Infiniti Essence Concept still has chances to be produced

The response to Infiniti’s Essence Concept at this year’s Geneva Motor Show has been nothing short of “phenomenal,” according to Infiniti exec Ben Poore who spoke to Motor Trend recently. The elation wasn’t long-lasting however, since the audience at Geneva was told at the unveiling that the vehicle was only intended to be a concept. Nonetheless, there is a glimmer of hope since Infiniti has said that its stunning design will soon influence future vehicles. Poore had told Motor Trend that the concept, a twin-turbo V6 hybrid coupe capable of a combined 592 brake horsepower, is “only a show piece… for now.” We would be one of those who would be ecstatic to see a production car that will boast a twin-turbo 3.7-liter V6 with a lithium-ion backed disc-shaped electric motor.

Pasar otomatif dunia akan “serempak ambruk”

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Jakarta - Pasar otomatif dunia akan “serempak ambruk” pada 2009 karena didera krisis likuiditas dan tekanan krisis ekonomi secara umum, demikian riset dari sebuah lembaga pemberi referensi paling berpengaruh di dunia, JD Power and Associates seperti dikutip Reuters, Jumat.

Lembaga yang berpusat di Detroit, AS ini memperkirakan, penjualan kendaraan ringan akan jatuh hingga 13,2 juta unit pada 2009 setelah selama tahun ini hanya bisa menjual 13,6 juta unit.

JD Power menilai pemulihan pasar yang sesungguhnya akan memakan waktu lebih dari 18 bulan atau 1,5 tahun.

“Setelah kekuatan penjualan industri otomotif global menurun di sepanjang 2008, maka pada 2009 nanti industri ini akan mengalami kejatuhan secara serempak,” kata Jeff Schuster, direktur eksekutif bidang penakaran industri otomotif dari JD Power.

Sepanjang dampak krisis keuangan terhadap pasar negara maju lebih keras ketimbang terhadap pasar ekonomi berkembang, maka tak ada satu negara atau kawasan pun yang benar-benar kebal dari malapetaka (ekonomi) ini, tambah Schuster.

Pasar otomatif dunia akan “serempak ambruk”

[/caption]

Jakarta - Pasar otomatif dunia akan “serempak ambruk” pada 2009 karena didera krisis likuiditas dan tekanan krisis ekonomi secara umum, demikian riset dari sebuah lembaga pemberi referensi paling berpengaruh di dunia, JD Power and Associates seperti dikutip Reuters, Jumat.

Lembaga yang berpusat di Detroit, AS ini memperkirakan, penjualan kendaraan ringan akan jatuh hingga 13,2 juta unit pada 2009 setelah selama tahun ini hanya bisa menjual 13,6 juta unit.

JD Power menilai pemulihan pasar yang sesungguhnya akan memakan waktu lebih dari 18 bulan atau 1,5 tahun.

“Setelah kekuatan penjualan industri otomotif global menurun di sepanjang 2008, maka pada 2009 nanti industri ini akan mengalami kejatuhan secara serempak,” kata Jeff Schuster, direktur eksekutif bidang penakaran industri otomotif dari JD Power.

Sepanjang dampak krisis keuangan terhadap pasar negara maju lebih keras ketimbang terhadap pasar ekonomi berkembang, maka tak ada satu negara atau kawasan pun yang benar-benar kebal dari malapetaka (ekonomi) ini, tambah Schuster.

Sloting Plus gear press/puller & website

This may not be news to our views in Spain, but Sloting Plus makes a really nice looking gear press/puller that I came across while surfing the internet the other day. The SLPL3000 looks like a good (and sturdy!) combination of press and puller...

It looks like the press comes with a small piece to brace the closed end of the long can motor too, a like feature.

Check this link to see the Sloting Plus catalog, they make a small selection of products but some interesting items that are pretty interesting.

I emailed Sloting Plus a few days ago but got no response, I'm thinking they're away for the August Holiday...I hope they don't mind me using the photos!

DaveK

New Scalex Lamborghini Gallardo-lots of pix

_________________
Publishers note:

This has come up on a few message boards now so I will address this topic here. These black windowed cars WILL be followed by more detailed versions. The black windowed cars are sort of part of a line of slot cars (maybe unofficially) that are more aimed at the, shall we say... "non hobbyist" market. There WILL be the usual, highly detailed slot cars, MADE WITH THE SAME BODIES (and yes glass and interiors) released from Scalextric as well. So, please, let's not judge these cars with the same point of view that we do a highly detailed, much more expensive slot car.

I had talked about this very slot car with a senior designer for Scalextric at the ToyFair in NYC this last year, and he mentioned having a number of cars that could be used by kids or less experienced drivers. So don't worry, if you're not groovin' on the black windows, there will be more to come!

DaveK
Slot Car News

New Siku diecasts coming

Beginning of September, we will start with the deliveries of the 4rd new items package which has impatiently been awaited from SIKU-Fans. Therefore we would like to take the opportunity to draw your attention to some highlights:

The RC model range will finally be extended: The infrared controlled Claas Axion 850 (both as single and as set available)! This extremely popular tractor - which is has been released in the May New Items as a “standard” 1:32 model - can surely be named as the high-light among the September items.


