The Sultan’s garage

Koenigsegg Trevita

The Sultan of Brunei has problems we would all like to have - where to store his fleet of 7,000 cars. I can sympathize with him, I have to leave the Daihatsu Mira on the street, while the Fortuner hogs the car port.

The Sultan is believed to own a collection of 7,000 high performance cars valued at over $5 billion.

According to the Daily Mirror, as of June 30th 2010, he owns 604 Rolls-Royces, 574 Mercedes-Benzes, 452 Ferraris, 382 Bentleys, 209 BMWs, 179 Jaguars, 134 Koenigseggs, 21 Lamborghinis, 11 Aston Martins, and one SSC.

Amongst the top 10 most expensive cars in the world 2010 he has the:

10. SSC Ultimate Aero: $740,000. A new model with 270 mph top speed, spoiler made from carbon, a temperature sensor and tire pressures to optimize driving conditions.

9. Leblanc Mirabeau: $765,000. Designed with 24 hours resilience test at Le mans. It can be driven on the road legally. Mirabeau uses the 4.7 liter V8 engine, 700 hp, and can reach an average speed of 230 mph. Specially made to order, including a semi-automatic transmission system.

8. Koenigsegg CCX: $1.1 Million. This car uses the V8 engine and only 806 units produced. It only takes 3.2 seconds to reach 100 km hour. Top speed reached easily is 245 mph. The tire rims are of carbon, with 6 speed, and ceramic brakes.

7. Koenigsegg CCXR: $1.3 Million. Koenigsegg CCXR is another variant of the Koenigsegg CCX that signaled in environmentally friendly cars. This car use biofuels, needs 3.1 seconds to reach 100 km/h, with top speed 250 mph.

6. Maybach Landaulet: $1.4 Million. This car is the most expensive car brand from Germany. Landaulet is the most expensive saloon car. This car has 604 HP, with top speed 155 mph, and has a V12 twin turbo engine.

5. Lamborghini Revent๓n: $1.42 Million. Not yet clear whether this old version of Reventon is still available. Only 20 units have been made. This car has black aluminum rims, like the newer version of roadster, the design is inspired by fighter aircraft.

4. Lamborghini Revent๓n Roadster: $1.56 Million. The car design was inspired by Stealth aircraft display. This car has a V12 650 HP Engine. Can reach top speed of 340 kmh. The car is very light in weight because the body is made using carbon fiber materials.

3. Pagani Zonda Cinque Roadster: $1.8 Million. There are only 5 units available, to go on sale. Chassis made from carbon titanium. Powered by 678 HP Mercedes AMG V12, only 3.4 seconds to reach 100 kmh. Can reach 217 mph top speed. The body is carbon and suspension is titanium and magnesium.

2. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport $2 Million / $1.67 Million for coupe version. The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport has a 1001 hp, 16 cylinder engine, and has been developed so there will be no air draft inside, even when exploring the upper reaches of the car’s 217 mph top speed. This car is the world’s fastest roadster.

1. Koenigsegg Trevita: $2.21 Million. Just three units to be produced. Koenigsegg Trevita is designed based on Koenigsegg CCXR and added with new shimmering diamond weave carbon fiber, named “Trevita” in Swedish means “three whites”. Those three cars fully equipped with Koenigsegg Shimmering Diamond Weave bodywork, using double carbon wing, paddle-shift, inconell exhaust system, carbon ceramic brakes with ABS, hydraulic lifting system, infotainment system, tyre monitoring system, chrono instrument cluster and special airbags. The navigation system is also developed custom just for this model. For this car, Koenigsegg placed the same 1018 bhp engine. Special for this model, the exterior paint was fully developed in Sweden, at Koenigsegg headquarters.

So there you are. Place your orders now before they go up on price any more.

Sattahip’s AVO Turboworld becomes F1 scrutineers

Terry Wilson and Patrick Weir (AVO competition engineering in Sattahip) were selected from the best engineers in the world, then flown over and invited to officiate at the Abu Dhabi GP. Terry is well known in motor racing circles, and he was tickled pink after being contacted a couple of months ago. We will be inviting them to the next Car Club meeting which will be on December 13. More on this later.

Pencils out, here is the final 2011 F1 calendar

13 March - Bahrain Grand Prix
27 March - Australian Grand Prix
10 April - Malaysian Grand Prix
17 April - Chinese Grand Prix
8 May - Turkish Grand Prix
22 May - Spanish Grand Prix
29 May - Monaco Grand Prix
12 June - Canadian Grand Prix
26 June - European Grand Prix
10 July - British Grand Prix
24 July - German Grand Prix
31 July - Hungarian Grand Prix
28 August - Belgian Grand Prix
11 September - Italian Grand Prix
25 September - Singapore
9 October - Japanese Grand Prix
16 October - Korean Grand Prix
30 October - Indian Grand Prix
13 November - Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
27 November - Brazilian Grand Prix

The new Indian GP circuit is on the list subject to passing FIA inspection. Abu Dhabi and Brazil have changed places. Canada and Spa are on, so we can expect some good racing at least on a couple of the circuits.

