Chinese GP this weekend
After a couple of weeks, which allowed
all the teams time to pack up all their knives and forks,
the chef to get his tocque dry-cleaned, and the Honda
engineers a bit of respite in which to work out why they
have been producing hand grenades instead of race engines,
the Chinese GP is now Go!
Shanghai
Circuit
The map I have managed to find shows that the USD
250,000,000 (I think I have all the zeros correct for 250
million) circuit designed by Messrs. Tilke and Wahl is very
twisting. Last year’s race was spectacular for its boredom,
other than Schumacher and Albers colliding on the way to the
grid, although the year before had much passing and
repassing. However, since the Shanghai circuit cost three
arms and two legs to construct, this is just a little out of
the reach of most countries or race organizers.
The circuit architects Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl are
reported as saying, “The 5.4 kilometer racing track is
shaped like the Chinese character ‘shang’, which stands for
‘high’ or ‘above’. Other symbols represented in the
architecture originate from Chinese history, such as the
team buildings arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble
the ancient Yuyan-Garden in Shanghai. Here, nature and
technology are carefully used to create harmony between the
elements.” (That should have put at least another few
million dollars on the price!)
The race will start (I believe) at 1 p.m. on Sunday, but as
always, check your own TV feed, as I would not like to be
held responsible for you missing the start! I’m going to be
at Jameson’s Irish Pub by noon on Soi AR next to Nova Park,
just to make sure. Join me for lunch.
The driver’s championship sees Renault’s Alonso two points
in front of the retiring (but never shy) Michael Schumacher
for Ferrari, while the Ferrari team leads Renault in the
manufacturer’s championship by three points. Mind you, I do
not believe that many F1 enthusiasts out there could care
about the manufacturer’s title. I certainly don’t.
Last year’s Chinese GP will also be remembered for 26
minutes under the safety car. Any more and it would have had
to come in for refueling! The ground crews seemed totally
inept as far as clearing debris in a hurry was concerned.
One quarter of the world’s population is Chinese, and here
they were, standing in a line, kicking at the debris with
their imitation Dunlop sandshoes! Spare me! Don’t they have
brooms over there? And the guy who picked up the drain cover
and sprinted away with it looked more like a scrap metal
merchant on a mission than a marshal.
Ah well, let’s see what we have in store this year.
Suicide Seat Department
Jet-powered
gokart
I was sent this photo by one of my motor
racing buddies in Australia. What a weapon! A jet-engined
gokart. Not only would this thing be terrifying to drive,
with oodles of horsepower and no engine braking, but can you
imagine what it would be like to be behind it? Fireproof
undies would have to be mandatory! If I can find some more
details I will post them here next week.
Lexus GS 450h
There is no way that you can ignore Toyota in its push
to become the world’s Number 1. Having deposed Ford from
its second position, it is poised to surpass GM by this
time next year, as far as total sales is concerned (and
if you look at earnings, rather than sales, the Toyota
is Number 1 already).
Lexus GS 450h
While Toyota has also built its world-wide reputation on
solid and dependable motor cars, we should not overlook the
fact that Toyota is not lagging behind in the technology
stakes either, being the world leader in hybrid technology.
The Toyota Prius has been the leader for the company in
hybrid sales, but I believe that is about to be challenged
by their Lexus division. My reasoning is simple - as a base
Toyota model, the Prius looks expensive relative to
conventional cars in the bargain basement. However, Lexus is
at the premium end of the market (though considerably
cheaper than comparative luxury brands) so an increase in
price to cover the hybrid technology is not as noticeable.
Enter the Lexus GS 450h.
The company prides itself on customer care levels that are
the envy of its rivals and the build quality of Lexus
vehicles is second to none. However, the GS 450h - “h” for
hybrid - is the company’s first performance hybrid. It is
also the first among the luxury marques to deliver an
economical, yet enormously powerful luxury sedan. The others
have been caught napping, I am afraid. While Jaguar, BMW,
Mercedes are looking at diesel models, this form of power
does not have the attraction of hybrid technology. Diesel
is, after all 100 years old. Hybrids are today! (Or
tomorrow!)
In Australia the well-equipped hybrid will cost A$ 121,990,
A$ 9,690 above the GS 300 sports luxury and A$ 15,210 less
than the GS 430, in a four-model line-up.
Apart from the 3.5 liter quad-cam VVT-i V6, the key hardware
elements of the GS 450h are two highly efficient
water-cooled variable voltage electric motors mounted within
the sequential-shift CVT transmission.
The V6 and the first electric motor (MG1) are linked by a
planetary gear set that splits the petrol engine power to
propel the vehicle and drive MG1 to create electricity. MG1
also fulfils the role as starter motor for the V6. The
second electric motor (MG2) provides motive power and power
to act as a generator for the regenerative braking system.
It sounds complex but the whole operation works seamlessly
and for buyers the car’s impressive power and performance
figures will be their only interest.
