AUTO MANIA: by Dr. Iain Corness [email protected]

Like a Ferrari P4 Spyder?

Ferrari P4 Spyder.

A Ferrari P4 Spyder, if one ever came to auction would go for something over USD 10 million. They are exceptionally rare, and as far as I can ascertain, only three exist. (The photo is of a scale model.)

Well, let’s make that four full-size ones, as there is a P4 Spyder in the car yard opposite the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya on Sukhumvit Road. Pulse quickening? Slow down a little, this is a replica built by a Hungarian chap called Attila. (Attila the Hun-garian?)

The car is built using a VW floor pan, which allows the blue book to continue, as it is then officially recognized as a re-bodied VeeDub. The extra chassis parts are steel and the body is fiberglass and steel.

Attila makes these with either a VW engine or a Subaru flat four, meaning that your stunningly beautiful P4 can have any horsepower you like from 50 bhp through to 400 bhp, giving the red rocket a top speed of somewhere between 140-290 km/h. No matter what engine you want, it has to be the ultimate crumpet catcher, which will stop the traffic anywhere.

Attila can make you one from B. 660,000 if you are interested. He also makes a replica Ferrari P3/4 and a Lamborghini Countach. His phone number is 083 589 6235.

And if you want some history, the P4’s best moment came at Daytona when Enzo Ferrari got his sweet revenge over Ford Motor Company and the P4’s placed 1-2-3 at Daytona, one of America’s major circuits. It is rumored that until his death, Enzo kept a picture of the trio on their final lap of the momentous race. Quite a memento!

Singapore GP this weekend

Eff Wun under lights. This Grand Prix is lauded as pure excitement under lights, but for me, and countless enthusiasts, the excitement is not there. Narrow street circuits like Monaco lead to processions, and I don’t care how many singing budgies they have as ‘entertainment’. I follow motor racing - not music concerts. If I want musical entertainment, I can go to a concert anywhere, any time. I go to race meetings to watch motor racing. I do not need head bangers with my F1. If the organizers really want to put on an extravaganza, then run 10 categories of races as the lead-up to the top category F1. What a novel idea - racing cars at an F1 venue. Put on a “Retro” race and I’ll even take the Securitas Mk 1 Escort down (if I can whip the painter into gear)!
Having had my gripe, the Singapore Grand Prix will start at 7 p.m. Thai time on the Sunday evening (NB: Qualifying is at 8 p.m. on the Saturday). We will be watching from our perches at Jameson’s Irish Pub (Soi AR, next to Nova Park) and even though the racing commences at 7 p.m. join us around 6 p.m. for dinner (I do recommend the roasts), and a beer and a chat before the race begins. We watch on the giant screen, with the dedicated F1 channel which is of top value and there are no adverts! The WDC race is well and truly on, and Ferrari are very wary of Hamilton (McLaren) and Raikkonen (“Lotus”), and not so worried about Vettel (Red Bull). What more do you need? Come and join us.
The standings are currently, with seven races yet to go:
1 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 179
2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 142
3 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 141
4 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 140
5 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 132
6 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 101
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 83
8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 76
9 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 65
10 Felipe Massa Ferrari 47
11 Michael Schumacher German Mercedes 43

The Pope goes electric

Electric Popemobile.

Renault has presented the Vatican with two electric vehicles made especially to meet the mobility needs of the Pope. The vehicles were handed over to His Holiness Benedict XVI by Renault’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Carlos Ghosn, during a visit to the Pope’s summer residence in Castel Gandolfo.

The first vehicle, for use when the Pope is travelling at his summer residence, is white with the Papal coat of arms depicted on the doors. It is an ecological, sustainable-development version of the Popemobile. Based on Kangoo Maxi Z.E., it measures 4.6 meters in length and 1.8 meters in width. It is powered by a 44 kW (60 hp) electric motor and a lithium-ion battery which ensures an average NEDC combined-cycle range of 170 km.

The design of the other vehicle is very similar to that of the first, although its blue livery features a white and yellow stripe along each flank. It is for use by the Corps of Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City for the Pope’s security.

The two cars were converted in association with the French constructor-coachbuilder Gruau. These special, exclusive vehicles can seat up to four people and are fitted with two particularly comfortable separate seats in the rear. Other specific solutions include an opening roof, removable rear side windows, hinged rear side doors and electrically folding door steps to facilitate ingress.

