19th November 2008

Chrysler LeBaron Coupe/Convertible

When discussing the topic of government bailing out struggling American automakers, the mind turns naturally to Chrysler. After all, the smallest of the Big Three famously received $1.5 billion from the government in loan guarantees in 1979. Powered by Lee Iacocca’s charisma, a solid if unspectacular small car platform (the ubiquitous K-car), and brisk sales from its innovative minivan, Chrysler managed to survive and even thrive in the 1990s.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, Chrysler tinkered with the K-car platform and the equally ubiquitous 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine like a small child tinkers with Legos–crafting endless combinations of disparate creations from essentially the same set of parts. As with the kid with the Legos, some of the results were wonderful–and some weren’t. But only one was truly beautiful–the LeBaron.

I can hear the snickering already, so let me clarify–after all, as Oldsmobile did with “Cutlass,” Chrysler throws the LeBaron moniker around with wild abandon. I’m not talking about the Dodge Diplomat clone (though that’s a pretty wagon), the Dodge Aries clone, or the Dodge Lancer sports sedan clone (certainly a future Car Lust in its own right). No, I’m talking about the Chrysler-specific personal luxury coupe that debuted in 1987 and broke new ground with its smooth, stylish lines.

Now the snickers are turning into belly laughs–that’s fine, laugh it up. Those of us with more refined tastes will be cruising around in our LeBarons.

My 11-year-old eyes thought the LeBaron was the prettiest car around in 1987, and not even the cynicism of age has dispelled that impression. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was the definitive personal luxury coupe of the mid-1980s, and it looked like the clear throwback to the 1970s that it was. The LeBaron’s trim, curvaceous body and lack of ostentatious ornamentation–especially in silver–made the Monte Carlo look terribly dowdy.

The feline form was European in its svelte shape; but the hidden headlights, curvaceous rocker panels, and toothy grille were clearly American without resorting to cliche. Add to this the availability of a stunning convertible edition–a rarity in the 1980s–and the LeBaron really stood out. This might be damning with faint praise, but the LeBaron was much more classy and elegant than its more expensive quasi-Italian cousin, the Chrysler-Maserati TC.

Performance wasn’t bad either. The smooth Mitsubishi V-6 was available, but I would have opted for the potent if unrefined 2.2-liter turbo. With about 175 horsepower on tap, the LeBaron had more than enough punch to keep the wind whistling through your hair. It wasn’t quite a budget Mercedes-Benz 560SL in either performance or build quality, but the LeBaron was a very classy cruiser for the price.

Unfortunately, these haven’t really aged well. As with most of the K-car derivatives, I haven’t seen a really nice LeBaron in years. The styling that was so ground-breaking in 1987 began to look more anonymous as more and more cars aped its lines; and the car turned ugly in 1993 when exposed headlamps replaced the hidden headlights.

Unlike most of my car lusts, I’m not sure I’d want to actually own a 20-year-old LeBaron convertible. The whole experience is just far too likely to sour me on the car. No, instead I’ll simply gaze at the ones I see with fondness and regret.

The commercial below is yet another Chrysler commercial that says little or nothing about the car itself. Though with James Earl Jones lending the ad a little of his freight car load of growly gravitas, I almost don’t care. It all comes together with this tagline: “LeBarons are beauty with a passion for driving.”

Better even is the Spanish-language ad below the English one. It includes many of the great cliches of the time, including the oversized sunglasses (0:07), the booting-up electronic dashboard (0:08), a fantastic shot of the electronic dashboard reflected in the oversized sunglasses (0:09), purposeful grasping of a shift knob (0:14), a little bit of air (0:21), and a dramatic reveal of the once-hidden headlights (0:25). Plus, the non-US cars were called Chrysler Phantoms. That’s an awesome name.

The top image is courtesy of Flickr user BoLdOx, the second image is from 99HeyJude, and the third is from How Stuff Works. It is a bit odd that one of the images comes from a user with a Flickr handle named after a Beatles song; while the commercial below is serenaded by a cover of a Beatles song. Coincidence? Yes, absolutely.

–Chris H.

