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In other more interesting racing news, today was the official test day for the 24…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4546 days ago)

In other more interesting racing news, today was the official test day for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and as usual for the past decade, +Audi International was at the top of top of the charts. The two hybrid R18 e-trons led the way with 8 time winner Tom Kristensen and long-time partners Alan McNish and Dindo Capello setting the fast time. Audis took the top 3 spots with the gas-electric hybrid +TOYOTA TS030s in 4th and 5th.

It's been a while since Toyota went to Le Mans and while they have also been fast in the past, they have struggled to make it through two rotations of the clock. The flywheel hybrid diesel Audis will definitely be the machines to beat in 2012.

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Auto News – Journée Test ? 24 Heures du Mans – The dress rehearsal for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans – LeMans.org
Set two weeks before the 80th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Test Day was a fantastic appetiser for the main course, and 23000 spectators were present this Sunday to enjoy it. They were able …

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What a shame 4

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged belleisle detroit detroitgp Google+ on by (updated 4546 days ago)

The Detroit IndyCar Grand Prix has been red-flagged after 45 of 90 laps.  I'm not at the race this year but I attended the last two races in 2007 and 2008.  The race was revived this year after being shelved for economic reasons.

Unfortunately while Belle Isle is a lovely locale for a race, it suffers from all the maladies of a temporary street race. Let me make this clear, with the exception of Monte Carlo and perhaps Long Beach, all street circuits should be banned. Because of the absence of run-off areas, the entire track is lined by concrete barriers and fences that make for terrible sight-lines for the fans and a lousy racing experience for the drivers.

After the 2007 race I put forth the idea that Detroit organizers should remove the fencing and transform the circuit into a permanent road course the way Montreal did with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve where the Canadian Grand Prix is run.

This year, the Detroit race was stopped because of man-hole covers and huge chunks of pavement coming loose, leaving huge and dangerous pot holes. If the course were properly paved and opened up, this sort of thing could be avoided but instead we have a huge embarrassment.

It's great to see racing return to Detroit, but if we are going to do it, we should do it right.

#detroitgp #detroit #belleisle  

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Detroit Grand Prix 2007: The Postmortem
After a five-year hiatus, motor racing returned to the Motor City this year and to a large extent it was a huge success. The race was revived in large part

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There are some fascinating but bizarre ideas here for the future of Manhattan from… 1

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4546 days ago)

There are some fascinating but bizarre ideas here for the future of Manhattan from the past

via The Verge http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/3/3059327/retro-futuristic-new-york-city

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New York Retro Futurism
New York Retro Futurism. New York's retro futurism is particularly interesting becuase the city itself is an anachronistic view of modernism – an antique skyscraper city. Each one of these proposa…

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It looks like the overall economic troubles in Europe may be claiming more victims…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4547 days ago)

It looks like the overall economic troubles in Europe may be claiming more victims from +Audi International's electric vehicle plans. In addition to the R-8 e-tron sports car and a battery powered A3, Audi had been planning two smaller plug-ins primarily for urban use.

The A2 was being aimed directly at BMW's upcoming i3. However, the Munich brand has recently been wondering if it will be able to meets its sales targets for the carbon-fiber chassis premium commuter although for now at least BMW remains committed to the i3. Audi however has decided that there isn't enough of a market for a €40k commuter car.

The more unfortunate victim to me was the proposed A1 e-tron.  Like the +Chevrolet Volt, the A1 is extended range EV with a battery that gives 30 miles of electric range. Unlike the 1.4-liter four cylinder engine in the Volt, Audi opted for a much more compact Wankel rotary engine to drive a generator after the battery runs down. Weak European demand for the +Nissan Leaf and +Mitsubishi Motors North America iMiEV has prompted a re-think of small EVs in general.

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Image: Audi pulls plug on €40k A2 electric car
Audi pulls plug on €40k A2 electric car. By Ollie Kew. Motor Industry. 02 June 2012 07:00. CAR can reveal that Audi has cancelled its electric A2 city car project, citing concerns over the model's…

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Johan de Nysschen has apparently stepped down as president of Audi of America after…

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Google+ on by (updated 4547 days ago)

Johan de Nysschen has apparently stepped down as president of Audi of America after 7 years of heading up VW's premium brand on these shores. Throughout de Nysschen's tenure here with Audi the brand has seen steady growth and a long string of record sales.

No reason was given for his departure, but Automotive News http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120601/OEM02/120609978/1295/audis-u-s-chief-de-nysschen-says-he-is-leaving is reporting that it had nothing to do with the recent management changes back at the home office in Germany. Evidently he has received a better offer from somewhere else.

It will be interesting to see where he lands next. Acura is one possibility as Honda's premium division tries to find a direction for itself while Lincoln might be another possibility. I'm sure we won't have to wait long.

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BREAKING: Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen Steps Down – WOT on Motor Trend
Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen resigns. Does the move spell trouble at the German automaker?

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This is what the Supreme Court has wrought with the insane Citizens United case 2

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It's time for a constitutional amendment that makes clear that corporations are NOT persons and enables proper limits on campaign spending.

Reshared post from +Dan Gillmor

How the far right wing, led by Karl Rove and the Koch brothers, plans to buy the 2012 elections for the Republicans. This is truly scary stuff…

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GOP groups plan record $1 billion blitz – Mike Allen and Jim VandeHei
Republican super PACs and other outside groups shaped by a loose network of prominent conservatives – including Karl Rove, the Koch brothers and Tom Donohue of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – plan to s…

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