Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Celebrates World Debut in Geneva

Stuttgart. Exactly 110 years after Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first car with hybrid drive, the Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is once again taking up this visionary drive concept in production-based GT racing: During the Geneva Motor Show, a Porsche 911 GT3 R with innovative hybrid drive is making its debut, opening up a new chapter in the history of Porsche with more than 20,000 wins in 45 years scored by the extremely successful Porsche 911 in racing trim.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid – Features

The innovative hybrid technology featured in Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid has been developed especially for racing, standing out significantly in its configuration and components from conventional hybrid systems. In this case, electrical front axle drive with two electric motors developing 60 kW each supplements the 480-bhp four-litre flat-six at the rear of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. A further significant point is that instead of the usual batteries in a hybrid road car, an electrical flywheel power generator fitted in the interior next to the driver delivers energy to the electric motors.

The flywheel generator itself is an electric motor with its rotor spinning at speeds of up to 40,000 rpm, storing energy mechanically as rotation energy. The flywheel generator is charged whenever the driver applies the brakes, with the two electric motors reversing their function on the front axle and acting themselves as generators. Then, whenever necessary, that is when accelerating out of a bend or when overtaking, the driver is able to call up extra energy from the charged flywheel generator, the flywheel being slowed down electromagnetically in the generator mode and thus supplying up to 120 kW to the two electric motors at the front from its kinetic energy. This additional power is available to the driver after each charge process for approximately 6 – 8 seconds.

Toyota South Africa campaign to fix accelerator mechanism

Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) today announced the vehicles to be included in its recall service campaign to correct the accelerator mechanism in these cars.

Toyota South Africa list affected vehicles

The list of affected vehicles is the result of an exhaustive technical study which covered all Toyota vehicles on sale in South Africa. The affected passenger vehicle models are:

Toyota Corolla (February 2007 to January 2010) – 45 040 vehicles

Toyota Auris (June 2006 to January 2010) – 6 665 vehicles

Toyota Verso (October 2008 to January 2010) – 841 vehicles

This equates to a total of 52 546 Toyota vehicles that will form part of this campaign.

Recall service campaign – Corolla, Auris and Verso

The Corolla, Auris and Verso will be recalled as part of a service campaign to correct a potentially faulty accelerator pedal mechanism. This is done as a pro-active precaution and is based on the fact that the mechanism is similar in operation to those which have proven faulty in other regions.

In these regions the mechanisms, in severe circumstances, have deteriorated and become harder to depress, slow to return to idle or have, in just a handful of cases, become stuck in a partially depressed position.

In more detail the problem relates to the operation between the mechanism’s friction shoe that provides pedal feel and ensures pedal stability, and the adjoining surface.

The corrective action will take the form of a small precision-cut steel plate that will be placed in the assembly to alleviate the friction between the friction shoe and adjoining surface. This will prevent the problem from surfacing in vehicles equipped with this steel bar for the life of the vehicle.

Toyota will start contacting customers of the affected vehicles immediately. All Toyota dealers in South Africa and the countries that TSAM serve will be involved. These include Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Swaziland.

Reasons for the recall service action in South Africa

Toyota South Africa Motors chose to participate in this worldwide recall service action as a precautionary measure. The action will take place despite the fact that the problem has not surfaced to the same effect in the hot and dry climate of South Africa.

Toyota South Africa has, since the first announcement of its participation, received a small number of requests from concerned owners and will study each individual instance to understand whether the problem has indeed surfaced locally.

“We would like to apologise to all Toyota vehicle owners for the uncertainty and inconvenience that this process may have caused. We value the trust and confidence that Toyota owners have put in our brand over the past five decades and we will do everything in our power to honour that,” says Dr Johan van Zyl, President and CEO of TSAM.

Actions taken

Toyota South Africa Motors and its nationwide dealer network will immediately start contacting owners of the identified vehicles to inform them of the recall service action. Owners will be given the opportunity to contact their nearest Toyota dealer at their convenience and schedule a time for the insertion of the steel bar. Repairs will start from 23 February 2010.