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19th November 2008

Detroit Automakers Warn of “Catastrophic Collapse” if Federal Help Is Not Forthcoming

WASHINGTON — Despite dramatic pleas for help from the heads of Detroit’s Big Three automakers on Tuesday, the federal government appears hesitant to rescue the beleaguered Motor City. It is uncertain whether the domestic automakers can hold out until January when a new Democratic administration takes over the White House.

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19th November 2008

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is the first vechicle to come from Ford’s Special Vehicle Team in some time. With none too much R&D money on the books, Ford SVT does not exactly have the resources to build niche market cars that may not sell. So why all the hubbub about the F-150 SVT Raptor? Marketing.


The F-150 is still Ford’s most dominant cash cow, and releasing a super hot off-road version will bring buyers into the showroom who may just walk away with a bread-and-butter F-150 truck and a lot of great ideas.

F-150 SVT Raptor True Off-Road Performance Potential - No Compromises


A halo factory off-road truck is rare in this day and age, and the SVT Raptor goes further than anything to roll down the assembly line we’ve ever seen. Make no mistake, the suspension systems and standard features put anything from Jeep, Rover or Hummer to shame.


The custom SVT Raptor suspension, built in partnership with Fox Racing Shox, has a huge 13.4 inches of rear travel and 11.2 inches of front travel, ensuring the SVT F-150 will be able to eat up obstacles on the fly. A much wider track showcases new upper A arms, new lower A arms, new tie rods and new half-shaft joints in the front suspension, SVT engineers say.


SVT Raptor Putting Horsepower to the Road


Putting 310 free-breathing V8 horsepower to the dirt are BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tires with giant tough very non-stock looking sidewalls. Electronically controlled throttle and gear responses have a dedicated off-road mode for eating up the Rubicon.


While Ford may not sell too many expensive F-150 SVT Raptor trucks, the trickle down effect to Ford’s entire truck lineup cannot be underestimated. This is an off-roading machine that is done right, and is ready for just about anything its driver can throw at it.



FORD TAKES TRUCK LEADERSHIP OFF-ROAD WITH NEW F-150 SVT RAPTOR PERFORMANCE PICKUP TRUCK

Official Ford Motor Company Press Release


    * Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) taps into growing off-road enthusiast market and builds on the solid foundation of the new Ford F-150 to deliver the ultimate off-road performance truck – the 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

    * Industry-first internal bypass shocks by Fox Racing Shox help provide smooth ride; lower, wider design key to desert racing and off-road performance

    * The F-150 SVT Raptor launches with the proven 5.4-liter Triton V-8 with 310 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft of torque; a 6.2-liter V-8 engine will be available after launch


LAS VEGAS, Nov. 4, 2008 – Ford, the definitive leader in tough trucks, is further building on its solid foundation of the new F-150 to deliver the all-new 2010 F-150 SVT Raptor, a purpose-built, high-performance off-road truck versatile enough to take on the most challenging desert adventures as well as the everyday commute.


“Ford trucks have been a mainstay on the off-road racing scene for more that 20 years because of our long history of capability and durability,” said Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president for Global Product Development. “With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we are delivering a true off-road performance truck with the proven ‘Built Ford Tough’ capability and durability that is at the core of every F-150 and the best in performance thanks to the team at SVT.”

“Like its fighter jet and dinosaur namesakes, the F-150 SVT Raptor is tough, fast, aggressive, and built with the off-road enthusiast in mind,” he added.


Ford and off-road racing


Desert off-road racing is something Ford knows and does well, with eight championships in nine divisions in the 2007 “Best In The Desert” series and four more titles in CORR (Championship Off Road Racing). Ford has also shown its dominance at the Baja 1000 race – 12 Ford-powered vehicles have won the overall title for four-wheel vehicles, the most of any engine manufacturer.


With interest in off-road performance growing at a steady rate, the F-150 SVT Raptor was built to fulfill the desires of that highly demanding market. The high-performance off-road truck market is one that’s largely untapped, allowing the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor to set the bar for this type of vehicle.


“Most of the major manufacturers have focused on-road performance, so when we looked at what was available in off-road truck performance, it was somewhat limited,” said Mark Grueber, Ford product marketing manager for pickups and large SUVs. “This was the perfect opportunity for Ford to further differentiate the F-150 from other trucks on the market.”

