Car Parts 2011

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Woking, United Kingdom, May 04, 2011

Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Martin Whitmarsh share their thoughts ahead of the fourth round of the season

We’re just a few days away from the Turkish Grand Prix, and Lewis Hamilton is looking forward to racing at Istanbul Park and the opportunity to build on his Chinese Grand Prix victory. “I won this race last year and Istanbul Park is a circuit I really enjoy,” says Lewis. “It’s a great modern track, with a real variety of corners, plenty of high-speed stuff and a place where you really feel the benefit of having the car properly hooked up beneath you.


“Of course, everyone talks about Turn Eight, which is a fantastic corner, but I also love late-braking into Turns Nine and 12, because you can get the car into the corner while still carrying quite a bit of speed; and getting it right is really satisfying.

“For this race, I think we’ll be seeing drivers working quite hard to look after their tyres throughout the race, particularly in Turn Eight, which is fast and bumpy; it’s one of the most demanding corners for tyres anywhere on the calendar.

“This is also a circuit where KERS Hybrid will be a major benefit – most of the straights come after low-speed corners, so there’s plenty of scope for using the KERS Hybrid – most notably out of Turn 10, but also out of the final corner.

“There’s always quite a big chance for passing into Turn 12, because it’s quite easy to stay with a leading car out of Turn 10 and duck into the tow.

“There’s every reason to believe that the run of interesting and exciting races will continue this weekend.”

Jenson Button thinks managing tyre wear is going to be crucial at the circuit, especially through the multi-apex Turn Eight.

“After the race in China, I think there’ll once again be a lot of focus on tyre durability and drop-off next weekend,” says Jenson. “Looking at the track configuration, our simulations suggest that Turkey will be a critical test for the tyres – particularly the front-right, which will be placed under considerable load through Turn Eight.

“It’s a high-speed, multi-apex turn with a lot of loading, so I think we’ll spend part of Friday monitoring the loads through the tyres to make sure we can achieve a safe and achievable balance for the race before we head into qualifying on Saturday.

“I don’t think it’s an underestimation to say that tyre wear will probably determine every team’s race strategy. It will be important to run the tyre within a safe operating window, and that’s likely to determine when and how often we stop during the grand prix.

“The weather also looks like it’s going to be a bit colder than we’re used to in Turkey – the race is three weeks earlier in the season than it was last year, and that might also have an effect on how the tyre operates. It’s going to be another interesting race.”

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh is well aware of the need to keep developing our car, but feels memories of last year’s one-two finish at the circuit will give the whole team a boost.

“Winning in China,” says Martin, “was a fantastic reward for all the hard effort that’s been undertaken both at the racetrack and the McLaren Technology Centre to turn MP4-26 into a race winner.

“We’re excited and encouraged by the pace and consistency that both drivers have shown in the opening three flyaway races, but the return to Europe brings fresh challenges.

“We’re under no illusions that we need to improve our qualifying and race pace if we are to remain a threat at the front. Additionally, many teams will be readying significant upgrade packages for the Turkish Grand Prix; nobody can afford to sit still.

“For this race, we’ll be evaluating a number of small modifications – which include some aerodynamic refinements to the bodywork – during Friday practice.

“Our pace of development is what can win us this championship, and we go into Turkey determined to ensure our upgrades deliver practical gains and are able to confer a useful margin to both drivers.

“Our one-two finish in Turkey last year was one of our most exciting races – and the memory of that result will doubtless spur on the whole team next weekend.”

* Official photo and details courtesy of VODAFONE MCLAREN MERCEDES *

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

• Dr. Joachim Schmidt: “Our sales figures in April marked a successful start into the second quarter and increased significantly in many markets. China, where we set a new sales record in April, continues to play an important role in driving our growth.”
• “We are optimistic about the second quarter and want to boost sales above last year’s level. In the full year, we aim to achieve a new sales record and want to sell more than 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart fortwo.”
• New generation of the C-Class sedan becomes market leader right from the start, sales of new SLK increase by 47.7 percent
• S-Class sedan number one in its segment with sales up by 34.3 percent
smart sales again above previous year’s level

Stuttgart, Germany, May 04, 2011 - Following strong sales results in the first quarter, Mercedes-Benz continued to be successful in April. Sales rose by 8.2 percent compared to the high volume recorded in the same month last year. The brand delivered a total of 100,703 passenger cars worldwide (April 2010: 93,077). Since the start of the year, sales have risen by 11.5 percent to 381,255 units (Jan. – April 2010: 342,035).


