Trulli says Singapore still a worry for F1 drivers

Formula One drivers are still fretting about the sport's first night race less than a month before Singapore's new street circuit makes its debut.

"It's a new circuit, we don't know much about it, the schedule, the times of running. we all are a little bit concerned about the night race and the poor weather which might occur there," Toyota's Jarno Trulli told reporters at the Belgian Grand Prix on Thursday.

"It's a big question mark for everyone, we mustn't underestimate the situation."

Singapore will become the second new venue this season after last month's Valencia street race when the southeast Asian island state hosts the 15th round of the championship on Sept. 28 at the tail end of the monsoon season.

Unlike Valencia, which staged a couple of junior formula races on the street circuit a month before the grand prix to iron out any problems, Singapore remains untested.

"In Valencia they did a good job, so I am confident they can do a good job for Singapore," said Trulli. "But the location is different and the climate conditions are different.

"We are all a little bit uncertain because we probably don't have enough data. I haven't seen the circuit layout but that's not the problem. The problem is we don't know if the circuit is good enough, if the surface is good enough, if we have enough run-off areas, if the safety is good enough for a night race in wet conditions.

"There are several question marks and several concerns. I'm not saying that I don't want to race there, but that we might encounter some more problems than in Valencia."

Aston Martin revives Lagonda

ston Martin has announced that it intends to revive the legendary Lagonda marque, and will use it to launch a whole new range of large luxury models.

Dr Ulrich Bez, boss of Aston Martin, said he plans to relaunch Lagonda as a sub-brand from 2012 in order "to develop cars which can have a different character to a sports car". It's a move that's meant to extend Aston Martin appeal beyond sports cars.

Aston Martin currently sells cars in 32 countries, but CEO Bez believes the brand should launch new models that can appeal to "more than 100" existing and emerging markets.

It's likely that Lagonda will offer a range of high performance, luxury saloons. A spokesperson admitted that the new models would be "more practical" than anything in the current Aston line-up, but he added that an SUV would be out of the question.

As we reported earlier this month, rumoured links between Aston and Mercedes-Benz could make Maybach platform sharing an option. However Aston won't be drawn on its new sub-brand's market positioning.

The Lagonda designs are yet to be finalised. But Aston boss Bez said it will use its own unique design language, and will offer "exclusive, luxurious and truly versatile products".

The company confirmed that the forthcoming Rapide, due in 2009, andthe One-77 hypercar would still be badged as an Aston Martin, not a Lagonda.

MG cancels plans to bring TF to North America

MG's plans to return to North America with a revamped version of the TF roadster are dead. Again.

"The U.S.A. isn't on the short-term radar as an anticipated market for us, but with the right product, it would be good to return there," Gary Hagen, marketing director of NAC MG, told a reporter for the British Web site Austin Rover Online.

Hagen also confirmed that plans to build MGs in Oklahoma from kits shipped from China also have been killed.

Not long after China's Nanjing Automobile Group Corp. bought most of the remains of MG Rover in September 2005, the company told of plans to set up an r&d center and factory in Ardmore, Okla.

"The deal fell through," Hagen told Austin Rover Online.

This month, production of 500 MG TFs started in MG Rover's old Longbridge, England plant. The cars will be sold in Great Britain and are a run-up to a restart of regular production of the two-seat roadster.

Nanjing has since been taken over by larger rival Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., or SAIC.

Although MGs were last sold in the United States in 1980, the iconic British sports car retains a large and loyal following here. Numerous attempts to return MG to the United States have been hatched over the years, but none has come to fruition.

NAC MG plans to replace the TF with a roadster and several sporty sedans in the coming years.

Men's 100m Freestyle: Bernard displays touch of gold

France's Alain Bernard turned the tables on world record holder Eamon Sullivan of Australia to win the gold medal in the Men's 100m Freestyle, in a fascinating battle at the National Aquatics Center on Thursday.

Sullivan and Bernard exchanged world records on Wednesday with Sullivan responding to Bernard's world record of 47.20 in the first semifinal by lowering the mark another 0.15 to 47.05 in the second semifinal. On Thursday Bernard enjoyed the last laugh, claiming the gold medal in a time of 47.21.