Looks tough and fast


The tough, chiseled look of the new Ford F-150 has been taken to a new level with F-150 SVT Raptor. The agile, performance truck was designed to give the impression it is always on the move.


Noticeable differences between the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor and conventional F-150 include a distinctive grille that has the Ford name carved into it; front bumper, vented hood, front fascia and fenders, functional hood extractors, fender extractors with ‘SVT’ bored out, as well as visible FOX Racing Shox, the only internal bypass shocks available on a street truck.


Another key difference between the F-150 SVT Raptor and the base F-150 is it is more than seven inches wider. Ford designers took advantage of this difference and highlighted it with distinctive marker lamps. When turned off, the marker lamps are well-integrated into the F-150 SVT Raptor’s front end, as opposed to on top of the cab. When lit up, Raptor’s imposing stance is immediately recognizable.


While the exterior design of the F-150 SVT Raptor is about creating an image, the interior design is about creating the feel of the truck, and both must complement each other.


Design elements from the unique grille and front fascia have been carried through to the interior on the console and dashboard. The steering wheel is wrapped in black leather and features a molten-orange leather strip that serves as a centering sight line – which is especially useful in extreme driving maneuvers that can often cause the driver to lose perspective of the steering wheel’s center point.

Revved up and ready


The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is powered by the F-150’s proven 5.4-liter Triton V-8 three-valve engine, which delivers 320 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. A new open-valve fuel injection strategy improves the air/fuel charge conditions in the combustion chamber, allowing greater spark advance at higher loads and engine speeds. This delivers increased horsepower during towing and higher rpm operations, lower emissions and more efficient use of fuel.


A new 6.2-liter V-8 engine will be available after launch. The 6.2-liter engine features all-new architecture specifically designed for robustness in a truck application.


Given reliability and longevity under harsh conditions are key to truck customers, the Ford team performed extensive testing to ensure the 6.2-liter V-8 engine would live up to the ‘Built Ford Tough’ promise. Fifty 6.2-liter V-8 engines successfully endured more than a dozen of the toughest engine tests at Ford’s dynamometer lab during development.


SVT used a specially designed, 62-mile durability loop in the desert of Borrego Springs, Calif., to replicate the conditions of the Baja 1000 race, to further test the engines’ performance.

Take off and landing


Building a high-performance off-road truck is not about the horsepower – it’s about the suspension. The F-150 SVT Raptor doesn’t disappoint, with 13.4 inches of usable travel in the rear suspension and 11.2 in the front.


“With the F-150 SVT Raptor, we changed the axle, the whole front suspension is different – new upper A arm, new lower A arm, new tie rod, new half-shaft joints,” said Jamal Hameedi, Ford SVT chief engineer. “It’s well beyond what SVT has ever done with one of our vehicles.”


Raptor’s wider track and softer suspension mean it will comparatively glide over obstacles. And when it has to be “launched,” be prepared for a soft landing. “The suspension does all the work to keep the truck’s attitude stable,” Hameedi said.


In addition to a beefed up suspension, the F-150 SVT Raptor also boasts unique internal bypass Fox Racing Shox, the only internal bypass shocks on a street truck. The position sensitive dampening internal bypass feature allows the shock to become significantly stiffer as it travels, preventing the truck from bottoming out.


By working with Fox internal bypass technology and applying the Ford engineering methodology, there haven’t been trade-offs to assure extreme off-road handling over on-road ride comfort.


“This truck is also going to be a daily driver. We brought together a lot of experts to ensure the on-road steering precision and comfort was there, too,” said Hameedi. “That’s where Ford expertise really came to the table and complemented Fox’s off-road expertise.”


A tough truck needs tough tires, and a BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO 315/70-17 tire does the job.

To help improve the tire in a variety of conditions, the compound of the tread was altered. Engineers made the rubber softer for better performance on and off-road and for precise and predictable steering in a variety of conditions while the interior of the tire was modified to improve lateral firmness.


The tall sidewall on the 35-inch tire can handle rocks and irregular surfaces commonly experienced in an off-road environment. A 17-inch cast aluminum wheel is designed to absorb the impact of objects the truck could encounter in some of the most extreme environments.