Dr. Joachim Schmidt, Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars: “Our sales figures in April marked a successful start into the second quarter and increased significantly in many markets. China, where we set a new sales record in April, continues to play an important role in driving our growth. We continue to be optimistic about the second quarter, during which we want to boost sales above last year’s level.”

Growth in the second quarter will be based on the success of the current product range and particularly on new products such as the facelifted C-Class and the new SLK. Demand for both models was already very high in the first month after the market launch. 20.965 units of the C-Class sedan were delivered, capturing the market leadership in its segment right from the start.

Including the new estate, sales in April rose 14.3 percent compared to April 2010. In the first month following its market launch, sales of the new SLK also climbed sharply, starting the convertible season with an increase of 47.7 percent. The new C-Class coupe is waiting in the starting blocks to continue the success of the new C-Class generation. It will be in dealers’ showrooms beginning in June. Mercedes-Benz will introduce additional new models to the market later this year: the new M-Class and the SLS roadster, which will hit showrooms this fall, and the new B-Class, which will be launched at the end of the year.

“This attractive product lineup gives us a very good competitive position,” added Schmidt. “In the full year, we aim to achieve a new sales record and want to sell more than 1.3 million Mercedes-Benz passenger cars and smart fortwo.”

In April, sales of Mercedes-Benz in China (including Hong Kong) rose by 46.9 percent compared to the high volume recorded in the same month last year. As a result, the brand achieved a new record result of 16,536 units (April 2010: 11,254). During the first four months of the year, sales jumped by 68.2 percent to 59,526 passenger cars (Jan. – April 2010: 35,381). In April, sales also rose substantially in South Korea (plus 56.6 percent) and Taiwan (plus 19.7 percent).

In India (plus 61.3 percent) and Russia (plus 59.5 percent) Mercedes-Benz achieved a new record.
A total of 18,042 units (April 2010: 17,628) were sold in the U.S. last month, an increase of 2.3 percent on the result posted in April 2010. Since January, deliveries totaled 71,388 units (Jan. – April 2010: 66,857), an increase of 6.8 percent on the same period last year.

In Germany, demand rose 3.3 percent in April to 22,270 units (April 2010: 21,551). Mercedes-Benz thus remained the strongest premium brand in its home market. Sales were also above last year’s level for the first four months, totaling 71,588 units (Jan. – April 2010: 70,796). In Western Europe, Mercedes-Benz grew by 2.2 percent overall, delivering 46,817 cars to customers (April 2010: 45,801). Growth rates were recorded, for example, in France (plus 8.9 percent), Spain (plus 4.4 percent), Belgium (plus 11.6 percent), and Sweden (plus 19.6 percent).

In the luxury class, the S-Class sedan once again set the benchmark for its segment in April. At 6,305 units, sales were up by 34.3 percent, making it the number one car in its competitive class. Mercedes-Benz also continues to grow in the E-Class segment, with customer deliveries rising by 8.1 percent to 28,708 vehicles. The new E-Class convertible was particularly popular last month (plus 84.7 percent) and remained the market leader. The new CLS which is available since January has also been on track for success, with sales rising by 70.4 percent compared to April 2010. Demand also continued to be dynamic for all Mercedes-Benz SUVs, with sales increasing to the record figure of 19.640 units (plus 21.4 percent). One of the reasons for this success were strong growth rates for the GLK (plus 62.1 percent). In the compact car segment the B-Class continued to increase sales in April (plus 26.2 percent).

Sales of the smart fortwo continued to develop positively in April and totaled 9,341 units last month, representing a 3.2 percent increase on the previous year (April 2010: 9,053). During the year to date, sales of the two-seater have risen by 7.9 percent to 34,322 vehicles (Jan. – April 2010: 31,806). Demand for the smart continues to be strong in China (including Hong Kong), where sales rose almost five-fold in April, to 1,026 units (April 2010: 210). In Germany, the two-seater was at the top of its segment in April for the 14th consecutive month.

