The Hispania Racing Team has had a rough start this year in F1. The upstart squad has retired seven times in as many races, failing to score a single championship point so far. Which is still better than Virgin has fared so far – and surprisingly Sauber too – but that’s no way to enter the field. Now the outfit formerly known as Campos Meta 1 has split with its chassis supplier, with reports indicating it’s already looking into another for next season… if not for the remainder of this one.
Rather than design its own chassis from scratch, HRT opted to outsource to veteran constructor Dallara. But despite having managed to reach the grid in time for the start of the season, HRT claims Dallara didn’t put in enough testing time. There’s no question that HRT needs a better car, but where to find one on such short notice?
According to some reports, HRT is reportedly looking to acquire the – the car that would have fielded this year had they not withdrawn – and race that chassis instead. The pair of Toyota cars is reportedly up for sale after another F1 hopeful, , didn’t get a slot on the grid and subsequently defaulted on payments to Toyota. The Cologne-based facility is reportedly still in operation, providing services to other racing teams, and could be prepared to support HRT or any other team with the means to make a go of it.
AudiDesign Foosball Table – Click above for high-res image gallery
We know what you’re thinking. I love me some foosball; if only the game were infused with a bit more… car. Well, Design has answered your prayers, good friend.
The design was initially unveiled a couple of years ago, but is only now entering production, albeit limited: Only 20 examples of this soccer table are being produced by specialist firm Leonhart, each carrying a heft €12,900 (~$16k) price tag.
And yes, you could probably get yourself behind the wheel of a nice used for that amount. But would that be as much fun? Well, probably. But for the fanatic who’s already got an in the driveway, this very well might be the ultimate addition to the gaming room. Details – including endorsement from none other than the head of the Bavarian Table Soccer Association – in the press release after the jump.
2011BMW 5 Series M-Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery
For those fans who appreciate the more aggressive looks of the automaker’s M division models but either don’t have the budget or don’t need their full performance capabilities, Bimmer also offers M-Sport packages that take you part way there. With the new now making its way to dealers and customers in Europe and North America, the corresponding M-Sport pack can’t be far behind.
As with previous iterations, this prototype suggests that the new model will receive a deeper front air-dam with larger intakes, side sill extensions and a re-contoured back bumper to accommodate the larger the tailpipes. We don’t have any interior shots but M-Sport packages typically including some trim upgrades like aluminum or carbon-fiber, along with more aggressive sport seats and potentially a different steering wheel.
Mechanical changes with M-Sport packages are typically limited to wheels and tires, brakes and perhaps some suspension bits. Both the M-Sport and M5 are expected to debut at the Paris Motor Show in September.
When word first came down that was looking to mandate that all new vehicles to be sold with Event Data Recorders, we knew that the added tech was going to be pricey. According to Automotive News, if legislators have their way, the new automotive will need to be both fire resistant and waterproof. Add in a significant amount of recording time before and after an accident, and suddenly the price tag per unit could soar up to a lofty $4,000 to $5,000. Currently, the EDRs track about five seconds worth of information just before an accident, though some legislators are pushing for up to 75 seconds of recording pre-crash. Between the fire insulation and added recording time, analysts believe the devices will swell to shoebox size, also creating a new packaging issue for automakers.
And who’s going to be shelling out the cash for the indestructible, mammoth recorders? The short answer is the automakers, though you can bet they won’t just be soaking up the cost out of the goodness of their hearts. Odds are that $4,000-per-box price tag will be passed right along to consumers if such devices become law, so don’t be surprised to see sticker prices climb if the boxes become mandatory in 2015.
A couple of years have passed now since the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) with something that better fits the times. The for creative types to submit ideas for the “Taxi of Tomorrow,” and one of the more interesting proposals to come in over the last couple of years is something called the UniCab.
The groundwork for NYC’s Taxi of Tomorrow is quite simple:
Meets highest safety standards
Superior passenger experience
Superior driver comfort and amenities
Appropriate purchase price and ongoing maintenance and repair costs
Smaller environmental footprint (lower emissions and improved fuel economy)
Smaller physical footprint (with more usable interior room)
Compliance with appropriate Americans with Disabilities Act requirements
Iconic design that will identify the new taxi with New York City
Born out of those guidelines, the UniCab looks nothing like a traditional taxi, aside from the yellow color. The UniCab features seating for four passengers, an automated ramp for those with disabilities, an infotainment center that displays intended routes and attractions along the way and outward sight lines that allow all of the passengers to get a great view of the glorious city of New York. Though nothing more than a design sketch right now, the UniCab could change our perception of taxis in the future and make hailing a cab the hip, green thing to do. Hat tip to Zelda!
