Britain’s Bloodhound Project Seeks 1000 MPH World Land Speed Record in 2011

The BLOODHOUND Project is gaining momentum following several breakthroughs by the project’s team. The project aims to break the land speed record by achieving velocities of over 1,000mph (1,609km/h) while simultaneously getting school children interested in mathematics and science. Already there are 2,410 schools that have signed up for the BLOODHOUND Education programme in the UK.

Progress has also been made on the actual car, the SSC. A final design has been approved after ten design evolutions. The initial 200kg power rocket was deemed insufficient and a new hybrid rocket weighing 400kg has now been fitted. Wheels were designed by Lockheed Martin UK to withstand forces of 50,000 radial g at the rim and support a 6.5 tonne car travelling at 1,050mph (1,690km/h). As for thrust, a total of about 212kN (47,500 lb) is produced from both the rocket and the installed EJ200 jet engine taken from the Eurofighter Typhoon. That is about the same as what 180 Formula One cars make.

The extra power and aerodynamic challenges posed by the new plant called for redesigns which are now believed to be sufficient to keep the whole car on land without destabilising it. The interior was designed to resemble a fighter jet cockpit to which the SSC is compared on the graphical presentation in the video.

The record attempt needed a straight, flat surface covering at least 10 miles (16km). After much research and study, the Hakskeen Pan in South Africa’s Northern Cape province was chosen as the ideal location. It has a 12 mile (19km) long flat track with a surface that, although currently covered with some debris, will be cleaned up in time for the final 2011 record attempt.

Raikkonen Would Consider Mercedes Move

Kimi Raikkonen may reconsider his decision to take a sabbatical if Mercedes Grand Prix can convince the Finn it can compete for the World Championship.

Raikkonen had originally decided to forgo the 2010 season after missing out on the second seat alongside Lewis Hamilton at McLaren.

But following Mercedes’ purchase of Brawn GP and Jenson Button’s departure, the team has emerged as potential contender to lure the 30-year-old back into the Formula 1 fold.

Speaking to Autosport, Raikkonen’s manager Steve Robertson said the 18-time Grand Prix would take a look at Mercedes’ offer should they decide to make an approach concerning the 2010 season.

“This is Formula 1. If they can offer, or convince us, that they can provide Kimi an opportunity that Kimi is happy with, and that we are happy with, and he feels he can win races and the championship then never say never. There is always a possibility,” he said.

Raikkonen came under strong criticism for a perceived lack of motivation, with Ferrari reportedly concerned at his ‘hit or miss’ reputation on race day, particularly in the aftermath of his 2007 championship triumph.

But Robertson said a lack of motivation is not an issue as Raikkonen remains keen to claim another title.

“As far as Kimi is concerned he has unfinished business – if the opportunity is there to win races and another championship. That is his main goal,” he said.

However, Robertson said the prospect of rallying in 2010 remained a very real option.

“In all honesty, he wanted to do a couple of rallies with F1,” he said. “Since F1 has no testing, Kimi gets a little bit bored during the week because he cannot do anything. He feels it does not do him any harm.

“If you look at what happened this year, when he rallied and then came back to F1, his results were always strong.

“For him, it keeps him sharp. So if he does not do F1, then I am sure he will do something in the World Rally Championship.”

Rolls-Royce Customised MINI Given The Green Light

Following a report that Rolls-Royce and MINI would be teaming for a special Rolls-customised MINI, British website Autocar reports today that the project has been ‘greenlit’.

If the report is to be believed, BMW – owner of both British marques – has approved a limited run of bespoke MINIs.

The special edition Rolls-Royce customised MINIs are expected to offer a more luxurious interior, while few modifications to the exterior design or fit-out are expected.

The BMW source reportedly told Autocar that the special MINIs will be “totally individual” and that the aim of the project is to create “niche vehicles”.

Bespoke coachbuilt MINIs are not a new concept, with the likes of actor Peter Sellers paying up to four times the car’s sticker price in the 1960s to have custom super-luxury versions built.

