Created by Maël Oberkampf to please Bimmer fans it sure has elements from the 6 Series, a little bit of Audi R8 and something related to the DB9.

Not the best design but I'm sure there are a few guys out there that would be interested to own one, and if it would be a limited edition, the sheiks would be thrilled.

via Jalopnik

Peugeot RC-Z Concept is to be Produced

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:45:21 -0700

Jean-Philippe Collin, General Director with Peugeot, delivered good news to the audience at the Lisbon Motor Show. Apparently the rumored "to be produced" Peugeot RC-Z Concept is going to be a real thing some time soon and we will probably see it debuting at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

This is great news because many were very enthusiast about the new Peugeot RC-Z Concept when it was firstly rumored. It is based on the 308 model platform and though the name hasn't been confirmed yet, we should see it running the streets from the spring of 2010.