The corrective action should take less than an hour, but could take longer if the dealer is experiencing very high levels of service calls. It is important to note that the full cost of the corrective process will be borne by Toyota and that no owner will be required to pay, regardless of the state of his or her service plan, warranty or the ownership status of the vehicle.

As further support to the campaign concerned customers can visit www.toyota.co.za or phone theCustomer Contact Centre on 0800-139-111 for up to date information on the recall service campaign.

BMW sales momentum on the rise

The BMW Group began the new year with a strong increase in sales of 16.6%. A total of 82,120 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce automobiles were delivered to customers worldwide in January (prev. yr. 70,419).

BMW sales shows strong growth for 2010

Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Sales and Marketing said, “We started the new year well with healthy growth in sales, and are continuing the upward trend of the last few months. We have set ourselves ambitious goals for the full year 2010. Thanks to the large number of new, highly-attractive models, such as the new BMW 5 Series and the MINI Countryman, we are aiming for growth in the single-digit percentage range for 2010, and intend to sell more than 1.3 million vehicles.”

In the month under review, BMW sales climbed 15.9% to a total of 69,852 (prev. yr. 60,262). Strong gains were again reported by the major series, including the BMW 7 Series with 4,742 deliveries (+89.8% / prev. yr. 2,498), and the BMW X5 and X6 models with a combined total of 10,565 (+9.3% / prev. yr. 9,665) deliveries. The BMW Z4 was also among the growth drivers with 1,552 (+278.5% / prev. yr. 410) deliveries. All three model series remain clear global market leaders in their segments. BMW also made gains with what is traditionally its largest-volume model series: Volumes for the 3 Series rose by 7.1% overall to reach a total of 22,501 (prev. yr. 21,001) deliveries in January.

Mercedes-Benz sales off to a good start

Stuttgart – In January, Mercedes-Benz sales continued the positive trend of the past few months by posting significant increases worldwide. A total of 67,000 passenger cars were delivered to customers, 24 percent more than in the previous year (2009: 53,900 vehicles).

Strong Mercedes-Benz sales to continue in first quarter

Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “We started the new year successfully with a strong increase in sales. That was due to the large increases in many regions such as North America, Asia/Pacific, and the BRIC countries, as well as the continuing success of our new E- and S-Class. In the coming weeks we will be building on this excellent start. We expect to see significant growth in the first quarter.”

The new E-Class continued to do very well. The sedan doubled its worldwide deliveries to 13,900 units. The vehicle posted great gains in almost all markets, including the U.S., where sales more than doubled to 3,800 units, as well as in Germany (1,200 units/plus 66 percent) and China. In China, deliveries were four times higher than in the same month of last year, amounting to 2,300 units. The new-generation S-Class also recorded strong growth in January, with worldwide deliveries increasing by 50 percent to 4.300 units. A total of 1,300 S-Class vehicles were delivered to customers last month in China, representing a 46 percent increase over the same month of last year. Vehicle sales were also up sharply in the United States (plus 57 percent) and Germany (plus 75 percent) last month.

Globebusters to nail Trans Canada Expedition

Canada is famous for bears, mountains, forests, native peoples and broad prairies. A land of vast open skies, broad vistas, huge distances and the latest destination in the portfolio of BMW adventure specialists GlobeBusters. The Trans Canada Expedition is a landmark journey that crosses the world’s second largest country, taking in some of the most breathtaking scenery that the planet has to offer – and you can be part of it in 2011.

Globebusters see the beauty in Canada

When budding motorcycle explorers begin planning their journeys, it seems as though many share the same aspirations. Mongolia, Siberia, Africa and South America are all common destinations for those with a sense of adventure. Canada, however, is often overlooked – the misconception being that its vast landscape offers little but frozen wastelands and dense forest. But for those who have sampled what the country has to offer, these presumptions couldn’t be further from the truth.

Official BMW Motorrad partner GlobeBusters is one of the leading names in motorcycle adventure travel and has gained a reputation for producing some awe-inspiring adventures for hundreds of motorcyclists. The company organises adventures in the Americas, Africa and Asia, and having ridden many thousands of kilometres in Canada, founder and adventure travel legend Kevin Sanders explains the reason for introducing a Trans Canada trip to the portfolio.