De Tomaso To Return With 8000 Cars Per Year

Legendary performance marque De Tomaso is set to return after former Fiat executive Gian Mario Rossignolo bought the name from a bankruptcy court earlier this month.

Now, Rossignolo plans to build 8000 De Tomaso cars per year in a former Pininfarina factory near Turin, Italy.

De Tomaso – which also owned Maserati and Moto Guzzi until 1993 – was founded in 1959 by Argentinean racing driver Alejandro De Tomaso.

Following his death in 2003, liquidation proceedings were brought against the  company in 2004, its trademarks put up for sale by the court-appointed liquidators.

With the Vallelunga, the Mangusta and the Pantera, De Tomaso became an icon for sports car fans in the 60s and 70s.

With plans to build 2000 coupes, 3000 crossover SUV/CUV cars and 3000 luxury sedans each year, the brand’s new owner Rossignolo said over $190 million will be spent on the project over the next four years.

The first new De Tomaso is scheduled to debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.

The former Pininfarina plant in Grugliasco includes a body shop, paint shop and final assembly facility. It employs around 900 people.

Porsche 911 GT3 R Revealed: 353kW, 1200kg

Mere month after the unveiling of the 2010 911 GT3 RS and the 911 GT3 Cup, Porsche has unveiled another hardcore race-ready 911.

Succeeding the GT3 Cup S, the new track-only Porsche, dubbed the 911 GT3 R, is eligible to race in any series based on international FIA GT3 regulations.

Based on the street-legal GT3 RS, the GT3 R is powered by a larger, naturally-aspired 4.0 litre version of the regular flat-six engine, producing 353kW.

Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential ‘dog’ gearbox.

Weighing in at just 1200kg, the GT3 R features anti-lock brakes, traction control and an e-gas ‘throttle blip’ function for aspiring new racing drivers.

With a wider track than the previous model, the GT3 R gets flared wheel arches at the front and rear.

Built by Porsche’s Motorsport Department, the Porsche 911 GT3 R will make its debut at the Birmingham Motor Show on January 14 2010.

European pricing starts at 279,000 euros.

Button Reveals Money Was Not A Factor In McLaren Switch

World Champion Jenson Button has revealed he would have earned more money by remaining with Brawn GP instead of signing with McLaren.

The 29-year-old inked a three-year deal worth £6 ($AU11) million per annum to race for McLaren from next season after rejecting a contract offer from Brawn GP.

While the reason for Button’s decision to walk away from Brawn GP was initially believed to have been prompted by a disagreement over wages, he told the BBC the contract offered by the constructor’s champions was more lucrative.

“No. I’m earning less than I would have at Brawn,” he said to Autosport. “I didn’t move for money and everyone knows it. It’s something new for me. I’ll have to work very hard in the new situation I’ve put myself in, and I intend to do it.

“Of course it’s not going to be easy, but I’m very excited about the challenge. I’ve got to work very hard to achieve what I want to achieve.”

Button’s explanation was supported by Brawn GP Chief Executive Officer Nick Fry, who admitted his team had offered the Briton superior financial terms.

“I don’t think that it was a financial issue. We understand that our offer to Jenson may well have been in excess of what he might be getting with McLaren. I don’t think that it was a financial issue whatsoever,” he said.

But while Button didn’t leave Brawn GP for money, Fry remains upset at the nature of his exit, suggesting the seven-time Grand Prix winner will struggle against Lewis Hamilton.

“Clearly, loyalty would be nice but in this day and age you don’t expect too much of that,” he said.

“I’m always happy when any employee leaves our company if I think that they’ve made the right decision and they are going to a better job and they always go with our blessing if that is the situation.

“In this situation, we don’t understand the logic of the decision and I think Jenson is going to have to up his game if he’s going to beat Lewis on home territory.”

Hummer H4, H5 To Come As New Owner Takes Over

With the sale of of Hummer to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong being finalised, Hummer has begun to look at ways to improve its ‘eco-image’. Future plans include hybrid powertrains and new models, namely, the H4 and H5.