BMW finally admit that run-flats run too hard

A couple of years ago, I was given a BMW 5 Series to test. The ride along the overhead expressway was excruciating. Thump, thump, thump on every break in the concrete, so I was interested to read an Australian tester who had written, “Looking for any surface resembling Australian roads, our test cars (X3’s) coped well through a rough patch of road works despite running on 18-inch alloys and lower-profile, run-flat tyres.

BMW X3

According to BMW Group’s chief assessor of driving dynamics Heinz Krusche, the company has been working closely with its five run-flat tyre suppliers to reduce the side-wall stiffness for improved comfort. As a result, deflated travel distance has been reduced from 150 km to 80 km, which BMW stresses are conservative recommendations.”

About time, Herr BMW. About time!

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I asked when did curved windscreens first come out - and on what car? The correct answer was 1914 by Kissel.

So to this week. What was the origin of the modern octane ratings for fuel? Clue: Harry.

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email viacars@gmail.com

Good luck!

Looking for something totally different!

Long awaited Cruze

Kevin Maguire, a frequent Quiz entrant (and winner, I might add) suggested, “A suggestion, as an extra to your column. What about getting readers to send in the most unexpected or unusual cars that they have seen in Thailand? Down in Rayong town the other day, I saw a beautiful Ginetta G32, absolutely stunning!”

Rare Ginetta

Not only stunning, Kevin, but as rare as rocking horse droppings in this country. Now, what else is out there? Send the pix to automania@pattayamail.com

Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze will have its official release in Thailand on the 23rd of this month. It has had mixed reviews all over the world, where it has been released for many months. The biggest complaint seems to be the available power and response from the engine, whilst everyone seems to agree that driver and passenger comfort is excellent.

We shall see how the local Cruze stacks up later.

What did we learn from the Abu Dhabi GP?

Well, the fastest man of 2010 ended up winning the championship, and probably deservedly so with 10 pole positions, even though for many, his immaturity was a negative factor. But then again, we were all immature once (and some of us are still grasping it like a life buoy) but ‘age’ generally fixes it. Congratulations Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull.

Team mate Mark Webber was magnanimous in defeat, saying, “You’ve got to take your hat off to Sebastian, he’s done a great job all year and to lead the Championship at the last race, he’s got the timing right and I fully congratulate him on the World Championship.” Webber blew his own chances in Korea and committed hara-kiri in Abu Dhabi with a woeful qualifying.

With challengers Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes McLaren) and Alonso (Ferrari) bottled up behind two Renaults, this allowed Vettel in the (Renault) Red Bull some breathing room and put an end to Alonso’s title hopes. A conspiracy perhaps?

Alonso showed a fine sporting gesture by waving the fingers at Petrov on the slowing down lap, to which Petrov responded by moving over. Perhaps it was a Spanish idiom for “well done” or something similar, with a subsequent Russian response. But then again…

The only interest during the race was whether Alonso and Webber could move up the order, and neither could. The race was processional and another bore-fest. If it hadn’t been for Kobayashi (Sauber) and Kubica (Renault) there would have been no action at all. Kobayashi certainly wins the ‘Tryer of the Year’ (TOTY) award. “I don’t care what your name is, I’ll have a go,” being his motto.

Keke Rosberg (Mercedes) came fourth, according to Bangkok Post’s AFP item in the sports pages. Great that Nico’s father was able to fit into his son’s race suit and do so well after his retirement in 1986. Makes Michael Schumacher’s return after only three years a non-event by comparison.

Jenson Button (McLaren) drove smoothly and deserved his podium, and although playing second fiddle to Hamilton this season has been a good team player.

Michael Schumacher out-qualified both the Rosbergs, but the spin on the opening lap and the mounting of his car by Liuzzi’s Force India was a poor ending to his comeback year. But never write off Michael Schumacher. We probably had unreal expectations for this season, but if Ross Brawn can produce a winning car for 2011, Schumacher will be challenging again.

Once again, the fastest race laps told a story, with both McLarens being the quickest followed by “Keke” Rosberg and then Vettel. Where the Red Bull won was in consistency.

Finally, I believe there were some other teams running at the event, but they featured nowhere. Senna’s Hispania was on the grass so much he would have done better with a motor mower.

So that was the end of the 2010 season. Exciting in the fact that any one of four drivers could be champion at the end, but in reality, far too many boring circuits, with cars that are unable to pass each other (unless driven by Kamui Kobayashi). Get rid of the electronic aids, carbon brakes, wings, automatic gearboxes and get back to pitting man and machines against each other. The historic racing from Goodwood is just so much more exciting, I’m afraid, with cars sliding through the corners.

Finally, we watched the BBC’s telecast (thank you Kim Fletcher and Jameson’s) and it was so much better than the inane rubbish we have had to endure this year on the other commercial channels. Thank you Beeb (and Kim), though the Legard commentator is a prat.