Overview of sales by Mercedes-Benz Cars

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

• Mercedes-Benz USA Records April Sales of 19,157 Vehicles – an Improvement of 5.1 Percent over April 2010 and a 9.2 Percent Increase on a Year-to-Date Basis
• smart USA Records 467 Sales in April 2011

New York (NY), USA, May 03, 2011 – Daimler AG (stock exchange symbol DAI) today reported U.S. sales of 19,624 Mercedes-Benz and smart vehicles, an improvement of 3.8 Percent compared to April 2010. All sales figures in this release are on an unadjusted basis unless otherwise noted.


Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) reported April 2011 sales of 19,157 passenger cars and light truck vehicles and represents a 5.1 % improvement over April 2010, and the best April on record since April 2008. 1,115 Sprinter vans are included in this total. On a year-to-date basis, the 75,152 vehicles sold represent a 9.2% increase.

The highest volume performers for the month were the E- and C-Class model lines. The 9th generation E-Class led the pack with sales of 5,342, up 17.9% over April 2010. The sporty C-Class - the gateway to the Mercedes-Benz brand for younger and first-time Mercedes-Benz buyers –continued its strong momentum with sales of 5,232, up 13.1% over last year. MBUSA’s versatile SUV, the M-Class, finished third in volume with monthly sales of 1,990.

On the high end, the commanding G-Class was up 29.4% over April 2010, and the company sold 54 of its supercar -- the SLS AMG -- bringing its year-to-date sales to 309. Sales of Sprinter Vans increased by 85.8% for the month, with sales of 1,115 - bringing a year-to-date total of 3,764 (up 94.3%).

smart USA recorded 467 sales in April 2011. Total sales increased nearly 10 percent month-over-month from March 2011. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2011 Fuel Economy Guide, the smart fortwo continues to be the most fuel efficient, non-hybrid vehicle in the United States. As fuel prices continue to rise, consumers are attracted to the smart fortwo’s estimated 41 miles per gallon on the highway according to EPA regulations.

Copyright © 2011, Mercedes-Benz-Blog. All rights reserved.

First and foremost, Flappy Paddle Heads wishes Lotus Renault driver Robert Kubica a rapid recovery.  It isn't the first time he's missed some bullets.

If I could be honest, as F1 fans, it's a bit inconsequential to cover the cars of 2011 so early in the year. Take the 2010 season for example, when McLaren created a bit of a commotion as the innovators of the F-duct so early in the season.

... Did they win the Constructors title?

What about when Red Bull was accused of an unfair advantage because of their blown diffuser and was then requested by the FIA to make changes before racing at Monaco?

Did they not win Monaco anyway?

But it's what we do, and unlike other sports where we worry about teams, players, and that Bud Light commercial, premiership motor sports has that extra little "hardware" factor-- Formula 1 being every engineering nerd's wet dream.

Here are the rules and regulations of 2011 in a nutshell:
F-ducts and double diffusers are gone, KERS is back, active spoilers are new, Pirelli is the official tire supplier for the 2011 season of Formula 1.


All photos credit to www.crash.net.

Shark fin on the rear wing of the Red Bull RB7 generates both downforce and buzz along pitlane.

A very clear shot of Ferrari F150's new diffuser

New rule for F1. No pre-race spicey chili nachos!!

All jokes aside, can anyone please enlighten me with why the new models now have flagpoles above the snorkel?? As seen on the Ferrari, Force India, and Lotus Renault.

Lotus Renault's R31 race car has already won in my book. Kudos to the John Player Special black and gold.

Lotus Renault's new front exit exhaust system

A second picture for a better understanding of its placement

Mercedes GP W02

McLaren's MP4-26 is easily the most visually extensive Have they always had that double deck snorkel?

The secret behind their side-pod's design? There's a concealed laser beam and missile launcher.

A look at Team Sauber's diffuser and active rear wing.

AT&T Williams' sleek and slim engine cover is thanks to their new transmission, the smallest team Williams developed.

Team Lotus TL11

Wouldn't you say that the other Lotus team's engine cover almost looks identical to Williams'?

Virgin's new whip. From Marussia, with love. Sorry, I had to do it.

Here is a Scuderia Toro Rosso. For the sake of diplomacy, I suppose...

And finally, Team Hispania something something T111 something... something.

It seems as though Porsche has become this week's agenda here at Flappy Paddle Heads. And while Danny Chin was busy with the air cooled era 911s, he kindly left a bit of room for me to talk about this.

