Falken chooses Porsche 911 GT3 R

Falken Porsche 911 GT3 R

Long time participant in the Nrburgring 24 Hour race, Falken Motorsport Team has signaled its intent for this year’s event (June 25th-26th) with the decision to run a highly competitive GT3 R specification Porsche 911.

The high performance tyre manufacturer’s decision to switch to the competitive Porsche follows a successful history of campaigning Japanese sports cars in the ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race and ties in with increasing activity of the brand in the region. “With Falken High Performance Tyres and Porsche, two premium motorsport brands are coming together. This comes at a time when we are increasing our commitment in Europe, with an intention to expand further,” says Falken’s marketing director, Satoru Ushida.

Drivers for the 2011 assault, a race that will be used to develop the next generation of Falken tyres, are still to be announced but in line with the team’s preparations, the selection is likely to focus on those with extensive Nrburgring experience. “It is our aim to improve our race results from the past. Last year we achieved 12th place overall and 3rd place in the SP7 class and put our performance to the test at the highest level,” adds Ushida.

The 2011 race will take place on the unique Nordschleife on June 25th-26th. With 33 left-hand and 40 right-hand curves, the famous strip of asphalt snakes through the hilly Eifel landscape. In the 2010 Long-Distance Championship (VLN) held at the track, nine out of the ten races were won by the Porsche 911 GT3 R.

I have actually driven the Nordschleif and it is just an amazing circuit. Corners come up with little or no warning, and you have to be wary of other drivers all the time. That drive in Germany remains one of the highlights of my motor racing life.

The 911 GT3 R is powered by six-cylinder, naturally-aspirated boxer engine with four liters of displacement, which generates 480 horsepower (353 kW) at 7,250 rotations per minute. Through a six-speed sequential dog-type gearbox, the power is transmitted to the rear transaxle. Traction control, electronically controlled double de-clutching function and a specially tuned racing ABS make the 911 GT3 R a highly competitive vehicle. Wheels: Front axle: One-piece, forged, lightweight alloy wheels (11J x 18 ET 35) and 290/660R18 tyres. Rear axle: One-piece, forged, lightweight alloy wheels (13J x 18 ET 12.5) and 330/710R18 tyres.

The Falken High Performance Tyres and their extraordinary driving characteristics have formed motorsport for many years. FALKEN racing tyres have proved their quality and performance in the most challenging race series in the world. These include the Super Taikyu Series, the American Le Mans and the Nurburgring event.

The ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race at the Nrburgring has been held on the approximately 25 km long combination of the Nordschleife and Grand-Prix track since 1970. The long lap length makes a field of more than two hundred vehicles possible, which are driven by up to approximately 700 drivers. Due to the large starting field and more than 200,000 fans that line the track, the race is regarded by some as the largest motorsports event in the world. In 2011, it will be held from the 23rd to 26th June.

Hypermiling - a new sport?

Hypermiler

A dictionary entry for Hypermiling states that it is the act of driving using techniques that maximize fuel economy. Those who practice these techniques are referred to as “hypermilers.”

Hypermiling is defined by the New Oxford American Dictionary as the attempt to maximize gas mileage by making fuel-conserving adjustments to one’s vehicle and one’s driving techniques. In fact, in 2008, the word Hypermiling was selected as the best new word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary.

Hypermiling, which can be practiced in any vehicle regardless of its fuel economy, has gained in popularity as a result of the rise in gasoline prices during the 2000s. While common techniques can be carried out by average motorists making minor changes in their driving habits, many Hypermilers use more advanced techniques, some of which are illegal in most if not all jurisdictions.

Hypermiling has come under fire from several quarters due to claims of dangerous or unlawful behavior by some Hypermilers. As a result, the Hypermiling Safety Foundation was formed in August 2008 to promote a safety and public awareness program, advocating legal fuel-saving techniques.

In some places, Hypermiling contests have been held to see who can get the highest mpg on a selected course.

The recent Maximum Fuel Economy contest was held in Elkhart, Indiana, where “world records” for the Honda Insight (213 miles per US gallon (1.10 L/100 km; 256 mpg-imp) round trip), Toyota Prius (136 miles per US gallon (1.73 L/100 km; 163 mpg-imp) round trip) and the Ford Escape Hybrid (76 miles per US gallon (3.1 L/100 km; 91 mpg-imp) mpg round trip) were achieved, albeit having been achieved while rolling through all stop signs and having the vehicle tires inflated well beyond recommended specifications!

