2011 Mazda MX-5 ice racing

Mazda held an MX-5 race on ice recently with teams from around the world comprising journalists, TV fans and readers competing in Sweden.

The four-hour race featured 20 of the roadsters, all fitted with studded tires, battling it out on a three-mile circuit composed of snow and ice. The competitors not only battled each other, but chilly temperatures as low as -24 degrees Fahrenheit. The Australian team was the favorite going into race day and they held the lead most of the race until a late spin allowed the Russian team to take the win, having completed the most number of laps.

The drivers’ roster was made up of automotive journalists and Mazda fans who won contests to participate. As not all had racing experience, Mazda provided two days of instruction beforehand. Ice racing is dear to our hearts; we’ve raced cheap winter beaters on a frozen lake, and competed in a sanctioned event with our long-term Subaru WRX STI. See Mazda’s short video below for hot Miata-on-ice action.



Press Release

Mazda MX-5 on Ice

• 4 hour race for journalists, TV fans and readers

• 20 modified racing MX-5s set to start

• Extensive programme with training sessions, qualifying and the race

Åre, Sweden, 21 February 2011. Mazda opens the 2011 motorsport season on Swedish ice. After the successful MX-5 Open Race last year, Mazda is inviting racing enthusiasts to Sweden for the MX-5 Ice Race from 21 to 24 February 2011. A total of 20 modified MX-5s, tuned for driving on ice and wearing spike tyres, will participate in the four-hour race on the ca. 5 km grid.

The MX-5s will be piloted by teams from 26 participating nations, among them motor journalists with racing experience, and TV fans and readers who won tickets to the event in special contests. The four-day event in Åre, Sweden will include two extensive training sessions, a qualifying session to determine pole and starting positions, along with the race itself which is divided into two sessions. When the snow settles, the team that drives the most laps during the four hour race will win.

Mazda MX-5 Ice Race provides exciting Finish

Lake Kallsjön, Sweden, 24 February 2011. Mazda's MX-5 roadster proved again yesterday its pure sports cars genes, this time on ice in Sweden at the Mazda Ice Race 2011. Clear blue skies and polar temperatures provided the right conditions for an exhilarating festival of drift and control as drivers from 26 nations competed in specially modified roadsters for a podium finish.

Day 1 – the Aussie's make it look easy
After Tuesday's practice sessions and qualifying, a clear favourite emerged with the Australian team, which dominated Day 1 and took pole position. They also won the hearts of everyone by wearing swimming trucks over their racing overalls – in honour of summer down under – and driving with a tiny kangaroo mascot fastened to the top of their car's safety cage. They made it look easy on Day 1 with their only real challenge coming from the Russian team, which took second on the grid.

Day 2 – Russian Heroics and Belgium Consistency
Race day featured beautiful blue skies, glistening snow and a morning temperature
of -31º C. This ensured ideal conditions on the ice of Lake Kallsjön, which is located in the Östersund region of west-central Sweden. The race itself was conducted in two sessions, each two hours long, with the car completing the most laps the winner. Like last year's MX-5 Open Race in Italy, it was drifting control and not pure speed that proved the decisive factor in the race. The Australians continued to dominate as they had on Day 1 and led for nearly the entire race. But then a small mistake, a spin-out, and Russia overtook them at the end, holding on for the chequered flag; with Australia second.

Russia's win followed some amazing heroics from the team. They began the race in second place but spun-out early, fell back to 14th, only to battle their way back to second by the end of the first session. They then patiently held this spot, hoping for a miracle, and were able to capitalise on Australia's misfortune at the end of the final session for a truly exciting win. The Belgium team displayed the consistently good driving you would expect from last year's MX-5 Open Race winners, coming from far back in the pack to take third. The unforgettable day out on the ice culminated with a Champagne spray on the podium from the three winning teams.

The Mazda Ice Race 2011 was crowned later that evening at a gala dinner and show for pilots, teams and invited guests who had won a Mazda competition in their home countries for a place at the event. Jeff Guyton, Mazda Motor Europe's President and CEO, gave a short speech and presented trophies to the tired but happy winners. This was followed by dinner and a celebration of MX-5 Ice Race memories lasting late into the night.

2011 Geneva Preview: De Tomaso SLS Concept

The model that will relaunch De Tomaso at next week’s Geneva motor show will be this Pininfarina-designed BMW 5-series GT-rivalling luxury crossover concept, dubbed SLS.

This model, which was built as a Sport Luxury Sedan (SLS), was made possible with the support of Italian business man Gianmario Rossignolo. However, fans may be disappointed because even if the car is from Pininfarina, there are several elements that don’t belong to what the public expects from a De Tomaso rebirth.