“When you describe adventure travel in North America, people automatically think of the USA and iconic rides like Route 66,” he explains. “They often overlook Canada, which is a shame as it’s a fantastic country. We travel through Canada, north to south, on our Trans Americas ride, encompassing places like the Rockies and Alberta. The idea with the Trans Canada trip was to travel from west to east and really discover what this amazing place has to offer. It’s not just about fantastic scenery – the people are great too and there is so much on offer.”

Porsche 911 Turbo S more dynamic

Stuttgart. The engineers at Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, have developed a new top-of-the-range sports car for the customer who will only settle for the very best in terms of power, performance and driving dynamics: the Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Porsche 911 Turbo S – Features

Engine Performance

The heart of the Porsche 911 Turbo S is of course a six-cylinder boxer boosted by two exhaust gas turbochargers with variable turbine geometry, with an increase in power over the 911 Turbo by 30 to 530 bhp (390 kW). Maximum torque is a most impressive 700 Newton-metres (516 lb-ft). At the same time this new top model comes as standard with all high-tech components available only as options on the “regular” 911 Turbo.

Despite its significant increase in power and dynamic performance, the new Porsche 911 Turbo S, at 11.4 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 24.8 mpg imp), does not consume any more fuel than the Porsche 911 Turbo, making it by far the most efficient sports car in its performance class.

The Porsche 911 Turbo S comes exclusively with seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) (Porsche’s Double-Clutch Gearbox) conveying drive power to Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive. Driving safety optimised to an even higher standard is ensured by Dynamic Engine Mounts and Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) including a mechanical differential lock on the rear axle. In conjunction with Launch Control on the Sport Chrono Package Turbo likewise featured as standard, 911 Turbo S accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in 10.8 seconds

Top speed is 315 km/h or 195 mph. Extra-light and fading-resistant Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) provide the same outstanding performance in terms of stopping power and controlled application of the brakes.

Standard Equipment

The supreme level of standard equipment including Dynamic Bending Lights, 19-inch wheels in RS Spyder design with central locking, a three-spoke sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles, adaptive sports seats, cruise control, a CD/DVD changer and exclusive twin-tone leather upholstery in Black/Crema or Black/Titanium Blue additionally underlines the outstanding class and calibre of this first Turbo S in five years.

The new Porsche 911 Turbo S will be at the dealership as both a Coupé and Cabriolet as of May 2010. The German market price of the Turbo S Coupé is Euro 173,241 including 19 per cent value-added tax and local equipment in the market (the Euro base price is Euro 145,400). The Cabriolet retails in the German market at Euro 184.546, again including 19 per cent VAT and local equipment/specifications (base price Euro 154,900).

Mazda BT-50 EDGE in SA

Mazda is ready to take on the roughest terrain and most demanding topography with the latest edition to the BT-50 range – the limited edition Mazda BT-50 EDGE. Always ready for adventure, the Mazda BT-50 EDGE possesses a powerful 3.0-litre engine and features high-quality extras allowing you to tackle even the roughest playground in style and comfort.

Mazda BT-50 EDGE is ready for adventure

The heart of the Mazda BT-50 EDGE, the potent 3.0-litre power plant produces 115kW @ 3200rpm and offers a class leading torque of 380Nm at just 1800rpm. It is one of the most powerful pick-ups in its class and has already proved to be a popular choice with South African consumers.

Packaged as a sports activity vehicle the Mazda BT-50 EDGE caters for the adventurous at heart but without sacrificing on any creature comforts. The luxurious refinement of the cabin interior is almost enough to make you forget that the Mazda BT-50 EDGE is a pickup truck. The interior appointments offer user-oriented convenience and utility in a modern package that features sporty and athletic styling.

Mazda BT-50 EDGE – Price

Mazda BT-50 3.0-litre CRDi SLE 4×2 Double Cab EDGE : R 345 000

Prices include VAT.