Specialized Technologies


The F-150 SVT Raptor provides the complete package for off-roaders, including state-of-the-art technologies to keep it at the top of capability.


“For many years, enthusiasts have been struggling with the performance of electronic technologies in the extreme off-road environment since that was not the environment they were designed for,” Hameedi said. “What SVT has done is tailor technology to function in both an on-road and an extreme off-road environment.”

Technologies include:


    * AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) predicts the vehicle’s path using a sensor to detect and measure oversteer and yaw by monitoring the vehicle’s speed, throttle position and steering wheel angle. When the system senses wheel slip or the loss of traction, it applies braking where needed to keep the truck tracking safely on its intended path. If a significant roll rate is detected, the system applies additional countermeasures to enhance vehicle roll resistance.


The off-road enthusiast has the option to switch to two available settings – sport mode and full off-road mode depending on their driving situation. The sport mode shuts off traction control enabling the vehicle to have more yaw movement.


Full off-road mode shuts off all electronic stability programs and the ABS system switches to a special off-road setting. Widening the threshold of sport mode, the wheels will lock more which is helpful in off-road terrain. Also in full off-road mode, the locking rear differential is allowed to stay locked at elevated speeds to mimic a spool differential found on racing trucks.


    * Trailer Sway Control works in conjunction with AdvanceTrac with RSC and can determine from the yaw motion of the truck if the trailer is swaying and take measures – such as applying precise braking or reduced engine torque – to bring both vehicle and trailer under control.

    * Integrated Trailer Brake Controller is factory-installed and allows direct operation of the trailer’s electronic brakes by squeezing the control module on the instrument panel with more confidence than the typical aftermarket system.

    * Electronic Locking Differential uses a true mechanical connection to lock the left and right axle shafts together so both turn at the same speed with the same amount of torque. This switch-controlled feature maximizes traction capability at the wheel with grip, without having to stop the truck.

    * Hill Descent Control on the F-150 SVT Raptor is Ford’s first application of the technology. Utilizing ABS, the driver can control hill descent without applying the brakes. The speed is set for the truck to descend the hill by pushing a button and allows for the driver to concentrate on driving, rather than on how to modulate the brakes on a steep decline.

    * Off-Road Mode engages a third throttle map and a third shift schedule for improved off-road performance. Third throttle map alters the throttle by changing the driver demand table so it is better suited to high and low-speed off-road driving conditions. A third shift schedule is a unique strategy for the off-road environment that holds the transmission in each gear for a longer period of time, allowing better engine throttle modulation to control the vehicle.

    * Auxiliary Switch Board on the center console makes aftermarket customization easier, with four prewired switches attached to the power distribution box for electrical accessories. Also located on the auxiliary switch board are two switches for improved off-road performance – Hill Descent Control and Off-Road Mode.


The F-150 SVT Raptor will be built along side the new F-150 at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant at the historic Rouge Center in Dearborn, Mich.

 

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19th November 2008

2008 L.A. Auto Show: 2010 Ford Mustang

  • Competes with: Dodge Challenger, Chevy Camaro
  • Looks like: A mix of last year’s Mustang and the 1970s Mach 1 Mustang
  • Drivetrain: 315-hp, 4.6-liter V-8
  • Hits dealerships: 2009

Ford has done it again. Like the latest reimagining of the Ford Focus, the company has kept almost everything mechanical about the 2009 Mustang intact and created a new, stylized exterior and an improved interior. It’s a smart business move, and the looks are still striking. However, we don’t expect the 2010 version to drive a whole lot differently than the 2009.

That’s because Ford says it has taken the improvements it made to last year’s Bullit special edition — with its tweaked exhaust, suspension and other bits — and made it the basis for the 2010 Mustang. Ford says it has also added more sound-deadening for a quieter ride and moved the radio antenna to the rear so it creates less wind noise. We’re happier to see the addition of standard stability control and seat-mounted side airbags.

Inside, the Mustang’s interior gets improved materials and a new center stack of controls. The style, however, remains thoroughly retro, like the previous model. Still, Ford made a major leap with the Focus’ interior, and that should translate here as well.

Overall, the exterior is different enough to stand out, but it sure doesn’t overwhelm us, like the new designs Chevy and Dodge gave us with the new Camaro and Challenger, respectively. Many more photos below.