The H4 would likely be based on the small(ish) HX Concept, originally developed under GM’s ownership but among the designs to be transferred to the brand’s new owner.

While there is little specific information on the production H4, new Hummer CEO Jim Taylor is pushing to have the Wrangler challenger available within the next three years.

John Sutliff, a Hummer dealer in the US, said reversing the public’s opinion of Hummer is one of the keys to its future success.

“You still see strangers come up to people in an H3 and ask, ‘What kind of fuel economy do you get in that gas hog?’ We struggle to educate the world on how well-rounded the brand is on fuel economy,” Mr Sutliff said.

The majority of Hummer’s worldwide sales have been the brand’s smallest offering: the H3.

Taylor believes sales will favour the even smaller H4 when it arrives, and the H5 beyond that.

Taylor said the company has yet to make arrangements for manufacture of the H4, but a request to the brand’s future owners at Tengzhong to “spend a lot of money” has, according to Taylor, met with a “positive response”.

Honda NSX May Return, But In SuperGT Guise Only

The hopes of Honda fans were dashed late last year when the Japanese carmaker announced it had cancelled plans for a V10-powered successor to the NSX sportscar.

However, reports this week suggest that Honda is pushing for Japan’s SuperGT series to allow a racing version of the NSX to compete without also offering a road-going version.

After 13 years racing the last generation NSX and with 36 wins from 105 starts, Honda bowed out of the SuperGT series earlier this month after new rules banned mid-engined cars.

The push to field a race-only version of the cancelled NSX successor is reported to come thanks to a SuperGT project that Honda had been running parallel to the development of the new NSX.

While both projects were officially cancelled, it’s believed that, following its exit from Formula 1 at the end of 2008, Honda is looking to resurrect the SuperGT race-car project.

Current SuperGT homologation rules require each team to offer a road-going version of its race car (despite the similarities being little more than the styling and the name), but Honda is reportedly looking for a special dispensation to bypass this rule.

Trakka Turns Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Into Mobile Clinics For Aboriginal Health Service

Motorcamper manufacturer Trakka has built two mobile clinics based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 515 chassis.

Funded by the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, the mobile clinics have been built to extend health care services into remote indiginous communities in and around Katherine in the Northern Territory.

Each of the vehicles is powered by Mercedes’ robust 2.2 litre diesel engine producing 110kW and 330Nm of torque, paired to a five-speed automatic transmission.

One of the vehicles will act as a General Consultation Unit, while the second will work as a mobile Ear and Eye Clinic.

Both mobile clinics are fully fitted for the task with hot and cold pressurised water and onboard storage for 135 litres of fresh water, a 14 litre electric hot water tank and a 130 litre fridge.

A large work surface is situated at the rear of the vehicles, with a fixed desk at the front.

The Ear/Eye Clinic features a specialist dental chair and a Zeiss microscope, while the General Consultation Clinic is fitted with a flat examination bed.

High-definition monitors are included in both vehicles, with a 5kW diesel generator, two 100amp/h batteries, a reversing camera and a Power Gear automatic stabilising system.

2010 Saleen 435S Mustang

The 2010 Saleen 435S Mustang is another one of a kind automobile that is out in the market today. It is currently distributed by the company that goes by the name of Saleen Inc. It is based on the current 2010 Ford Mustang. The 2010 Saleen 435S Mustang is a limited edition two-door coupe, modified car. It has a front engine, a 4600 cc displacement and is charged with 435 horsepower. With a 5-speed manual transmission, the 2010 Saleen 435S Mustang is a one of a kind vehicle. It weighs around 3401 lbs and is approximately 188.1 inches in length. This car is slightly lower than the Mustang GT because of its Saleen Racecraft suspension. The design provides precise handling and better traction.

The 2010 Saleen 435S Mustang is designed to provide a high-value performance automobile at an affordable price. This car has a 4.6 liter, 3-valve SOHC V8 engine. The engine produces its horsepower and the 425 lb-ft torque. If you are a car enthusiast, you will definitely want one of these automobile. Having one of this will give you the pleasure that a race car driver on a real-world road would want.