But I have a confession. I know just as much about the new 918 RSR as you do. No more, no less.

Yes, Porsche ran the 911 GT3 R hybrid in the 24 hours of Nurburgring to field test its flywheel generator. Yes, Porsche considered it to be successful. Yes, they carried it over to a very sexy 918 Spyder hybrid supercar concept, which brought journalists to their knees at the last Geneva Auto Show. Yes, Porsche did it again with the 918 RSR, this time it's at Detroit's NAIAS.

I'll run through the specs, but only because I feel that there's always somebody who has to ask, "Well, how fast does it go?" Well are we ready? You better be because this is straight from Porsche AG's website itself:

The V8 engine is a further development of the direct injection engine from the successful RS Spyder* race car and now offers an output of precisely 563 hp at 10,300/rpm in the 918 RSR. The electric motors on the two front wheels each contribute 75 kW, i.e. a total of 150 kW, to the peak drive power of exactly 767 hp. This additional power, which is generated during braking, is stored in an optimised flywheel accumulator.

*now we know they're serious... especially since they used the word "precisely."

But the numbers aren't the reason why I'm writing. No. I won't pretend like I understand even half the technology that Porsche put into the 918 RSR to achieve its figures. Moreover, I think we can better put the numbers into context if we got back to it after the RSR has raced a couple events rather than when it's only spinning on a pedestal, polished in a coat of wax...



A bit of what you just saw in the video made me understand something. When I look back into history, I don't believe Porsche was ever successful on first attempt. Take the 911; from day 1, Porsche has been criticized by many (ahem, Mr. Chin) for misplacing the engine behind the rear axle. Yet somehow, their decades of stubborn trial and error eventually brought us the masterpiece that it is today. The result? Now Porsche practically owns the copyright to the RR engine layout.

Now in this particular video, emphasis has been placed on another Porsche legend, the 917 race car. Porsche AG design chief, Mr. Michael Mauer says two things that captured my attention. First, "When we look back into the history, definitely the 917 plays one of the major roles." Second, "I always wanted to express as well that the 918 is not really the successor of the 917. This car was supposed to be a symbol for the company and that we are still able to build the best sports cars and racing cars."

Now if you're a fan of Porsche, you'll know that the 917K had won both the 1970 and the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans. But sometimes you have to figure out what they AREN'T saying. While the 917 was put through its paces during development in 1969, test drivers said the car was incredibly unstable. Porsche responded by trying many ideas to curb the issue; modifying the frame, suspension, and aerodynamics but all to no avail. Because of this, privateers still preferred the predecessing 908 over the 917. Moreover, the first privateer driver to race a 917, John Woolfe, crashed his Porsche 917 on the first lap of Circuit de la Sarthe, at Maison Blanche, tragically ending his life.

One could say the rest is history. Porsche stuck to their guns, stubbornly unwilling to give up on the car, fully believing its potential. Their capstone achievement is of course their overall win of 1971. Martini Racing team's Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep ran the #22 917 to a record setting distance of 5,335.313 km. This record has not been broken until just last year, when Audi's R15 TDIs beat the record by 13.629 km. Obviously, Porsche will make sure that you never forget that. Even after Le Mans, the 917's success continued. Porsche transitioned its participation to North America and raced in the Can-Am series from 1972-1973. In this period of participation, the 917 reached its final iteration, the 917/30. This beast flexed 1,580 bhp in qualifying tune, dominating the 1973 season of the Can-Am series. That said, the Porsche 917 is one of the few race cars that dominated multiple series events.

It will seem somewhat weird to explain it this way, but maybe Porsche thrives on doing things the hard way. And maybe they don't win by being clever, or even by being practical, but win by simply never giving up.

We note that the 911 GT3 R Hybrid was the only hybrid racing car out of the 200 vehicles on the grid. It raced hard, led for 11 hours of the 24 Hours of Nurburgring before it broke down only 2 hours from the finish. Although the result was a DNF, and should've been considered a failure, the telemetrics were enough to convince the team that a hybrid system is definitely the future for Porsche Racing.

Porsche has shown us that they will be just as stubborn in their latest racing endeavor, and I can't wait to see the 918 RSR make some hybrid history in motorsports.

.

You didn't think I was just going to end the post without some car porn, did you?

Lotus is back, take 2, with a second team, Group Lotus.
Behold the John Player Special colors!