Archive for the ‘Automobile’ Category
Ahead of this week’s Tokyo Motor Show, Japanese car manafacturers Toyota
unveil the ‘Fun-Vii’, a futuristic interactive concept car that features a
touchscreen door.
Webber cruises to victory as Red Bull finishes 1-2 and Vettel takes second, drivers championship
Posted on: November 28, 2011
German driver Sebastian Vettel gives a thumbs-up after finishing second in the Brazilian Grand Prix. Vettel won the drivers championship. Photograph by: Yasuyoshi Chiba, AFP, Getty Images, Bloomberg
Red Bull’s Mark Webber won the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix for his first Formula One victory of 2011, with teammate and world champion Sebastian Vettel taking the second spot in Sao Paulo.
McLaren driver Jenson Button was third Sunday and will finish as runner-up to Vettel in the drivers’ championship.
“It’s an important win for me and the team to finish on a high,” Webber said.
“I felt good all weekend.”
Vettel started in pole position for a record 15th time in a season, beating the previous record of Nigel Mansell set in 1992 when there were 16 events. This year there were 19 races.
The German made a clean start, with Webber retaining second, but Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was able to split the McLaren drivers as he slipped into fourth ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Alonso then went around the outside of Button on lap 11 to take third.
Red Bull confirmed a gearbox problem for Vettel on the 14th of 71 laps, but he was still able to maintain a competitive pace and manage the situation.
He did, though, allow Webber to take the lead on lap 31 and comfortably held second spot even as Button mounted a late charge.
“It was a real shame as I had a good start and a very good feeling,” Vettel said. “But nevertheless Mark drove a fantastic race and he deserved to win.”
Hamilton also had problems with his gearbox that eventually led the Briton to make his first retirement of the year.
Tata nano LX
India’s Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car that has struggled to find buyers since its 2009 launch, has been given a revamp to boost its appeal, its manufacturer said Monday.
Tata Motors, which makes the Nano as well as British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, said the car would now be available in more colours and with more luxurious interiors while featuring better fuel efficiency and engine power.
The engine will be increased by three horsepower to 38, the inside of the car will be quieter, while a “racier sounding exhaust” will give it “a more assertive road presence,” the company said.
The changes were based on feedback from Nano owners who “have given us valuable insights on what more can be done,” said P.M. Talang, Tata Motors? India operations managing director.
The move is part of a drive by Tata Motors to increase sales of the snubnosed Nano, which has had a rough ride.
Tata expected to sell 25,000 Nanos a month as it targeted ever-growing numbers of families looking to upgrade from a motorbike to four wheels.
The low-end car, sold without air conditioning, costs 140,880 rupees ($2,770) while the premium version — which comes with air conditioning, central locking and power front windows — sells for 196,959 rupees.
In October, sales rose by 26 percent to 3,868 from the same month the previous year, up from a monthly sales low of just 509 units in November 2010.
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