The German newspaper Handelsblatt is reporting that Daimler Chrysler spent R40 Billion on the smart brand in the four years. Even tough, Daimler doesn’t report profits or losses for Smart brand, they say that the german newspaper came up with the figure after obtaining the information from liquidated Smart in Germany.

This of course is nothing new to us, as Mercedes has reported over and over again that they are losing money with the smart brand. That is basically one of the main reasons they’ve decided to enter the US market. Let’s hope the coming years will bring the smart to a profitable point. Smart hasn’t really taken off on our shores with poor sales figures for the last two years dispite South Africa being in a car buying boom.

A UK publication namely Auto Express claims that they have obtained an exclusive preview of the new VW Golf 6 which plans to launch sometime next year. From the picture it can be seen that the design is slightly different to previous other artist impressions that was circulating in the press before.

More Golf 6 news here and here

Golf 6 update here

Retreading tyres is a good way to help shed our dependence up the Mideast for oil, as it saves oil—a lot of oil!

The US-based Tyre Retread & Repair Information Bureau is reporting that while it takes 22 gallons (83 liters) of oil to make one average size truck tire, we only need use about 7 gallons to have it retreaded. Thus a fleet replacing around 100 tires annually would save 1,500 gallons (~5,680 liters) a year.

Oh, the so-called ‘rubber alligators’ (scrapes of shredded tires) often seen on highways are more likely the result of poor tire inflation or overloading, rather than a blown retread. Even so, it’s still an issue in my mind, as you don’t see that with non-retreads no matter what the tire inflation.

If you have been wondering why there have been so few events at Wesbank Raceway, the answer has arrived. As of January 2008, Wesbank Raceway will be no more. The track was taken for a mouth watering R130 million by Pangbourne Properties who will be the land developers of the light industrial park that will replace the super motorsport complex.

It will be a big chunk out of the growth of motorsport in South Africa. Wesbank has hosted many of the countries biggest events including the likes of Ultimate Street Car, the Finals of the National Drag Racing Championship and the countries largest Illegal 2 Legal drag racing on wednesday nights.

For those of you who have not visited Wesbank or even just being apart of the 5000 odd crowd who attend the wednesday night racing, I advise you to do so before you loose the opportunity to.

Over the next few months I will fill a topic on the z00pedup forum with pictures and memories we have had at Wesbank over the years.

After many years of consideration and thought, BMW has finally entered the market controlled by the likes of the Renault Scenic and Chrysler Grand Voyager. They are going to launch a mommy mover known as a Cross Over / Utility vehicle.

The idea has been around for a while and it is a feasible area of the market to exploit so there is no reason why BMW shouldnt. It will be known as the F3 and should reach showrooms by 2010 according to BMW sources. It will have the usual line up of BMW engines like the 2.0L petrol and 3.0L diesel and there is a possibility of the 3.0L Twin Turbo being shoved in. As in true Cross Over / Utility style, the car will feature seven seats and the features from the X3.

Personally I think it is a horrendous design and is further proof that making money is more important than making cars.

Although there have been spy photos of the proposed new Focus RS Mk II earlier in the year, it has now been reported that Ford has planned to ditch the production of it.

According to reports, the Mk II which was planned for late 2008 was ditched because of concerns over CO2 emissions. On the other hand a spokesman has reported it was canned because any car that is brought to market has to be profitable and there was not enough demand across the globe besides the home of the RS which is Britain where the Focus RS Mk I was well received

The Focus RS Mk II was rumoured to have at least 300bhp (225kW) and four wheel drive. This would have at least made it a serious competitor for the Subarus and Mitsubishi Lancer Evos. (more…)

Schumacher is helping Ferrari to develop their road cars. Or at least he was on the day he was caught on the track.

Spies took these pictures of a red Ferrari 599 GTB lapping the Nordschleife. They report realising the identity of the driver only on closer inspection. The cover up tape on the hood of the Ferrari clearly indicates this is a testing model which Schumi through around the track. If his past job was not ideal enough he now has the dream job of testing supercars on wide open empty tracks!

Lamborghini fans could face some indecision over whether or not the company’s latest offering honors their tradition of good-looking cars. The Italian sports car maker is famous for producing vehicles that define beauty and pace. While the latter quality is sure to be found in the company’s latest offering, the Alar, the initial reaction to press pictures of the car has been heavily divided between guarded praise and outright criticism. (more…)