The GS 450h has both power and performance, with the
combined electric and petrol engines developing 254 kW. This
is 22 percent more combined power than the conventional 208
kW petrol V8 GS 430.
Even more impressive is the torque output from the hybrid
configuration, delivering 275 Nm of instantaneous torque
from the electric motor. Note that torque comes in literally
at zero RPM, you are not looking at waiting till the engine
spins up to 2,000 RPM, as in most vehicles, even diesels.
Apart from the car’s high-tech attributes, the luxury Lexus
also delivers fuel economy of 7.9 L/100 km, giving it a 32
percent greater fuel range than the GS 430 and 13.5 percent
greater range than the GS 300.
The V6 is also the first volume production engine with two
fuel injection systems - a direct injection system and a
multi-port injection system - which Lexus claims delivers
more precise fuel monitoring across a broad rev range.
The hybrid Lexus has all the active and passive safety
features of the rest of the GS range with 10 airbags,
variable gear ratio steering, adaptive variable suspension,
pre-collision system, active radar cruise control, traction
control and vehicle stability control, vehicle swerve
control, brake assist and vehicle dynamics integrated
management.
Like other Lexus vehicles, the standard equipment list is
long and detailed, running to climate control, parking
sensors, rain-sensing windscreen wipers, Bluetooth
compatibility, 14-speaker Mark Levinson CD stereo, sunroof,
power boot, climate-controlled front seats and navigation
system.
On the inside there is little to distinguish the hybrid
except for the visual power/economy readout and a kiloWatt
power meter to marked to 275 kW, which replaces the
traditional tachometer.
However, there are discrete “hybrid” badges on the lower
rear doors and bootlid, as well as specially designed 18
inch alloys.
The Aisin nickel metal hydride battery pack, consisting of
40 batteries weighing a total of 69 kg, is positioned above
the rear axle, helping to contribute to an almost 50/50
weight distribution.
Those who have driven the GS 450h have been very impressed,
after you get used to the somewhat eerie silence at rest,
where only the electric motor is used as you take off. The
key to the hybrid is the level of performance, which is
comparable to the V8 powered GS 430, combined with the fuel
efficiency of a 2 liter four-cylinder. One tester from
Down-under claiming fuel consumption levels of 7.8 L/100 km
in some fast highway driving.
So while the jury is still out on hydrogen fuel cell
vehicles, and CNG is still not universally available, LPG
smelly and has some safety concerns, to me it looks as if
the hybrid technology is the way to go. The petrol
infrastructure is world-wide, and the car looks after
recharging its own batteries. This is surely the (current)
best alternative.
Autotrivia Quiz
Bug eye Sprite
Last week I asked what car had its
headlights raised so that it passed road registration
regulations? That was truly easy – it was the Bug-eyed
Sprite.
So to this week. Jaguar made the Mk VII and then the Mk VII
M before the Mk VIII was released. What was the first visual
clue to spot a VII M from a VII? (You can even spot it
Googling, for all the web crawlers out there!)
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]
Good luck!
What is the score in
F1?
Just to bring you up to date before
China, there have been 19 drivers who have scored points in
the 2006 Drivers Championship. With three races (and 30
points up for grabs) to go, the winner can only be Alonso or
Schumacher, as the others are too far behind. The third
place will be between Massa, Fisichella and Raikkonen,
Button is too far behind to make that final podium. Here is
the table:
|
1 Fernando Alonso
|
Spanish
|
Renault
|
108 |
|
2 Michael Schumacher
|
German
|
Ferrari
|
106 |
|
3 Felipe Massa
|
Brazilian
|
Ferrari
|
62 |
|
4 Giancarlo Fisichella
|
Italian
|
Renault
|
57 |
|
4= Kimi Räikkönen
|
Finnish
|
McLaren
|
57 |
|
6 Jenson Button
|
British
|
Honda
|
40 |
|
7 Juan Pablo Montoya
|
Colombian
|
McLaren
|
26 |
|
8 Rubens Barrichello
|
Brazilian
|
Honda
|
25 |
|
9 Nick Heidfeld
|
German
|
BMW
|
20 |
|
10 Ralf Schumacher
|
German
|
Toyota
|
18 |
|
11 Pedro de la Rosa
|
Spanish
|
McLaren
|
14 |
|
11= David Coulthard
|
British
|
Red Bull
|
14 |
|
13 Jarno Trulli
|
Italian
|
Toyota
|
12 |
|
14 Jacques Villeneuve
|
Canadian
|
BMW
|
7 |
|
15 Robert Kubica
|
Polish
|
BMW
|
6 |
|
15= Mark Webber
|
Australian
|
Williams |
6 |
|
17 Nico Rosberg
|
German
|
Williams
|
4 |
|
18 Christian Klien
|
Austrian
|
Red Bull
|
2 |
|
19 Vitantonio Liuzzi
|
Italian
|
Torro Rosso
|
1 |
|
This leaves Midland F1 and (not so) Super Aguri the only
teams not to have scored points.
|