The two vehicles see Renault put its experience as automobile manufacturer and leader of the electric vehicle sector at the service of the sustainable development message of the Vatican and His Holiness Benedict XVI. Recognized as particularly attentive to environmental issues, the Pope has frequently underlined the need for sustainable development to safeguard Creation.

“This donation to His Holiness is a means for Renault to reaffirm its strong and durable commitment to sustainable development and respect for the environment,” said Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of the Renault Group.
So the world now has its first ‘plug-in’ Pope!

Hybrid Jaguar C-X75 coming

Jaguar C-X75

Jaguar claims its forthcoming C-X75 hybrid supercar is more technically advanced than the Bugatti Veyron.
Adrian Hallmark, global brand manager for Jaguar, who was heavily involved in the development of the Veyron believes the car will set a new benchmark for supercars thanks to its technology.

“I actually think more,” Hallmark said when asked if it would be as impressive as the Veyron. “And I’m not being arrogant because I know the project, I actually helped set up Bugatti from a sales, marketing, distribution and strategic planning perspective in my spare time; so I know a lot about the project and the company and the product itself.”

“The engine is far more challenging than the W16. The gearbox is more sophisticated than the Veyron, definitely. And then when you look at this motor and the battery technology we’ve created, the core classically engineered components are more complicated, then add to in an electric motor and the battery; and bring them all together. So the complexity is way higher and I think what we believe we can achieve, and what we’ve proven in theoretical bench terms, it that it will be an absolute breakthrough in engineering terms.”

The breakthrough technology includes that fact that the electric motor weighs only 25 kg but produces 400 Nm of torque, the battery pack consists of 300 cells and has its own separate air-conditioning keep it cool.

The 1.6 liter petrol engine is both supercharged and turbocharged and reportedly revs to 10,000 rpm and develops 373 kW (500 bhp).

Underlining the push towards hybrids, the C-X75 Jaguar development team will have five prototypes running by the end of the year. “We’re really serious about hybrids, but at the moment customers aren’t. So we’re not going to offer something that no-one asks for. We are highly advanced in our research, I mean we are leading the way with both academic and supplier industries to find alternative powertrains.”

When will the world see the C-X75? My guess is around 2020, if at all. But it certainly looks the part!

Peugeot joins the Supercar race

Peugeot Onyx

The year’s Paris motor show will see the debut of the latest (concept) supercar from Peugeot, called the Onyx, a new segment for the French automaker.

It certainly looks the part and the design makes it look like it is doing 100 mph while standing still. Most impressive, with the wide rear of the car suggesting that it is rear wheel drive, though the rumor has it with two engines, and most likely a hybrid, with the electric power plant driving the front wheels. Six exhausts through the rear bumper would suggest a V6, of which they have many to choose from.

One European blog site claims the car will be powered by a hybrid drivetrain consisting of a 1.6 liter turbocharged petrol engine producing close to 200 kW working in tandem with an electric motor capable of about 90 kW. The site says the concept is expected to use just 4 L/100 km - similar to the Toyota Prius (3.9 L).

Other reports suggest the car will be a plug-in hybrid similar to the Chevrolet Volt, which means it may be able to drive on pure electric power as well as using its petrol engine to help the car go further, as well as combining electric and petrol power for extra accelerative power.

Inside, the Onyx has a two-pod interior with racing harness and no actual seats - instead, passengers are strapped to the bulkhead inside the car. The steering wheel is an F1-style unit, with which the lights and wipers are controlled via buttons on the wheel itself.

Autotrivia quiz

Last week, I asked what car had an under 10 horsepower, 346 cc Villiers twin engine. The engine drove only one back wheel. The body was plastic, so should have been indestructible. 20 cars were made as the pilot study, of which only two remain. There were problems with overheating and weak drive shafts. It was undesirable as well. So, what was this car? It was the Allard Clipper, and a horrible little car it was! In the UK in the early 50’s, the war was still in everyone’s mind and inexpensive fuel misers were the name of the game - but not quite as horrible as this one.
So to this week. At the One-Hour Production Car Race held on 30 August 1949, Prince Bira was entered, but did not finish. Why? And what car was he driving?
For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email [email protected]