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19th November 2008

Will $1 fuel change what car you buy next?

Imagine being a car maker or importer at the moment. Not only would you have the global economic meltdown to deal with (and the subsequent sales slump that’s brought with it) but you’ve also got an Australian dollar that’s wiped off more than one-third of its value in a couple of months.

To top it off, fuel prices have dropped some 25 per cent from record highs to closer to $1.20 a litre. Some experts are predicting a sub-$1-per-litre price.

It makes you wonder whether the rush to small cars might now slow down. Or – shock, horror – people might actually start revisiting the large cars they’ve been abandoning in droves.

After all, fuel prices were the primary driver of the most radical shift in buyer sentiment the automotive industry has experienced throughout its 100-plus years.

It was also the thing that’s prompted car makers to reconsider their forward product plans. Large car programs are being re-evaluated. Plants are closing and car makers are looking at more efficient engine options. And hatchbacks that Americans have for decades shunned are now being rushed to that market. Locally, Ford Australia will even start building a small car locally for the first time in almost a decade.

A few months ago I spoke to Ford’s recently appointed global marketing boss, who said Ford was designing cars working on an oil price of between US$100 and US$200 a barrel. Yet today the price of oil is closer to half that lower estimate.

It’s easy to understand why product planning departments and car company executives are tearing their hair out. In between working out how to shift the cars that are stockpiling, dealing with massive economic uncertainty and generally trying to work out how to make money in such tough times.

Somehow, though, I don’t think car makers will be rushing to abandon their plans to downsize their vehicles or introduce more efficient alternatives.

The environment is now headline news and is making its mark on the cars of the future. While there’s still debate about the recyclability of batteries from hybrid cars and the energy used to produce such vehicles in the first place, the notion of using less fuel when you’re actually driving the thing is attractive to governments and individuals alike.

Plus I think there’s a new breed of younger buyers more than happy to live with a small car and a bunch of former larger car drivers who’ve realised that small cars ain’t that bad.

At the same time I’m confident large cars still have a future; some people still need space while others just want it.

But I’d be interested to see how much impact the lower fuel prices will have on the market over the next few months.

What do you think? Has the lower fuel price we’ve seen lately made you reconsider a bigger, heavier or thirstier car? Have you downsized and have no plans to look at a bigger vehicle? Or have you stuck with a large vehicle and are just happy to see your weekly fuel bills reduced?

Toby Hagon

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19th November 2008

Hamilton takes on Hoy in Race of Champions

F1 champ Lewis Hamilton will take on Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Chris Hoy in a unique challenge next month.

The Race of Champions is at Wembley Stadium on Sunday December 14th. It’s badged as the Hamilton vs. Hoy, man vs. machine trial. On a parallel track, Hamilton will take to the seat of a Mercedes-Benz road car, while Hoy takes to the saddle of a bike.

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19th November 2008

V8 Supercars preview Tasmania

The 2008 V8 Supercar Championship is Jamie Whincup’s to loose.

The Team Vodafone star has been the man-to-beat all year and holds a 187 point lead over his arch-rival, Ford Performance Racing’s Mark Winterbottom with only two rounds remaining.

The young racer has poured all his focus into winning this year’s title. He doesn’t have a girlfriend, he doesn’t have any hobbies. He lives for one thing; to be the best V8 Supercar driver in the country.

And so far his plan is working.

Over the last five rounds Whincup has taken the most of any driver.

At Winton he finished the weekend on equal points with Garth Tander and Will Davison.

Despite a race-losing mistake at the Phillip Island 500, he still finished that weekend with the most points.

He followed that with a dominating win at the Bathurst 1000 with Craig Lowndes. And hasn’t lost a race since, powering to clean sweeps on the Gold Coast and in Bahrain.

But after losing a huge points lead earlier the year at Hamilton when he was taken out in a qualifying crash, he’s making sure he doesn’t get over-confident.

“We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves,” Whincup said after Bahrain.

“There’s still 600 points up for grabs in six races so, of course I’d be silly not to change my approach from here on in.

“I want this championship more than anyone else and will do whatever it takes to try and be No.1 at the end.”

It’s the right attitude to have because V8 Supercars can be an unpredictable sport, and one mistake could see his lead vanish again.