POSITIVE FIRST DAY OF 2010 TESTING FOR DUCATI MOTOGP TEAM AT SEPANG

Today the full complement of MotoGP riders roared back into action for the first time in 2010 at Sepang, after a first day exclusively available to test riders, who performed ‘shakedown’ sessions on their machines yesterday. It was a positive start for the two Ducati MotoGP Team riders, who were 2nd and 7th fastest respectively. Stoner, who expressed his satisfaction with the new engine, was quickly on the pace and then focused on the set-up of his bike trying to solve a problem of chatter. Hayden, who was also testing a new fairing today, set a good pace but struggled with the same problem as his team-mate. The pair are now looking forward to working more on the base settings of the GP10 and are confident of improving it tomorrow.

Weather-wise it was a demanding day for all of the riders, with ambient temperatures reaching 40°C and the thermometer hitting 60°C on the track. Around fifteen minutes before the scheduled end of the test, a light rain shower brought it to an early conclusion. The track will be open again tomorrow from 9am to 5pm for the second and final day of the test.

1. Rossi (Yamaha) 2:01.411 (54 laps)
2. Stoner (Ducati) 2:01.902 (42)
3. Edwards (Yamaha) 2:01.932 (48)
4. Capirossi (Suzuki) 2:02.102 (58)
5. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2:02.165 (57)

Audi sales hit record for January 2010

HERNDON, Va., Feb 2, 2010 – Audi sales for January in the U.S. totaled 6,510 luxury performance cars and SUVs, which accounted for a 37.9% overall increase from January 2009. The results followed strong year-end sales that gave Audi the largest 2009 market share gain in the imported luxury vehicle sector.

Audi sales driven by increased demand for TDI engines

Audi sales of the A3 jumped 106.2% largely due to the availability of the A3 TDI clean diesel model, which won the 2010 Green Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

In fact, the fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions benefits of TDI technology continued to provide a winning story for Audi in January 2010. For the month, the A3 TDI made up 50% of all A3 sales, while demand for the larger Q7 TDI model constituted 48% of all Q7 sales. That level of demand far exceeds original expectations for TDI sales when Audi introduced the two models last year.

Audi sales of the Audi A4 sedan, the best-selling model in the Audi lineup, rose 60.3% in January 2010 compared to a year earlier. Audi sales of all A4 variants rose a solid 34.3% from a year earlier when the A4 Cabriolet was still available.

“Having ended 2009 on such a high note, it was important to ensure that our success was substantive and enduring,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “January sales figures reinforce the notion that our momentum is the byproduct of relentless innovation years in the making.”

Felipe Massa fastest driver in Valencia

Valencia, 1st February 2010 – Felipe Massa was the fastest driver on the track on the first day of testing at the Cheste circuit, just outside Valencia. The Brazilian drove the fastest lap in the last minutes of the session, while he had been leading the time sheet with his lap times before. The 1.12.574 taken by Massa for his fastest lap today can’t be judged in absolute terms regarding the competitors, because this year, understanding the fuel loads in the cars, is more difficult than ever. Although it has to be said that this result is a good prelude for the Ferrari F10 on the day of its debut.

Felipe Massa puts Ferrari F10 to the test

“I’m happy about how it went today,” Felipe Massa said at the end of the test session. “We worked very well and drove many kilometres without any problems. The first impression of the car is really positive: it is easier to drive compared to the F60, we can work better on the set up and last but not least there’s much more grip, which makes it much more pleasant to drive.

Naturally it’s still very early, but it’s a good start. The fastest lap? That doesn’t mean anything, but it’s always good being in the lead! I’m also satisfied with myself. It’s great being back on the track, together with all the others and to see that nothing has changed. I drove over 100 laps and I could have done another 100 from the physical and mental point of view.”

Obviously the first meeting between a driver, who has always been part of the Ferrari family and one who has taken a different road, attracted lots of interest. “I haven’t spoken to Michael yet, but we said hello when I passed him towards the end of the day. It’s very good for Formula 1 that he’s back. It’s strange seeing him with a red helmet in a grey car.”

There were two main technical issues: the new tyres and the cars’ behaviour with lots of petrol on board. Felipe said: “I tried the soft compound a lot today and I really liked it, but it’s really too early to draw a conclusion: we have to wait and see how it works with higher temperatures to see the wear. We also drove with different fuel loads and the car was very balanced under all conditions; that’s encouraging!”

Tomorrow there is an “encore” on the same stage.