Sullivan was 0.04 outside world record pace at the 50m mark and looked comfortable, only to tire and let Bernard bring the race home to the wall-touch first and relegate Sullivan to the silver medal in a time of 47.32.

Sunday's hero in the Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay, 32-year-old Jason Lezak of the United States won the bronze in 47.67.

Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands, who recorded his quickest time in eight years to qualify for the final, failed in his quest for a record three straight 100m Olympic titles, finishing fifth in 47.75.

The battle between Bernard and Sullivan resumes on Thursday in the heats of the Men's 50m Freestyle - and that tussle should be even fiercer.

Surprisingly, the joint world champions from 2007, Filipo Magnini of Italy and Brent Hayden of Canada, both failed to contest the final after they were knocked out in the semifinals.

China's Yang Wei wins gold in Men's All-Around

Chinese gymnast Yang Wei won the gold medal in the Men's Individual All-Around in Beijing on August 14, scoring a total of 94.575 points.

The silver medal was won by Japan's Uchimura Kohei who scored a total of 91.975 points, while the bronze medal was won by France's Benoit Caranobe who scored a total of 91.925 points.

Renault to delay work on top-of-the-range models

Renault has decided to delay work on proposed new top-of-the-range models because of the weak market and a desire to rationalize costs, La Tribune reported, citing an industry source.

Having already rescheduled the new Espace, the company is preparing to delay the successor to the Vel Satis and is completely reviewing its plans for the top-of-the-range market, the business daily said.

Renault is also cautious because of a disappointing sales performance by the Laguna III, the newspaper said

Pininfarina CEO dies in road accident

Andrea Pininfarina, CEO of Italian design and contract manufacturer Pininfarina, died Thursday morning in a road accident near Turin.

Pininfarina, 51, died after a car collided with the Vespa motorcycle scooter he was riding to the company's design and r&d center in Cambiano.

Pininfarina's death comes at a time when the family-controlled company is in the midst of a crucial restructuring.

Last year, Pininfarina's consolidated net loss increased to 114.9 million euros from 21.9 million euros the previous year.

Andrea Pininfarina has been Pininfarina's CEO since June 2001. He was also appointed chairman in May 2006. His father Sergio is the company's honorary chairman. His younger brother Paolo is Pininfarina's vice chairman and his elder sister Lorenza is a member of company's board.

Andrea Pininfarina is the grandson of Pininfarina founder Battista "Pinin" Pininfarina. He is survived by his wife Cristiana, and two sons and a daughter.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in a statement Pininfarina was "the representative of a dynasty that helped bring the story of 'made in Italy' to the world."

Fiat and Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo praised his business acumen.

"Italy, Turin and the Fiat group have lost a business figure who knew how to follow and develop the work of his grandfather Pinin and his father Sergio," Montezemolo said in a statement.

The driver of the car, 78-year-old Giuliano Salmi, was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

"I didn't see him, I was going slowly and I really didn't see him," Salmi said, according to local news agency Ansa.

Andrea Pininfarina was born in Turin, the centre of Italy's car industry, on June 26, 1957 and joined the family business in 1983 after gaining a degree in mechanical engineering.

Art and Design

Pininfarina SpA, which designed Ferraris such as the Dino and Testarossa, boasts of "Experience, Creativity, Innovation" on its Website www.pininfarina.com, where it says it is a company of "art, design, innovation. The cars of kings."

News of the chief executive's death prompted market speculation that its ownership could quickly change.

The shares jumped so high they had to be suspended in Milan for excessive gains and were indicated up over 13 percent pending a resumption of trade.

"The market thinks that ownership change will speed up," said one trader.

On March 10, Pininfarina asked its shareholders for a 100-million-euro capital increase to cover of its losses.

The move means that the Pininfarina family will lose its majority in the company.

The family currently controls 55 percent of Pininfarina's voting shares.

The Pininfarina family will underwrite part of the capital increase and will rely on the support of new investors, such as Ferrari vice chairman Piero Ferrari, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata and French industrialist Vincent Bollore.

After the capital increase, the Pininfarina family will remain the main shareholder of the company with about 30 percent of the shares.