Even if the name that signs the lines of the car belongs to Pininfarina, there’s more than one element that doesn't actually fit with what the public was expecting from a De Tomaso rebirth. The most striking of all is the fact that the model is officially called a sedan, it is in fact a large crossover (until this official announcement, the model was dubbed as a Sport Luxury Crossover, but for some reason that has changed). That's exactly what fans were NOT expecting.

De Tomaso plans to build two more vehicles on the same architecture with the goal of selling a total of 8,000 units per year. We're hoping to hear more about the marque's future plans after we hit the ground in Geneva.





Press Release

During the next Geneva auto show (March 2011) will be unveiled the new De Tomaso Car.

The new De Tomaso company, Chaired by Mr. Gianmario Rossignolo, will unveil a Pininfarina-designed concept for a premium large crossover, dubbed SLS (Sport Luxury Sedan).

The four-wheel-drive SLS is set to go into production this year using two gasoline engines, a 550-hp V-8 and a 300-hp V-6. It will not be sold as the SLS, but the final name will be revealed during the Geneve press conference (1st March 2011 - 3.30 pm).

Rossignolo plans to build 3,000 units a year of the SLS, as well as 3,000 limousines and 2,000 coupes.

The cars will be built at De Tomaso Automobili S.p.A. plant, a former Pininfarina S.p.A. factory near Turin and in the Livorno factory by the ex-Delphi workers.

De Tomaso's business plan foreseen for a three-model range of aluminum vehicles based on an innovative construction technology called Univis. Univis requires just about 30 dies to build a vehicle.

During a 22-year career with Fiat group, Gianmario Rossignolo was a top marketing executive at the company and CEO of the Italian automaker's Lancia brand from 1977 to 1979.

In December 2009, Rossignolo signed a deal to rent Pininfarina's factory in Grugliasco, in the western outskirts of Turin, one of three Pininfarina plants.

The new De Tomaso company will invest 116 million euros in its rebirth project.

The Grugliasco plan currently employs 900 people and includes a body shop, paint shop and final assembly facility, while in the Livorno one will be employed 150 people.

REVOZPORT Mercedes E Class Coupe Cabrio

The engineers over at REVOZPORT have launched today their newest aerodynamic package for the Mercedes E-Class Coupe and Cabrio. The body parts used are made out of carbon fiber composite materials that were produced through the vacuum transfusion technology.

The Merc E Coupe and Cario can enjoy a new and classy suit that includes a new front bumper with a front spoiler lip and a light weight carbon bonnet that saves 8 kg, as well as carbon Side Skirts, carbon trunk spoiler, carbon roof spoiler and a very unique antenna airfoil are all add on which can easily be installed by the owner himself. Not to mention it gets a rear carbon fibre diffuser features a very special integrated LED reverse and fog light like that of the Merc SLS.

The German vehicles are gifted with a styling kit that uses the Rezonance name and includes a front bumper with LED daytime running lights and a splitter with two settings, a bonnet made of carbon kevlar, side skirts, a boot lid spoiler, roof spoiler and antenna airfoil and a rear diffuser with LED reverse and fog lights borrowed from the SLS AMG.




Press Release

REVOZPORT is proud to present its latest styling product

Designed and manufactured by Revozport, a company specialized in composite fibre products from Asia. After its recent launch of the VW Golf Razor, Razor R and C63 RBS. The latest styling kit is the W207 REZONANCE for E Coupe and E Cabriolet.

It uses most of what the company is specialized in, Carbon Fibre Composite material.

It is strong, light and very precisely produced by adopting the latest Vacuum Transfusion Technology. The aggressive but yet subtle design is to bring out the full character of the E Coupe and giving its owners the unique look but not looking like a hooligan.

The REZONANCE styling kit uses extensive carbon fibre materials starting with a full replacement front bumper with LED DRL and a carbon front splitter that can be adjusted to different settings for different down force needs. The redesigned light weight bonnet is made from carbon kevlar with
weight savings up to 8kg not to mention the extra cooling. Carbon Side Skirts, carbon trunk spoiler, carbon roof spoiler and a very unique antenna airfoil are all add on which can easily be installed by the owner himself. The direct replacement rear carbon fibre diffuser features a very special integrated LED reverse and fog light taken from the AMG SLS. The REZONANCE is available on the market from 1st March 2011 and first product shipment will be shipped out to their worldwide distributor on the 2nd week.

If you think the REZONANCE is not enough, Revozport also offer these carbon fibre products for all W207:
- Carbon Front Grill
- Carbon Mirror Cover
- Carbon Rear Trunk Chrome Insert Cover

2013 Opel Astra Cabrio Confirmed

Opel and Vauxhall confirmed that they will build a convertible based on the Astra compact car at the factory in Gliwice, Poland. The move is a part of the brand’s planned 11 billion Euro investments to renew its lineup over the next five years.