Winterbottom knows that Whincup has pulled out a comfortable gap, but has vowed to keep his foot down to be ready to pounce if Whincup slips up.

“We haven’t given up,” Winterbottom said. “Until the chequered flag drops at Oran Park we won’t concede defeat. Each round is getting a lot harder but you never know what will happen; we’ve got two more tracks, two different scenarios.”

Whichever one of the two Ford young guns that wins the title, they will both look back on this season as a coming-of-age.

They have emerged from years of learning as two of the sport’s best talents and look set to continue their rivalry that dates back to childhood for years to come.

Pre-season favourite Tander knows how they feel. It wasn’t long ago he was in the same position as an budding young steerer.

Now, though, he is in a very different position. He has gone from the hunter to the hunted this season as the defending champion leading the factory-backed Holden Racing Team.

He has fought a lone battle this year for Holden against the Ford chargers. The fight has turned increasingly ugly as he and Winterbottom engage in heated battle both on and off the track.

It reached a peak at Bahrain when Winterbottom accidently spun Tander around in the first race and left both of them back in the pack and handed the advantage to Whincup.

“It was the most unprofessional race I have ever been involved in and I don’t know what he was thinking,” Tander said of the clash.

“It is not the way you play the field when you need points. He has made it a lot harder for both of us.”

And it wasn’t just Winterbottom he had a problem with as Whincup’s teammate Craig Lowndes spent several laps banging fenders with him.

Tander has vowed to fight fire-with-fire to get revenge for rough tactics, meaning Winterbottom will have to play it safe around his Holden rival on the tight confines of Symmons Plains.

“The driving standards from everyone I raced against this weekend were poor. I don’t have a problem with people passing but they need to show some professional courtesy and give you some room,” Tander said.

“I can’t remember a race like that and if that’s what the guidelines are, well, then I look forward to racing them all later in the year.”

Although 292 points behind Whincup Tander has vowed to keep fighting.

“The championship is looking extremely tough and every race that goes by where you have a poor result makes it harder, but its still mathematically possible,” he said. “We’re miles behind so we need to go into full attack mode. The next two tracks were going to we’ve been very strong at the last two years, so we won’t be giving up without a fight.”

The wildcards for this weekend’s action will be the teammates of the three title contenders; Lowndes, Steven Richards and Mark Skaife.

All three have the potential to get involved in the fight at the front of the field and play spoiler to the title fighters.

Lowndes finished second in Bahrain - the first one-two finish for Team Vodafone - and finished fifth at Symmons last year.

Winterbottom’s partner Richards was second in this round in 2007 and has had good speed this year.

Skaife has had a disappointing season but with plans to hang up his helmet after Oran Park he is looking to go out on a high. And has a part-owner of HRT he will do whatever he can to get Tander back in the fight.

It has been an intense competition this year and the fight will only get hotter at Symmons Plains.

 

 

V8 Supercar Top Ten

1. Jamie Whincup, Team Vodafone (Ford), 2916 points

The 25-year-old has been in the best form of his career this year. He has been both fast and consistent all season long. He is 187 points ahead of the field despite missing all three races at New Zealand when he was taken out by a rival car in qualifying.

 

2. Mark Winterbottom, Ford Performance Racing, 2729

The fastest man for most of the season but has been a off the pace lately. He hasn’t been off by much but in this game, you can’t afford to be off your best at all. At one stage he looked like the favourite but will need to rediscover his magic and hope for a mistake (or two) from Whincup.

 

3. Garth Tander, Holden Racing Team, 2624

The defending champion has had an up-and-down season trying to settle into his new home at HRT. It is a sign of his strength that he has been able to turn the team back into a force again after several disappointing seasons.

 

4. Craig Lowndes, Team Vodafone (Ford), 2367

It may sound hard to believe but V8 Supercars most popular driver has flown under the radar this year. Whincup’s performances have put him in the shade. Lowndes has relied on his experience instead of speed but he looked on-form in Bahrain.

 

5. Steven Richards, Ford Performance Racing, 2178

It’s been a funny old season for Richo. He has been quick (winning the round in Darwin) but has been on the edge of title fight. He finished second at Symmons Plains last year so could add to his win tally this weekend.