Pininfarina agreed a deal with its creditor banks last week, which temporarily exempted it from repayments on 600 million euros of debt while it restructures its finances.

It has tried to cut costs as the economic downturn hits carmakers and narrowed its loss to 9.7 million euros in the first quarter, from 9.9 million in the same period a year ago.

Bigger, better Jazz calls a great new tune

All-new Honda baby on sale after debut at October’s Paris show.

Strike up the band – the new Jazz is here! Honda claims its next supermini, due on sale in October, is superior to the outgoing model in every area.

And that’s some promise, as the current car has been hugely popular – with two million sold since it was launched in 2001. The Jazz has featured regularly in the top 10 of Auto Express’s Driver Power satisfaction and reliability survey.

Although it’s based on a reworked version of the current chassis, the newcomer offers more passenger and storage space – as it’s longer and has a wider track than at present.

The windscreen has been moved further forward, too, creating the roomiest cabin in class. And the 427-litre boot is 74 litres up on the original’s.

Surprisingly, though, there will be no diesel engine. Honda believes the refinement, fuel economy and performance of its i-vtec petrol units will keep customers happy.

So, power will come from 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol motors from launch. A hybrid version will follow in 2009, featuring a 1.2-litre petrol engine and an electric motor to power the car silently and without emissions at urban speeds.

As a result, this variant will offer significant tax benefits, as well as fuel bills low enough to satisfy motorists hit hard by the credit crunch.

Two gearbox options will be available: a five-speed manual and Honda’s ‘i-shift’ automated manual, complete with steering wheel-mounted paddles and a full auto mode. A light on the dashboard indicates the most economical time to change ratios using the paddles.

There will be three trims from launch, with the line-up headed by a Sport version which gets a dynamic bodykit and heavily sculpted seats.

The Jazz hits dealers here shortly after being officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Prices will start from £10,000, and rise to around £14,000 for a range-topping 1.4-litre petrol model.

Datsun’s 240Z is ready to return!

Four-door coupé set to resurrect legendary brand features bold design and hi-tech hybrid powerplant

The Datsun 240Z is back! This is the car that could point the way to a resurrection of Nissan’s legendary brand, 22 years after the last Datsun-badged model rolled off the production line.

Called the XLink, the four-door, four-seater coupé has been penned to capture the essence of Datsun if the marque was to be relaunched today. It’s the work of design student Benjamin Nawaka, who completed his project at the famous Yulon Nissan Design Centre in Taiwan.

Nawaka claims he drew inspiration for the newcomer’s looks from architecture and aviation, so it follows that the most prominent features are the ‘winglets’ – which are formed by the body panels overlapping the bonnet – and the rear flanks extending over the back screen.

Power comes from a diesel hybrid drivetrain, while there are 380 litres of boot space – s0 the car stays true to the Datsun philosophy of reliability and ease of use. Nissan insists that it’s simply a design concept at the moment, but watch this space to see if the XLink becomes a production reality.

VW gives the Golf fresh look, competitive price

Volkswagen has given its next Golf a fresh design, new technology and a competitive price in a bid to maintain the car's position as Europe's top-selling lower-medium model.

The sixth-generation Golf will be unveiled at the Paris auto show in October and will go on sale in Europe shortly after.

The new entry-level Golf will cost 16,500 euros in Germany, about 200 euros more than the current car.

ENLARGE

Redesigned key elements

VW has redesigned key elements of the current Golf to give the new model a sportier and more distinctive appearance than previous generations of the car. The wide grille is similar to that of the new Scirocco coupe.

The new Golf will have diesel engines equipped with common-rail injection technology, which is quieter than the current pump-injection diesel technology.

The new Golf's Euro 5-standard gasoline and diesel engines are up to 28 percent more fuel efficient than engines in the current car.

The most fuel-efficient engine, a 110hp, 2.0-liter diesel, uses 4.5 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers, a 0.6 liter reduction compared with the current engine. It emits 119g/km of CO2.

For the first time, the Golf will be offered with adaptive chassis and automatic distance control, and parking assistance.

VW has sold 26 million Golfs since the car was launched in 2003. Last year, VW sold 548,942 Golfs in Europe, according to JATO Dynamics.