The 2013 Opel Astra Cabrio is most likely going to use a fabric roof rather than the retractable hard top, with one of its main rival being the newly introduce Volkswagen Golf 6 Cabriolet.

“The new Convertible will be a great addition to our product lineup,”said Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly. “It follows the long-standing tradition of highly emotional and legendary Opel/Vauxhall Cabrios that provided important halo effects on our brand. With its sleek and elegantdesign, our new Convertible will fully deliver on that same promise.”




Press Release

Opel/Vauxhall Confirms Production of New Convertible

• Product offensive continued
• Cabrio to enter market in 2013
• Production scheduled for Gliwice, Poland

Rüsselsheim. Opel/Vauxhall continues its portfolio expansion as the addition of a new Convertible has been confirmed today. The new Cabrio is part of the company's €11 billion investment pledge announced approximately one year ago as part of its plan for the future. It comes on the heels of successful products such as the Insignia, 2009 Car of the Year, the Astra, winner of a 2009 Golden Steering Wheel, the Meriva with its innovative and highly-acclaimed FlexDoors system, the upcoming new generation Zafira, and the revolutionary Ampera electric vehicle.

The new Convertible will be based on Opel/Vauxhall's compact vehicle architecture which is also the basis for the current Astra, the Astra SportsTourer and the upcoming Astra GTC. It will hit the market in 2013 - the same year that Opel/Vauxhall will also launch its chic and stylish small car meeting the growing demand for vehicles in line with a young and urban lifestyle.

Subsequent to a joint agreement between management and employee representatives during the restructuring at the Opel plant in Gliwice, Poland, the decision has been made to build the Cabrio at the highly-efficient Gliwice plant alongside other Astra models.

"The new Convertible will be a great addition to our product lineup," said Opel/Vauxhall CEO Nick Reilly. "It follows the long-standing tradition of highly emotional and legendary Opel/Vauxhall Cabrios that provided important halo effects on our brand. With its sleek and elegant design, our new Convertible will fully deliver on that same promise."

Further details, such as vehicle naming, pricing and equipment, will be announced closer to the launch timing.

Porsche Semper Vivus Hybrid【Video】

German car manufacturer has even released a video preview of the Porsche Semper Vivus Hybrid.

From concept cars to new technology, these events are held as a big show and tell for the world’s automakers. So, when a company brings out something that’s over 100 years old to debut at one of these events, it seems a bit odd.

They spent four years at Porsche Museum recreating this magnificent vehicle so it can once again, after 111 years on, drive into the limelight at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 followed by future appearances as part of the Porsche Museum collection in Stuttgart.





Press Release

SENSATIONAL PORSCHE WORLD PREMIERE IN GENEVA

• Porsche presents first functional, full hybrid car in the world, the Semper Vivus, 111 years after its World Premiere in 1900. http://origin.porsche.com/uk

• Recreation of ground-breaking car will make its debut on March 1 at Geneva Motor Show

• European debut of 918 RSR concept underlines ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance' philosophy

The name Porsche has been associated with pioneering innovations in automotive engineering since the beginning of the last century. In 1900, Ferdinand Porsche, founding father of the present-day Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, entered unchartered territory. With the first functional, full hybrid car in the world, the Semper Vivus ('always alive') http://origin.porsche.com/uk, the principle of the serial hybrid drive had been born.

In a stunning four year project the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart has had the Semper Vivus recreated. Next week, 111 years after this ground breaking innovation by Ferdinand Porsche, the Semper Vivus will again drive into the limelight at the Geneva Motor Show 2011 followed by future appearances as part of the Porsche Museum collection in Stuttgart.

Appropriately, Porsche is putting the spotlight of its presence at the 81st Geneva Motor Show on the world premiere of a contemporary parallel full hybrid model. In the wake of the success of the Cayenne S Hybrid it signals a new chapter in the Stuttgart company's ‘Porsche Intelligent Performance' philosophy. Along with the Semper Vivus, the new hybrid model is being unveiled on March 1, 2011 at the press conference to be held on the Porsche stand in Hall 1, stand number 1050, starting at 07:30.

These world premieres in Geneva are being complemented by the 918 RSR hybrid racing car concept, making its first public appearance in front of a European audience. The mid-engine coupé combines the design of the 918 Spyder with the technology of the 911 GT3 R hybrid racing car.

Porsche is also showcasing the 330 hp (243 kW) Cayman R in Europe for the first time, alongside the the 911 Black Edition, limited to 1,911 units, based on the 345 hp (254 kW) 911 Carrera, and the Boxster S Black Edition, limited to 987 units worldwide.