 

6. Will Davison, Dick Johnson Racing (Ford), 2153

A future star of the series. He has dragged Dick Johnson’s famous team back from the brink with a round win at Eastern Creek and consistent pace the rest of the year. A serious contender for the win if he brings his A-game.

 

7. James Courtney, Stone Brothers Racing (Ford), 2136

Still something of an enigma of the sport. No-one doubts his speed but he had been unable to translate that into regular wins. SBR isn’t the same unit it was during its title-winning days but still has the potential.

 

8. Rick Kelly, HSV Dealer Team, 2046

The former champion has endured a difficult season trying to lead a re-structured Dealer Team. With several key members of the team moving to HRT (including Tander) the team has slipped off the pace. Still Kelly’s speed and consistency has kept in touch.

 

9. Russell Ingall, Supercheap Auto Racing (Holden), 1908

One of the biggest surprises of the year. The Enforcer has been rejuvenated with his return to Holden. The 2005 champion has unlocked the potential of the Paul Morris-owned team and turned it into a serious player.

 

10. Steven Johnson, Dick Johnson Racing (Ford), 1837

Despite being over-shadowed by Davison Junior Johnson has still shown plenty of ability this year. Although he hasn’t looked like winning a race he has been able to put his experience to good use to stay consistent.

 

- Herald Sun

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19th November 2008

Big Three call for rescue in US

The Big Three American carmakers are doing all they can to win a $US25 billion slice of the $700 billion financial bailout in the USA.

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are arguing for their share of the rescue money provided by the American government as they continue to suffer the biggest losses in motoring history.

The Bush administration opposes their call for cash but a bill has been presented by the Democratic party to the country’s Congress, which is also in transition following the landslide win by president-elect Barak Obama, to give them some short-term relief.

If any deal is approved - which seems a longshot - it will include a provision that none of the money can be used to pay executive bonuses.

These have been a multi-million dollar windfall for most senior executives at the Big Three for decades, but look to pass into history - at least until the river of red ink in Detroit is damed.

The proposal for the $25 billion assistance package has created a political furore in the USA, where one side of politics says the Big Three only have themselves to blame and the other is trying to protect jobs and even the pension and health insurance entitlements of retired workers.

A USA Today-Gallup poll shows the split, as a 47 per cent of adults said they believe loans and other help for carmakers is “not that important”.

Meanwhile, everything from paperclips to concept cars has been culled as General Motors fights for survival.

The one-time world leader, which is now certain to be overtaken by Toyota on the 2008 sales charts, has slashed all non-essential spending and has even withdrawn from the Los Angeles Motor Show later this week.

GM was planning to unveil a new Buick concept car and something exciting for Saab, but has pulled both cars and also decided to keep its senior executives away from the California car show.

Ford and Chrysler are also expected to go low-key in LA, leaving import brands including Nissan and Mazda - which will reveal their all- new 370Z and Mazda3 - to make the running.

But it is the GM cutbacks which are making news in the USA, as the company - which is losing billions each month - reduces spending on everything from stationary to company cars. It has cut all executive bonuses and raised prices for executive lease cars.

GM has admitted it will run out of cash reserves by the end of the year.

Chrysler has also eliminated bonuses and is pushing e-mail to save on paper costs, while Ford is not having any Christmas parties in 2008 and has slashed all non-essential staff travel.

 

- Herald Sun

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19th November 2008

Bailout Watch 220: “We’ll Be Back;” Chyrsler’s Dead; Where’s Barack?

The table of Motown’s CEOs facing Senator Christopher Dodd at today’s Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing looked more than a little like The Last Supper. If only. When Ford, Chrysler and GM’s top suits were pressed for a pledge that they won’t be back for more money– if they’re granted $25b in taxpayer-backed loans– only GM CEO Rick Wagoner answered. And then Red Ink Rick waffled, pegging his promise to an economic upturn that no one believes imminent. It was the moment when Motown’s begging bowl brigade went seriously south, in that C-Span sort of way. Which means, of course, that here in the realpolitik world, the $25b “bridging loan” lives. To die another day? Perhaps. Meanwhile, TTAC commentator Redbarchetta snagged the other takeaways.

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