The farmer range do of course is accreted with other fascinating models: Once again, the Claas Axion 850, this time in scale 1:87! Then there comes a new Jeep with Horse-Trailer (of course the horses are included as well), in scale 1:32 – as well as the next new item, the carriage with the two horses which upgrades the Farmer Classic range.

The super series in the scale 1:50 will be expanded with the Hinged Bus (seen below in photo), the impressive Scania R 620 which comes with the Four Wheel Loader and last but not least the Mercedes Atego with Crane which also has a lot of accessory in the package.

As usual, the September Package does also included the popular SIKU calendar with fascinating motives of the farmer range.

We would just like to inform that there are two items which had to be postponed and will be released as a 5th New Items package now: The Fendt 718 Vario in the scale 1:32 and the SIKU Control MAN with Low Loader which works with Radio Controlled Technology!

Spirit 936 and new BMW promo ads

Fines for Indy Racing League's Kanaan and Hornish

Dakar slot car?

Desert Slot is dedicated to a very specific type of slot car...the rally genre.

From the Desert Slot website:



"DESERT SLOT is our name, and we are great lovers of raid-slot championships, as well as of real raid trials: we intent to make available to you all of our experience in this field, which we think has been slightly forsaken by big manufacturers.

After several years building trucks and cars with the only goal of participating in raid-slot trials and having attracted a certain interest and curiosity to our work in many people, we decided to build a team of people to share ideas and projects with, so we can get to offer you a final product of great quality that we expect fullfills all of your expectations.

In this web you'll be informed of our daily work and you'll see photos of our trucks/cars, as well as the techniques we're developing to get a final product that is attractive to you and above all really competitive from the start; this is why we intend that the final targets of our work are both collectors and fans of racing and enjoying raid-slots. Our models will undoubtedly liven up the daily more numerous closed parks for raid-slot trials, not forgetting that they'll complete more than one collection in which this type of vehicle was missing."

The Pegaso Troner 4x4 Proto Paris – Dakar 1988

slot carhobbies

New Revell BMW

The new Revell BMW is in stock at Revell USA and is item number 8397.

Thanks to Revell USA for the photo.

BMWmotorsportsauto racing


DaveK

Jel Claws exclusive news

Jel Claws have just developed two tires for Johnny Lightning HO slot cars, small and large slicks. The part numbers are ST 2010 and ST 2020. They will sell 5 pairs for $7.99. And these will be listed on Ebay and the Jel Claws web site by 6/25/07.

F1's test in Silverstone and Jerez

TEST REPORT, JEREZ – Day 1

Date: 19 June 2007
Duration of test: 3 days
Driver Day 1: James Rossiter

Chassis: SA07-05
No. of Laps: 76
Best Lap Time: 1:20.926

Weather: Warm and sunny
Temperatures: Air: 22-27°C, Track: 27-41°C

SUPER AGURI F1 TEAM commenced its three-day test at the Jerez circuit in Spain to continue preparations for the forthcoming mid-calendar rounds of the 2007 Formula One World Championship.

The conditions were warm and sunny throughout the day. James spent the morning finding a good set-up on a fairly low grip track. With a satisfactory balance found, and the track slowly improving, he ran through various chassis set-up options to complete a total of 76 laps for the day.

Drivers: Christian Klien

Having just completed the back-to-back Grands Prix weekends in Montreal and Indianapolis, the Honda Racing F1 Team returned to the test track today at the Circuit de Jerez in southern Spain, to prepare for the forthcoming European races.

Christian Klien conducted an installation day today to shakedown a number of new mechanical parts. The test proper gets underway tomorrow when Jenson Button will spend two days conducting a more detailed evaluation of the new mechanical and aerodynamic parts for the Honda RA107 car.

Weather conditions for this opening day were warm and sunny. The circuit had relatively low grip in the morning session due to a motorcycle event held over the weekend but the track surface did improve throughout the day.

Christian’s programme for this opening day was running through various electronic controls settings and completing a number of race start simulations. He completed 77 laps over the course of the day.

Silverstone-
19th - 21st June 2007
Day one - Tuesday

Weather conditions: Partly cloudy
Temperatures: Air: 21-24°C, Track: 24-32°C

Number of cars participating: 9

Fastest lap overall (track length: 5.141 km): Ralf Schumacher (Panasonic Toyota Racing), 1:22.794 min

Nick Heidfeld
Chassis / engine: BMW Sauber F1.07-06 / BMW P86/7 V8
Test kilometres today: 205 km (42 laps)
Fastest lap: 1:23.841 min

Programme:
Nick worked on the set-up for the Silverstone race. He mainly tested tyres and some new aero and mechanical components that showed promising results. He completed 42 laps, but finished the test one hour before planned due to a slight back pain.

What comes next:
Timo Glock will take over driving duties from Nick tomorrow and will continue working on the set-up for the forthcoming races as well as evaluating the new components.

News and photos used with permission from Super Aguri(copyright 2007 Sutton Images) and BMW Motorsports.
Formula 1f1ferrarimotorsports