The record for the most miles achieved out of a single tank of gas, with 2,254 miles (3,627 km) from the 13.7 US gallons (52 l; 11.4 imp gal) tank of a 2006 Honda Insight, represents an average of 164.53 miles per US gallon (1.4296 L/100 km; 197.59 mpg-imp) for the entire distance.

Now all that sounds terribly new and “green” and is the sort of fodder that the global warming people love to seize upon, to show their commitment to saving the planet. I am afraid I am with GM’s Bob Lutz who stated that “Global warming is a crock of sh*t.” And to show my true callous nature, if Bob and I are wrong we’ll both be dead long before Bangkok disappears beneath the rising seas, so it isn’t our problem!

Focus III for Thailand and from Thailand

Focus III for 2012

It is no secret that Ford Motor Company is building a new plant on the Eastern Seaboard, and it will be the production base for the C-platform vehicles, of which the new Focus III will be the king pin. Currently produced in Germany, the SE Asian production is slotted for 2012.

Focus III will come in both five door hatchback and four door sedan body styles, and rides on an all-new platform that, instead of being shared with Mazda’s 3, will underpin 10 new small Ford global models with 80 percent parts commonality. Ford estimates it will produce two million C-platform vehicles a year by 2012 - double the number in 2008.

This globalization by FoMoCo will see the vehicles being built in North America as well as Germany and soon Russia and China, followed by Thailand.

Claims for Focus III include a bodyshell that is 30 percent more rigid than before, due to the fact more than half of it (55 percent) will be made from high-strength steel. As well, 26 percent of the vehicle is made from ultra-high-strength steel, including Boron - more than any other Ford model.

The result is vastly improved noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels - including interior wind noise that Ford claims is much lower than in rivals such as the Mazda3.

The fully independent Control Blade multi-link rear suspension assembly famously pioneered by the original Focus back in 1998 is now attached to the chassis by a separate sub-frame, also reducing road noise.

The latest interpretation of Ford’s ‘kinetic’ design language not only makes both the lower, longer and wider hatch and sedan models look more up market than before, but results in an aerodynamic drag coefficient of as low as 0.297Cd for the sedan, which according to Ford makes it more slippery than the Chevrolet Cruze.

Focus interior

Also contributing to an alleged seven percent improvement in aero efficiency are under-body panels and a new BMW-style active grille shutter system, which blocks cooling airflow when not required to improve aerodynamics at higher speeds and reduce engine temperatures at low speeds.

Engines will include two direct-injection 2.0 liter four cylinder engines - a Duratorq turbo-diesel and a Ti-VCT petrol - matched with both five-speed manual and six-speed dual-clutch Powershift automatic transmissions.

Ford says the 2012 Focus’ chassis and suspension tune - including the new Porsche-style Active Torque Vectoring system that brakes individual driven wheels to improve traction and provide a form of electronic limited-slip differential - will be almost identical across all markets.

If there is a downside to the Focus’ new-found panache, however, it is steering. Few cars have made the transition from conventional hydraulic to electric power steering and it seems the Focus - a nameplate that has the enviable reputation of being one of the sharpest steering small cars ever - is no exception.

Overseas testers who have driven Focus III describe it as a brilliantly resolved ride/handling compromise and the super-stiff bodyshell combine to make the Focus as agile as ever and its vice-free chassis will appeal to a much broader audience than ever before.

Ford describes its first global model as the most hi-tech Ford ever and says the 2012 Focus offers more affordable technologies than the Corolla and Honda’s Civic, as well as larger models like the Camry and Accord.

Some of the technologies that will be available will include voice-activated audio, climate and navigation control to a new level in a small car - and also features a rear-view camera, Wi-Fi and text-to-voice capability, Bluetooth connectivity, two five-way steering wheel controls and an HD radio with iTunes tagging.

All variants offer a luxuriously soft animal skin-like dash surface, highly supportive sports seats with driver’s adjustment, and a high-end TFT info screen between the instrument dials.

The new model improves on Focus II in many respects and now offers first-class ride, refinement and technology.

Add to that an otherwise superb ride/handling package, impeccable design and build quality, class-leading petrol engine efficiency and handsome new exteriors and Ford’s newest small car is certain to attract new customers in the global marketplace.

Autotrivia Quiz

Last week I asked how many prototypes of the Aston Martin DB9 did they make? Ivar Hoylem was first in at 93, which was also the answer given by two others, though my book says 53, but I will give it to the majority, so 93 it is.

So to this week. A British pre-WWII car had a 7.34 liter V12 engine and developed about 170 bhp. What car was it found in?

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected]. Good luck!